Creative Writing

The inspiring sequel to the 2015 Parent's Choice Winner, How to Read a Story! Step 1: Choose an idea for your story. A good one. Step 2: Decide on a setting. Don't be afraid to mix things up. Step 3: Create a heroine--or a hero. Now: Begin. Accomplished storytellers Kate Messner and Mark Siegel playfully chronicle the process of becoming a writer in this fun follow-up to How to Read a Story, guiding young storytellers through the joys and challenges of the writing process. From choosing an idea, to creating a problem for their character to resolve, to coming to The End, this empowering picture book breaks down the writing process in a dynamic and accessible way, encouraging kids to explore their own creativity--and share their stories with others! * Perfect for educators, librarians, and parents who are helping children develop early writing and reading skills * Great read-aloud book for preschool- and kindergarten-aged children interested in learning to read * Helps teach Common Core Curriculum skills Young readers who love We Are in a Book!, How Rocket Learned to Read, and Also an Octopus will love the reading and writing lessons and inspiration in How to Write a Story. * Read-aloud books for kids ages 3-5 * Learning to write books for kids * Kindergarten, pre-K creativity books Kate Messner is an award-winning author whose many books for kids have been selected as Best Books by the New York Times, Junior Library Guild, Indie Bound, and Bank Street College of Education. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family. Mark Siegel is the author of many graphic novels and children's picture books, including the 5 Worlds series, as well as the illustrator of How to Read a Story and the Robert F. Sibert Honor Book To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel. He lives in New York.

Aspiring writers love to dream up stories...but getting them down on paper may be a challenge. That's where How to Write Your Best Story Ever! can help. This book is bursting with creative ways to help youngsters craft all types of stories. Helpful features include: Hints and tips to create amazing characters and settings Story Sparks to help young writers come up with exciting plots Word Webs that offer choices that add flair to stories Ways to wrap it all up with a brilliant ending Inspiration along the way from fantastic fiction and advice from bestselling authors Chapters devoted to writing stories such as Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction, Mash-ups, and more With this essential guide to writing and a little bit of imagination, kids can write their best story ever!

Book advocate Colby Sharp presents more than forty beloved, award-winning, diverse and bestselling authors and illustrators in a creative challenge! Colby Sharp invited more than forty authors and illustrators to provide story starters for each other; photos, drawings, poems, prose, or anything they could dream up. When they received their prompts, they responded by transforming these seeds into any form of creative work they wanted to share. The result is a stunning collection of words, art, poetry, and stories by some of our most celebrated children book creators. A section of extra story starters by every contributor provides fresh inspiration for readers to create works of their own. Here is an innovative book that offers something for every kind of reader and creator! With contributions by Sherman Alexie, Tom Angleberger, Jessixa Bagley, Tracey Baptiste, Sophie Blackall, Lisa Brown, Peter Brown, Lauren Castillo, Kate DiCamillo, Margarita Engle, Deborah Freedman, Adam Gidwitz, Chris Grabenstein, Jennifer L. Holm, Victoria Jamieson, Travis Jonker, Jess Keating, Laurie Keller, Jarret J. Krosoczka, Kirby Larson, Minh Lê, Grace Lin, Kate Messner, Daniel Nayeri, Naomi Shihab Nye, Debbie Ohi, R.J. Palacio, Linda Sue Park, Dav Pilkey, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Dan Santat, Gary Schmidt, John Schu, Colby Sharp, Bob Shea, Liesl Shurtliff, Lemony Snicket, Laurel Snyder, Javaka Steptoe, Mariko Tamaki, Linda Urban, Frank Viva, and Kat Yeh.

The Newbery Award-winning author of Dead End in Norvelt shares advice for how to be the best brilliant writer in this funny and practical creative writing guide perfect for all kids who dream of seeing their name on the spine of a book. With the signature wit and humor that have garnered him legions of fans, Jack Gantos instructs young writers on using their "writing radar" to unearth story ideas from their everyday lives. Incorporating his own misadventures as a developing writer, Gantos inspires readers to build confidence and establish good writing habits as they create, revise, and perfect their stories. Pop-out text boxes highlight key tips, alongside Gantos's own illustrations, sample stories, and snippets from his childhood journals. More than just a how-to guide,Writing Radar is a celebration of the power of storytelling and an ode to the characters who--many unwittingly--inspired Gantos's own writing career.

