DndBeyond is a popular online platform for players of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). One of the many features of DndBeyond is its extensive database of magical items that players can use in their campaigns. Magic items are a staple of the fantasy genre, and D&D is no exception. These items can range from weapons that deal extra damage to armor that provides additional protection, to accessories that grant special abilities or powers. In DndBeyond, players can easily browse through hundreds of different magic items, each with its own unique properties and benefits. One of the advantages of using DndBeyond for magic items is the convenience and accessibility it offers.
The first passage is from a classic English middle-grade novel called The Borrowers by Mary Norton; the second is from a contemporary magical-realist YA novel called Above by Leah Bobet (which I edited). While the two books are both about communities of people who live hidden away, the writing alone signals their different audiences and intentions. The Borrowers offers up straightforward sentences—long, but not difficult to detangle—with an emphasis on explanation and description, so a young reader can easily envision this charming room and feel oriented in the comic action that will take place there. Above, on the other hand, is written in a dense, evocative, world-specific dialect that concentrates on the details of the scene more than the overall setting. It also drops a thicket of proper nouns and relationships for the reader to figure out and keep track of—a strategy that is important long-term for the book’s themes of community, diversity, and inclusivity. The mere fact that Above involves those themes means it needs a reader sophisticated enough to appreciate their complex treatment here, as well as one with a high degree of reading ability and the patience to decipher the language and find pleasure in it. All of that points to YA.
From a publishing perspective, editors want content at every level to be justified by the reality of the characters and story line, and to be in tune with the ethos of the overall book. At the moment you blow out eighteen candles, snobs will announce you shouldn t read YA anymore, because that contributes to the infantilization of America.
One of the advantages of using DndBeyond for magic items is the convenience and accessibility it offers. Players can quickly search for specific items or filter them based on various criteria, such as the type of item, rarity, or even the sourcebook it comes from. This makes it easier for players to find the perfect item for their character or campaign.
The Magic Words - by Cheryl Klein (Paperback)
This master class in writing children's and young adult novels will teach you everything you need to know to write and publish a great book.
Book Synopsis
The best children's and young adult novels take readers on wonderful outward adventures and stirring inward journeys. In The Magic Words, editor Cheryl B. Klein guides writers on an enjoyable and practical-minded voyage of their own, from developing a saleable premise for a novel to finding a dream agent. She delves deep into the major elements of fiction--intention, character, plot, and voice--while addressing important topics like diversity, world-building, and the differences between middle-grade and YA novels. In addition, the book's exercises, questions, and straightforward rules of thumb help writers apply these insights to their own creative works. With its generous tone and useful tools for story analysis and revision, The Magic Words is an essential handbook for writers of children's and young adult fiction.
Review Quotes
The Magic Words manages to articulate, in clear and compelling language, what others rely on intuition to understand. The result is a comprehensive and engaging examination of what readers will recognize to be true about the best novels--and yet have never heard expressed.--Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award nominee for Endangered and Threatened
Cheryl B. Klein [is] a craft-focused fairy godmother. [The Magic Words] is a well-organized master class.--Mary Quattlebaum "Washington Post"
Editor Cheryl B. Klein guides writers on an enjoyable and practical-minded voyage of their own, from developing a saleable premise for a novel to finding a dream agent. She delves deep into the major elements of fiction--intention, character, plot, and voice--while addressing important topics like diversity, world-building, and the differences between middle-grade and YA novels.--Nikki Vanry "Bookriot.com"
Insightful, enlightening, and practical, The Magic Words is a book that belongs on every writer's shelf. Loaded with concrete examples and specific strategies, it's likely to end up dog-eared and well worn--that favorite book on craft that writers revisit again and again with each new project.--Kate Messner, author of The Seventh Wish and the Ranger in Time series
Inspiring, comprehensive, and insightful, The Magic Words ably fills a gaping hole on the shelves of developing and experienced writers alike. An essential guide to the art and craft of writing for young readers.--Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy and Breadcrumbs
What Cheryl B. Klein talks about when she talks about writing is what every aspiring children's and young adult novelist needs to hear. She offers generous insights, frank talk, nuts and bolts advice, editorial wisdom, and ample encouragement. The Magic Words is all the inspiration and guidance you'll need to get your novel started, and more importantly, to get it finished.--John Dufresne, author of The Lie That Tells a Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction and I Don't Like Where This Is Going
Obviously these two examples come from extreme ends of the literary spectrum, and there are plenty of YA novels with straightforward declarative sentences, and plenty of middle-grade books with an extraordinary level of literary sophistication. Perhaps the true distinguishing factor here is intensity: YA often burns white-hot emotionally, dramatically, even linguistically, while middle-grade holds itself at more of a comforting simmer.
Furthermore, DndBeyond provides detailed information about each magic item, including its description, properties, and any special abilities it grants. Players can also see the item's statistics, such as its damage or armor class modifiers, which helps in understanding how it will affect gameplay. In addition to browsing and exploring existing magic items, DndBeyond also allows players to create their own custom magic items. This feature allows for endless creativity, as players can tailor the items to fit their characters and their specific needs. Whether it's a unique weapon or a powerful artifact, players have the ability to imagine and design their own magical creations. DndBeyond even provides tools for Dungeon Masters (DMs) to easily add custom magic items to their campaigns and manage them for their players. This makes it a versatile tool for both players and DMs, supporting creativity and enhancing gameplay. Overall, DndBeyond's magic items feature is a valuable resource for players of D&D. With its extensive database, convenient search functionality, detailed information, and customization options, it adds depth and excitement to the game, allowing players to truly immerse themselves in the magical world of Dungeons and Dragons..
Reviews for "Potion Proficiency: Mastering Magic Potions in Dndbehond"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Dndbehond magic items". It promised to provide a comprehensive guide to magic items in Dungeons and Dragons, but it fell short on so many levels. The information provided was very surface-level, and I didn't find it useful in my gameplay at all. Additionally, the layout and organization of the book were poorly done, making it difficult to find specific information when I needed it. Overall, I wouldn't recommend "Dndbehond magic items" to anyone looking for a reliable and comprehensive guide.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Dndbehond magic items" was a complete waste of my money. The content was extremely lacking and didn't offer any new insights or ideas for magic items in Dungeons and Dragons. The descriptions of the items were also very generic and provided no inspiration for my campaigns. The book seemed rushed and poorly edited, with numerous spelling and grammatical errors throughout. I regret purchasing this book and wish I had saved my money for something with more substance.
3. Samantha - 3 stars - While "Dndbehond magic items" had some interesting ideas, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. The content felt repetitive and failed to offer any unique or innovative magic items. The artwork included in the book was underwhelming, and it would have been nice to see more detailed illustrations. Additionally, some of the descriptions of the magic items were confusing and left me with more questions than answers. Overall, I was hoping for a more engaging and inspiring read, but "Dndbehond magic items" didn't deliver.