Here’s a book my mom and I found last year while browsing through Borders in Plymouth, Massachusetts (going to a book store with my mom, without kids, is probably my most favorite thing in the whole world).

My son wants to be a writer when he grows up, but before I hand this book off to him, I have been holding on to it myself to bask in all its good advice. Gail Carson Levine (author of Ella Enchanted, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Fairest) takes young writers on a straight forward path to writing their first stories. The guidance it gives, however, is so pertinent that even we old gals trying to write would be wise to sit down for an hour or two and read it through. She makes writing sound fun and achievable, which, of course, it is.

My favorite chapter is called “Suffer,” in which Levine explains how we must, as writers, be vicious to our main characters.  It’s a wall I am trying to climb up in my own writing right now, but the chapter is so simple, so to-the-point, I can get up from the book, sit down at my computer, and make my characters’ lives cruel with much more ease than I could before.

Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly is encouraging, funny, and an absolute must for anyone trying to write a novel.

7 Responses to “for little writers, and grown-up ones, too”

1. Debbie says:

   14 May 2009 at 3:17 pm

   Interesting. I’ll have to look for this book, when I’m at the bookstore this weekend.
2. Jen T says:

   14 May 2009 at 7:50 pm

   Jaime, I love her stuff, and I did not know she had this out. What an awesome find! My 11 year old girl wants to be an author, so I will have to find this for a gift. Thanks for sharing!!!
3. Ashley, with CWDkids says:

   15 May 2009 at 5:02 am

   I love this recommendation!

   Have a great day!

   Ashley
4. Amy says:

   16 July 2009 at 9:43 pm

   I have an eight year old that is always writing. This would be a great book for her. Thanks for the recommendation!
5. Michelle says:

   12 August 2009 at 5:37 am

   Thanks for the recommendation. I’m going to get this for my niece for her bday. Along with a journal and some writing supplies… it’ll be a great gift for her.
6. Kelsey says:

   21 September 2011 at 2:21 pm

   As a teacher of a fifth grade classroom of exceptionally gifted students, I love this recommendation. Many writing guidebooks and lessons are so rudimentary they gain little from them. I will certainly look at this resource.

   Another resource I love is Lucy Caulkins’ work about using writing workshops. If you haven’t looked at her work, I greatly encourage it. She speaks to children like the intelligent, creative beings they are. It’s so refreshing and encouraging!
7. Jaime {sophistimom} says:

   22 September 2011 at 7:23 am

   Thanks, Kelsey, I’ll have to look into Lucy Caulkin. I hope this book will work for your students.