From the bestselling illustrator whose friendly take on science has revolutionized our understanding of everything from the periodic table to the universe, comes a fresh take on creative writing as only Basher can do it. Meet Plot, one of the many 'Schemers and Dreamers' who keeps a story running and its events moving in the right order; Atmosphere, known as a 'Scene Setter' because her job entails filling a scene with suspense, drama, or comedy; a cast of 'Heroes and Villains' including Protagonist and Narrator; and chatty, talkative Wordsmiths like Dialogue to name one in particular. Basher Basics: Creative Writing is a persuasive guide that includes tons of detail on the building blocks of narrative and what makes creative writing work.

In a humorous and entertaining guide, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author Patricia Reilly Giff breaks down the process of writing fiction into steps, all while trying to cope with the constant distractions from her exuberant seventy-pound golden retriever puppy, Rosie. Citing examples from her award-winning novels she explains how to proceed with each step in chapter sections titled "Can You See What I Did?" Young writers can find the inspiration and tips they need to try their hand in sections called "Your Turn." Anecdotes from her writing life and hilarious adventures with her high-energy pet provide entertainment and encouragement.

LEARN HOW TO WRITE LIKE THE EXPERTS, FROM THE EXPERTS. Practical advice in a perfect package for young aspiring writers. After receiving letters from fans asking for writing advice,accomplished authors Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter joined together to create this guidebook for young writers. The authors mix inspirational anecdotes with practical guidance on how to find a voice, develop characters and plot, make revisions, and overcome writer's block. Fun writing prompts will help young writers jump-start their own projects, and encouragement throughout will keep them at work.

Inform and engage young writers with this contemporary, creative breakdown of four creative-writing genres-poetry, nonfiction, drama, and short stories. Clear, concise text introduces and defines key skills while aligning closely to Common Core State Standards. Fun and inspiring writing prompts launch new skills into practice, while author bios and mentor texts provide creative blueprints for budding writers.

Introduces and defines essential elements of writing poetry accompanied by compelling writing prompts for practicing new skills. Real-life author bios and excerpts enhance skills and understanding.

Award-winning and bestselling authors turn their own real-life experiences into captivating works of fiction! Where do authors get their ideas? And how do they turn those ideas into stories? This anthology looks at the process of taking real-life experiences and turning them into works of engaging fiction. The collection features award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors who provide both original fictional short stories as well as the nonfiction accounts that inspired them. The contributing authors include Julia Alvarez, Karen Cushman, Margarita Engle, Dee Garretson, Nathan Hale, Matthew Kirby, Claire Legrand, Grace Lin, Kate Messner, Linda Sue Park, Adam Rex, Gary Schmidt, Alan Sitomer, Caroline Starr Rose, Heidi Stemple, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tracy Edward Wymer, Lisa Yee, and Jane Yolen.

Do you wish you had a published writer's secrets at your fingertips, ready to help you achieve your goals of publication, success, and the chance to be the next great teen writer? In Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write, Victoria Hanley, award-winning author of young adult fiction, spills the secrets for bringing action, adventure, humor, and drama to stories. All of the elements of fiction, from creating believable dialogue to exciting plots,are laid out clearly and illustrated with examples taken straight from story excerpts by excellent writers. The book is packed with writing exercises designed to encourage teens to tell the stories that are theirs alone. In addition, other published authors of young adult literature share their insights about the writing life. Teens can gain firsthand advice from accomplished writers T. A. Barron, Joan Bauer, Hilari Bell, Chris Crutcher, David Lubar, Lauren Myracle, Todd Mitchell, Nancy Garden, and many more.

Bestselling author of Ella Enchanted and fairy-tale master Gail Carson Levine shares her secrets of great writing in this companion to the popular Writing Magic. Have you ever wanted to captivate readers with a great opening, create spectacular and fantastical creatures, make up an entire country, realize a dastardly villain, write an epic love story, or make your characters leap off the page? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Gail Carson Levine can help you achieve your goals. Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine offers a behind-the-scenes take on writing and teaches you how to become a world-class author. Drawing from her popular blog, Gail answers readers' fiction- and poetry-writing questions and dives into how to make a story come alive. If you're interested in writing prose and poetry or just want to be a better and more rounded writer, this book will help you on your creative journey. With her trademark humor and vast writing knowledge, Gail Carson Levine reveals the tricks of her trade, writer to writer. Supports the Common Core State Standards

