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Carol Gorman

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

http://carolgorman.com

Genre

Children's, Mystery, Suspense

Member Since

July 2008

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Carol Gorman is an Iowa-born writer of over 40 published books. She spent 17 years teaching in middle-school, high-school, and college classes. Her writing time has been devoted to creating mystery and suspense novels for children.

She originally aspired to be an actress, and while studying at the University of Iowa, was cast in the lead of both West Side Story and Peter Pan. In the 1980s, Carol married writer Edward Gorman, who inspired her to write. She conducts writers’ workshops at elementarys, middle schools and high schools, and enjoys talking to students about writing and publishing.

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Popular Answered Questions

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Carol Gorman My advice: read. But don't read quickly, just for story. When you read a terrific scene that makes you feel something (sadness, excitement, fear), go …moreMy advice: read. But don't read quickly, just for story. When you read a terrific scene that makes you feel something (sadness, excitement, fear), go back and reread the scene. What did the writer do to create that feeling inside of you?

Did she quicken the pace in the scene with the runaway wheelchair on the steep hillside by shortening the sentences and the paragraphs to make your eye sweep down the page? Did he add sensory detail, so you joined the character, trembling inside the dark, spider-webby closet while the intruder trashed the room, searching for the treasure you had hidden in your pocket?

Your favorite writers can teach you a lot about writing. All you have to do is stop and examine their best scenes, pick them apart and decide what they did to create such an effective reading experience for you.

For writing tips, see my website: carolgorman.com(less)

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Carol Gorman I don't really believe in writer's block. I think generally when a writer says she's blocked, she's either saying, "I don't feel like writing," or "I …moreI don't really believe in writer's block. I think generally when a writer says she's blocked, she's either saying, "I don't feel like writing," or "I can't figure out how to write this book" or "this scene." If you sit in front of your computer long enough, it will come.

One helpful strategy is to find a book that can model what you want to accomplish in your own story. Other writers can teach you a lot when you're stuck. (less)

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Carol Gorman’s books

Average rating: 3.81 · 1,196 ratings · 226 reviews · 36 distinct works • Similar authors

	Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman (Goodreads Author), Ron J. Findley 3.99 avg rating — 319 ratings — published 2005 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dork in Disguise 3.76 avg rating — 299 ratings — published 1999 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Games 3.90 avg rating — 195 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dork on the Run 3.67 avg rating — 70 ratings — published 2002 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Midsummer Night's Dork, A 4.04 avg rating — 55 ratings — published 2004 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Chelsey and the Green-Haired Kid 3.98 avg rating — 46 ratings — published 1987 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Die for Me (An Avon Flare Book) 3.55 avg rating — 40 ratings — published 1992 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Graveyard Moon (An Avon Flare Book) 3.42 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 1993 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Miraculous Makeover of Lizard Flanagan by Carol Gorman (Goodreads Author), Aleta Jenks (Illustrations) 3.73 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 1994 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Back from the Dead (An Avon Flare Book) 3.79 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 1995 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Series by Carol Gorman

Dork (3 books)
by

Carol Gorman (Goodreads Author)

3.78 avg rating — 424 ratings

Tree House Kids (6 books)
by

Carol Gorman (Goodreads Author)

3.63 avg rating — 16 ratings

I Witness (4 books)
by

Carol Gorman (Goodreads Author)

it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 3 ratings

Carol is Currently Reading

Carol is currently reading

The Last Thing He Told Me (Hannah Hall, #1)

by Laura Dave (Goodreads Author)

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May 21, 2021 06:26PM

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Death Is But a Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning in End of Life Dreams

by Christopher Kerr

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Oct 01, 2020 10:07PM

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Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss

by Claudia Jarrett

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Jan 28, 2020 09:34PM

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