Been There, Done that Writing Stories from Real Life

Been There, Done That is an engaging anthology designed for curious young readers and aspiring writers. It features a collection of award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors who demystify the creative process. Each author contributes two pieces: a personal narrative nonfiction account of a real-life experience, followed by an original fictional short story inspired by that very event. The book covers a broad range of subjects, from historical settings to fantastical scenarios, all tied together by universal themes such as dealing with change, fitting in, building self-esteem, and navigating friendships and family relationships. This format provides a unique and inspiring look at how imagination transforms reality into compelling narratives, making it an excellent resource for encouraging creativity and understanding the craft of storytelling.

"Where do authors get their ideas? And how do they turn those ideas into stories? This anthology looks at the process of taking real-life experiences and turning them into works of engaging fiction. The collection features award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors who provide both original fictional short stories as well as the nonfiction accounts that inspired them. The contributing authors include Julia Alvarez, Karen Cushman, Margarita Engle, Dee Garretson, Nathan Hale, Matthew Kirby, Claire Legrand, Grace Lin, Kate Messner, Linda Sue Park, Adam Rex, Gary Schmidt, Alan Sitomer, Caroline Starr Rose, Heidi Stemple, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tracy Edward Wymer, Lisa Yee, and Jane Yolen"--