Innovative yet accessible writing strategies appropriate for both fiction and nonfiction are presented in this enchanting tale of a writing lion who holds court for a cast of animal friends. Aspiring writers learn the essential nature of nouns and adjectives and how to use them to express their individual visions so that they "show and don’t tell” every time. Writing lessons are cleverly integrated into a tale that incorporates a sound chip, a scratch-and-sniff patch, and a tactile object to engage the aspiring writer’s five senses in fun proofs. American Booksellers Association "Picks List"   Winner of a 2004 Parents' Choice Recommended Award   Winner of the Best Trade Book with Educational Application award from Global Learning Initiative, a partnership of The Bologna Children's Book Fair and The Association of Educational Publishers   Selected for The Original Art exhibition at the Museum of Illustration   Winner of a Children's Choices Award from the International Reading Association/Children's Book Council   Winner of the National Parenting Publications Honors Award   Innovative yet accessible writing strategies appropriate for both fiction and nonfiction are presented in this enchanting tale of a writing lion who holds court for a cast of animal friends. Aspiring writers learn the essential nature of nouns and adjectives and how to use them to express their individual visions so that they "show and don’t tell” every time. Writing lessons are cleverly integrated into a tale that incorporates a sound chip, a scratch-and-sniff patch, and a tactile object to engage the aspiring writer’s five senses in fun proofs.

Make those writing dreams a reality with this comprehensive guide that explains how to go from staring at an empty page to becoming a published author. Designed to inspire creative expression and help aspiring young writers achieve their dreams, So, You Want to Be a Writer? takes readers through the fulfilling step-by-step process of becoming a professional writer, from learning how to generate ideas to getting published and promoting their work.      Aspiring writers will learn how to tackle writer’s block, improve technique, approach publishers, and more. A detailed list of magazines, websites, contests, and book publishers looking for young authors will keep readers’ eyes on the prize, while exclusive interviews with bestselling authors and young published writers will keep them engaged and inspired.      So, You Want to Be a Writer? includes exclusive insights from well-known authors, such as the late Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton and fantasy author Amanda Hocking, who self-published her first novels to huge buzz. And profiles on young writers who are out there working right now—from a Vanity Fair blogger to a lyricist—give a real-time perspective to the dream profession.

Want to write fiction? Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. This book takes you through the writing steps from beginning to end. Learn how to develop a story's characters, organize your story's plot, revise a rough draft, and more!

In Sharpen Your Story Or Narrative Writing Skills, Author Jennifer Rozines Roy Explains the Process of Writing Various Kinds of Narratives, Including Fiction, Nonfiction, and Personal Narrative. She Describes a Variety of Genres--adventure, Biography, History, Fantasy, and Folktales. With Suggestions On Setting, Character, and Plot Development, She Helps the Budding Writer With the Steps of the Writing Process.

Winner of the 2015 Parent's Choice Award The perfect starting point for creative play, this is the ultimate book of ideas for arts and crafts, building and tinkering, writing and rhyming, singing and dancing, and more! For parents who don't feel they are creative, this book provides an easy entry point for raising creative kids. Creativity is an essential ingredient for a happy childhood, and this is the ultimate collection of ideas for arts and crafts, building and tinkering, writing and rhyming, singing and dancing, and more! With 500 unplugged, hands-on activities for children ages two to twelve, this book goes beyond the simple arts and crafts found in most kids' creativity books and offers fun ideas for a generous range of imaginative and creative play--all in one giant book. You have the power to encourage creativity in your child's daily life, whether you feel creative yourself or not. This book is your guide for being a creativity mentor, your handbook for raising kids rich with creative habits and skills, and your toolbox full of ideas and activities. So say YES to creativity! Encourage your child to dabble in all kinds of activities, and discover the magic and beauty of imagination.

This book teaches readers how to plan and write fractured fairy tales. They will discover what a fractured fairy tale is, how to prepare a plot outline, develop characters, revise and edit the story, and write a final draft of the narrative. A variety of activities provide hints and tips along the way to support the development of characters, clear event sequences, plot elements, and the overall creative writing process.

This book gives solid information on all kinds of fictional writing, including novels, short stories, fantasy, science fiction, humor, & even movie scripts.

Here are the ideas, experiments, and inspiration to unfold your imagination and get your writing to flow off the page! This is the everything-you-need guide to spark new poems and unstick old stories, including lists of big, small, gross-out, and favorite words; adventurous and zany prompts to leap from; dares and double dares to help you mash up truths and lies into outrageous paragraphs; and letters of encouragement written directly to you from famous authors, including: Annie Barrows, Naomi Shihab Nye, Lemony Snicket, C. M. Mayo, Elizabeth Singer Hunt, Moira Egan, Gary Soto, Lucille Clifton, Avi, Betsy Franco, Carol Edgarian, Karen Cushman, Patricia Polacco, Prartho Sereno, Lewis Buzbee, and C. B. Follett. This is your journal for inward-bound adventures--use it to write, brainstorm, explore, imagine--and even rip!

