GFA’s Middle School students stepped into the world of mystery writing, during a recent visit from Visiting Author Tessa Wegert. A former journalist and author of the “Shana Merchant” and “North Country” series, Wegert offered a glimpse at what it takes to build a life around writing and storytelling.
During her presentation in the Middle School, Wegert compared writing a novel to building a house: the premise lays the foundation, structure creates the scaffolding and walls, character development and subplots serve as plumbing and wiring, and editing and proofing are the paint and decor. She described the daily discipline underlying this structure—reading one to two books each week, drafting consistently, conducting interviews, and researching deeply enough to write with credibility. She also spoke candidly about the publishing process, reminding students that there is no single route to becoming an author, and those interested in writing should look for opportunities to strengthen their craft wherever they can.
Throughout the day, Wegert led writing workshops and a Q&A session, where students asked thoughtful questions and explored their own ideas. We are grateful to Ms. Wegert for sharing her perspective with our Middle School community!