C.S. Lewis, or Clive Lewis, was an English author best known for his Narnia series novels for children. Like other popular fantasy novels in the young adult genre, the Narnia books cross age groups, appealing to adults too. I realized recently that I've spent too much time mourning the fact that he died before I could ever hope to correspond with him. I still value my personal letter from my childhood author idol, Marguerite Henry. To my surprise, though, Clive Lewis not only attempted to personally answer every child's letter written to him, he gave writing advice. Below is a prized letter to a young reader, Joan Kiln. His writing advice is spot-on--I plan to share it with my writing students. Enjoy a conversation on writing between C.S. Lewis and young Joan: ( Source: The wonderful, C. S. Lewis' Letters to Children ; Image: C. S. Lewis at work, via . ) The Kilns, Headington Quarry, Oxford 26 June 1956 Dear Joan– Thanks for your letter of the 3rd. You descr...
