Title: Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook
Authors: Anne Mazer & Ellen Potter; illustrated by Matt Phelan
Publisher: Roaring Book Press, 2010
Source: Library
Summary:
Just as it sounds, this is a book of advice and almost instruction for grade-school aged kids who want to write, with illustrations that will make you smile.
Review:
So why am I reviewing a book of writing advice for kids on one of my usually adult-book days? You guessed it--because the advice in this book works for writers of any age, and it's written in a fun way to boot. There is the standard advice about giving yourself permission to write messy first drafts--and then putting in the effort to revise them. But there are also less conventional ways of thinking about things, and examples for a kid's life.
One of my favorite bits is the chapter on characters. The authors suggest having a sleep-over with your character, so you can learn all his or her deep dark secrets. Since the instructions for doing this begin with "grab some cookies from the kitchen," they got my attention right away. I am a firm believer in cookies (alas). All kidding aside, however, the questions they suggest asking your character are spot on, including things like "what are you afraid of?" (a sure trigger for something you'll do to the poor soul) and of course including what is their heart's desire. When you know what your character most wants and most fears, you have a story.
Mixed in among the discussion are "dares"--assignments, we might call them, if that weren't a dirty word. These dares are great prompts or exercises, and I'll be trying some (use a boring everyday thing as the subject of a suspenseful story? I'm on it!).
In short, this is a fun, light-hearted, but useful book on many aspects of writing, from getting ideas to honing your prose and revising your MS.
Recommendation:
Add it to your collection of books on writing, whether you are 8 or 80. We can all learn something here, and have a few chuckles in the process (and you know I'm a fan of humor in all places, appropriate or not).
Full Disclosure: I checked Spilling Ink out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
This sounds like a really neat way to get kids excited about writing (and to have fun right along with them!) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it would go over very well with them! And the little challenges could even fit in with class work.
DeleteThanks for the recommendation. It sounds like a useful book for me to add to my collection.
ReplyDeleteHopping over from the kid lit bloghop :)
Thanks for coming by! This wasn't even my main kid's book this week. . .almost forgot to add the other.
DeleteThis looks like such a great book for so many different uses! I must confess I kind of want to read it myself, and then make my kids read it! Found you on the KidLit Blog Hop and so glad I did!
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to invite you to link-up at my all-things-books link-up every Thursday at Mommynificent.com anytime!
Thanks,
Tina
It is worth reading for writers of any age!
DeleteAnd thanks for the invitation! I'll drop by and check it out!
This sounds like a great resource! At first I thought for my kids, but your review is making me realize it would definitely be helpful for me as well - going to check it from the library immediately.Thanks for posting on KLBH!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm hanging onto it for a bit to do some of the challenges :)
DeleteLove this! Starting to work with kids on how to become writers. This book as the absolute bomb!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing a couple of classroom visits in the next week. I think I'll take it along and show it to the kids.
DeleteIt sounds like a great book for young writers and even adults who want to learn to write Kid Lit! Thanks for adding this find to the Kid Lit Blog Hop! Mia from PragmaticMom
ReplyDeleteI do think they got into how kids think, too. And their examples are all kid-lit type things, which helps me to think in terms of kids, though I don't write realistic fiction for kids (oh, be honest, Rebecca. I don't write realistic fiction at all!).
DeleteMy kids are 2 & 3, so I might just have to check this one out for myself! Sounds like lots of fantastic exercises for anyone to write for the sheer joy of it. Kids need to do that more often- or they start to equate writing with the fear of a grade/judgment and then it looses all luster.
ReplyDelete:) Yes, use it for yourself! And I agree that kids need to be allowed and encouraged to write for fun, as well as to free themselves to write um, messy first drafts. I was talking to a teacher whose class I'm visiting next week, and she calls it "sloppy copy" and is frustrated by her students coming to her so afraid of making mistakes that they want her to fix their spelling when writing rough drafts.
DeleteYes, yes, yes ... I'm getting my daughter this book!!! Awesome. She decided a while ago that she wants to be a writer when she grows up and I keep telling her that it's not something that "happens", you need to work at it and educate yourself on how to write. It's an on-going battle in our house. I'm soooo pinning this and thank you so much for adding this to the Kid Lit Blog Hop.
ReplyDeleteGlad to be of service! :D
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