Making It Up As You Go Along

by Patricia Forde, Mary Murphy (Illustrator)

Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Patricia Forde lives in Galway, in the west of Ireland, with her husband Padraic and two teenage children. She has previously published Picture
Books and Early Readers for children in Irish and in English. She has written two plays and several television drama series for children and
teenagers. In an earlier life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of the Galway International Arts Festival.

The List ( The Wordsmith in the UK and Ireland) is her first novel.

Reviews

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Little Island Books, but the opinions expressed are my own.

This is a friendly, comprehensive guide to fiction writing, which will encourage any youngsters to have a go at writing their own stories. The advice contained here is clearly explained with examples of why things work and, almost more importantly, why not doing something can leave your story more basic or less exciting than it could be. It helps with building characters, new worlds, and plot development, all of which can be a bit scary. The letters from published children's authors are a great idea, and their personal experiences give a different type of encouragement. I requested this arc because I have a granddaughter who loves to write, and I will absolutely be buying it for her for Christmas.

Highly recommended.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide to getting children writing fiction, from someone certainly qualified. We start with how to approach and find ideas, then it's character, plot, setting, beginnings and endings, and so on. Eventually we get separate chapters showing how we might tackle comedy, mystery and historical writing, before the conclusion is the dratted edit. Throughout the pages are peppered with cartoonish illustrations, her ideas, and reference to timeless texts like Red Riding Hood, etc, to let us see what is being talked about.

But to me this, however, was not ideally formatted. I got the gist of it eventually, but the first chapter seemed to be over-arching headline statement, further detail, bullet point, and homework for us to do – all at the same level and with not enough differentiation. I soon realised the sub-headings were done as artwork, and that there are other ways to break the lesson up into order, but I felt the one-size, one-font approach didn't work.

And really this was well on the way to being quite the busy piece anyway. Every lesson concludes with a letter from a major Irish author (Eoin Colfer and Derek Landy perhaps the biggest names), so that's as if typewritten. The author proves to have done what she advises with white-on-black pages where she's shown how the homework works, and so on. So it's not that the book isn't presented in an engaging manner, it's just that the level and status of each fragment of text felt the same.

That aside there is little wrong here, although the comedy chapter certainly showed how difficult it is being funny. I would not enjoy some of the suggestions for our own work – they looked like too much hard work if you ask me. Rewriting a myth, inventing motives and alibis for half a murder mystery cast, and acing slapstick comedy are not all done overnight. But the right audience for this very Irish example of its kind is certainly there and will enjoy the labours it demands. I don't know if the large font size is pitched to the same age as some of the more complex tasks, but then this certainly makes sure we have a lot to think about and do. With that in mind, three and a half stars.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories form the backbone of human existence, having been shared from the beginnings of spoken language. While most contemporary authors are adults, however, everyone–regardless of age–has the potential of a story inside them. In this approachable and comprehensive text, the current Irish Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde has compiled a guide that encourages creative expression through writing. From character to plot to world-building, each segment of the book focuses on a specific element related to the crafting of fictional stories. Written in a way that is both instructive and accessible to young readers, the bulk of the text invites children into the creative world of writing from a technical angle. Illustrations, large font, and ample white space enhance the readability of the book, as well. Throughout the text, examples and guides are offered to encourage readers to practice their own skills and reinforce the lessons learned. Letters from accomplished authors appear at the end of each segment and provide additional encouragement from lived experience, as well. With a blend of denser text and more concise, approachable elements, this book is one that youth will appreciate for many years as they grow and improve their own writing abilities. An attached ribbon bookmark enhances the quality of the book’s presentation and allows readers to pause and reflect as they navigate their way through the text. A must-have for anyone interested in learning more about the process of fiction writing, this book provides a useful scaffold around which creative ideas can be built and maybe one day be shared with the world. This is a fantastic guide for aspiring writers to learn more about their craft and build confidence in the power of their own stories.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing inspiration that is fun and engaging for all ages. Enthusiastically written with infectious energy, this title creates a delightfully approachable instruction manual for future authors. Using plenty of white space, text boxes, and a playful variety of fonts, the author creates an easily navigable layout as the lighthearted and comical tone ensures that even the most reluctant readers will find themselves engaged. Each chapter highlights a specific element of writing craft, building each skill through short kinetic activities while encouraging readers to put each concept into practice. Personal letters from notable authors and illustrators detail how they apply each writing element in their own work offering a new perspective on each skill. Easy to read with small, easily digestible, activities, this title is a must have for classrooms teaching creative writing. Kinetic and engaging, the book will make readers excited to practice each feature. Black and white illustrations, complete with enthusiastic and delightful characters, guide future authors as they traverse the road to becoming confident storytellers. The table of continents helpfully outlines each writing element alongside its featured author/illustrator. Back matter provides expanded biographical details for each author and illustrator, as well as information on Laureate NA nÓG and the Children’s Books Ireland charity. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! The author shares the writing process with kids from about nine or ten on up. She includes writing prompts (and her responses to these), interviews with authors, and explanations of different genres and their rules. Any child with any interest at all in writing their own stories will want to look at this. Read for review by the Bank street Children's Book committee, where my colleague and I gave it an outstanding. Fun illustrations, too.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book packed with various inspirational ideas for little budding writers. I especially love the Story Box. There are a lot of similar books in the market. It is not that easy to stand out from the rest. This one does though with its lovely illustration and comprehensive range of ideas.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really excellent guide to writing for kids, with information, examples, and prompts. Very well laid out, very approachable, kids are going to love this.

[Krystal Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super cool one if you have a kid that is even a tiny bit interested in writing their own story! Grab them a copy for their bookshelf!! Gives them writing prompts, some interviews from authors, tries to help them understand the different genres and SO much more like nailing down those plots and characters!! Just all around a very neat book equipped with fun illustrations too!