Learn how to express your thoughts clearly, enliven your writing with vivid images, avoid the dull passive voice, and more. Titles in Barron's extensive Painless Series cover a wide range of subjects, as they are taught at middle school and high school levels. Perfect for supporting Common Core Standards, these books are written for students who find the subjects somewhat confusing, or just need a little extra help. Most of these books take a lighthearted, humorous approach to their subjects, and offer fun exercises including puzzles, games, and challenging "Brain Tickler" problems to solve. Bonus Online Component: includes additional games to challenge students, including Beat the Clock, a line match game, and a word scramble.

From a New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning illustrator comes an utterly hilarious step-by-step guide to writing a book, as told by a child "author." Want to write a book? Well, the spunky, know-it-all narrator of this side-splitting story can tell you just how to do it. She walks readers through the whole process, from deciding what to write about (like dump trucks or The Olden Days) to writing a story that doesn't put everyone to sleep and getting people to buy your book (tips: be nice, give them cookies, and if all else fails, tie them to a chair). Packed with bestselling author Lloyd-Jones's signature wit and charm, this picture book, with whimsical illustrations by beloved illustrator Layton, delivers an outrageously silly story that is sure to have young readers--and writers!--howling with laughter.

The official NaNoWriMo handbook that inspires young people to tackle audacious goals and complete their creative projects. Includes pep talks from today's biggest authors!  John Green, Marissa Meyer, Jennifer Niven, Daniel José Older, Danielle Paige, Celia C. Pérez, and Scott Westerfeld with an introduction by Jason Reynolds! Partly a how-to guide on the nitty-gritty of writing, partly a collection of inspiration to set (and meet) ambitious goals, Brave the Page is the go-to resource for middle-grade writers. Narrated in a fun, refreshingly kid-friendly voice, it champions NaNoWriMo's central mission that everyone's stories deserve to be told. The volume includes chapters on character, plot, setting, and the like; motivating essays from popular authors; advice on how to commit to your goals; a detailed plan for writing a novel or story in a month; and more! National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes in the transformational power of creativity. They provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds--on and off the page. With its first event in 1999, the organization's programs now include National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, Come Write In, and the "Now What?" Months.

From bestselling author Ally Carter, the definitive guide to writing a novel, including helpful tips from other YA stars. In this book consisting of real writing questions from real teens, in-depth answers in Ally's voice, and occasional, brief answers from guest authors, Ally Carter gives teens the definitive how-to guide on writing their first novel. From getting started, to creating conflict, all the way through to a guide to the publishing industry, Ally covers it all.

It's the revolutionary English language arts study guide just for middle school students from the brains behind Brain Quest.      Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts . . .takes students from grammar to reading comprehension to writing with ease, including parts of speech, active and passive verbs, Greek and Latin roots and affixes; nuances in word meanings; textual analysis, authorship, structure, and other skills for reading fiction and nonfiction; and writing arguments, informative texts, and narratives. The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK(tm) series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit--borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class. There are five books in all, and each is the only book you need for each main subject taught in middle school: Math, Science, American History, English Language Arts, and World History. Inside the reader will find every subject's key concepts, easily digested and summarized: Critical ideas highlighted in neon colors. Definitions explained. Doodles that illuminate tricky concepts in marker. Mnemonics for memorable shortcuts. And quizzes to recap it all. The BIG FAT NOTEBOOKS meet Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and state history standards, and are vetted by National and State Teacher of the Year Award-winning teachers. They make learning fun, and are the perfect next step for every kid who grew up on Brain Quest.  

After writing more than one hundred books, it still amazes me that I have been lucky enough to spend most of my life doing what I truly love: writing. What makes a writer? The desire to tell a story, a love of language, an eye for detail, practice, practice, practice. How well should you know your characters? Do you need to outline before you write? How important is length? Now Walter Dean Myers, the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, walks you through the writing process. Includes: Examples from his writing and reading experiences Walter's six-box and four-box outlines for writing fiction and nonfiction Excerpted pages from Walter's own notebooks An afterword by Ross Workman, Walter's teen coauthor of kick Writing tips from both Walter and Ross Anyone can be a writer, with a little help from Walter Dean Myers!