Juicy Writing, by Brigid Lowry

Title: Juicy Writing

Subtitle: Inspiration and techniques for young writers

Author: Brigid Lowry

Target Audience: Young Adult

Pages: 195

Chapters: 5

Genre: Non-fiction - Writing

Rating: 9/10

Blurb (quoted):

“Brigid Lowry knows the highs and lows of being a writer, but she still thinks it’s a joy. In this book she takes you on a journey to discover yourself and what you really want to say, AND how to make it juicy and original. So, what do you need to begin? Where can you find ideas? How can you make your writing better? What can you do if you get stuck?

Let Brigid inspire you to doodle, daydream and discover your creativity – then write hard and fast into the wild land of your imagination. If you ever thought you’d like to write, start reading Juicy Writing!”

Judgement:

I have to say, this book was very inspirational. I found myself wanting to put it down and start writing all the time.

The content is highly helpful to both beginners and novices. It has great writing exercises, games, and ideas, as well as information and thoughts on various aspects of writing such as plot, characters, point of view, and the affect it can have on a person’s life and how a person’s life affects it.

The writing style is fun, playful, informal – perfect for those who struggle to read non-fiction due to the rigidity and raw information that gets boring. It held my attention through almost all of it and was quite entertaining as well as informative.

I definitely recommend this book to creative writers, whether you write poems, novels, scripts, or cartoons, it doesn’t matter.

So, You Wanna be a Writer? by Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood

Title: So, You Wanna be a Writer?

Subtitle: How to Write, Get Published, and maybe even make it big!

Author: Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood

Target Audience: Young Adult

Pages: 143

Chapters: 12

Genre: Non-fiction - Writing

Rating: 10/10

Blurb (quoted):

“You have the ideas and the creativity to be a writer. You’re missing only one thing… this book!

Do you long to see your name in print? Do you dream of captivating people with your stories, poems, or movies? If so, this is your chance! So, You Wanna Be a Writer? gives all the information you need to become a published author. Learn the secrets behind:

·         Finding the right genre to best express yourself.

·         Creating cool story lines and fascinating characters.

·         Starting your own reading and writing groups.

·         Overcoming the dreaded writer’s block.

·         Selling your stories and getting them published.

·         Promoting your work through signings, TV and more!

Read exclusive interviews with famous writers like Michael Crichton, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and Wendelin Van Draanen. Plus, meet ten real kid authors who share their best writing tips and advice!”

Judgement:

This book honestly covers everything – that is the first thing I have to say. It takes you through the entire writing and publishing process, explaining everything along the way.

Although it doesn’t say so anywhere on the cover, this book is for young writers hoping to get their name into print. It includes a dozen or so interviews with young writers from ages of about 8 to around 16, with information about how they write and why, and their publishing experiences.

The writing style is fun and enjoyable; unlike a lot of fiction books, it made this one fun to read. The information is helpful to those who are just starting out in the writing world or have already been researching and participating in it for years.

There are so many helpful resources, with websites and contacts for where to get published, including contests, magazines, publishers, and where to find more information on writing. It also includes some information about different careers for writers, types of writing, and tips about editing and writers block.

This book, as I’ve already said, covers everything, and anything it misses can be found in one of the resources listed.

I really enjoyed reading this book and found a lot of useful information in it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for information on anything from writing to editing to publishing.

Career Ideas for kids who like Writing, by Diane Lindsey Reeves

Title: Career Ideas for kids who like Writing

Author: Diane Lindsey Reeves

Target Audience: Young Adult

Pages: 162

Chapters: 9

Genre: Non-fiction

Rating:  9/10

Blurb (quoted):

“What do you want to be when you grow up? At the age of 10, 11, 12, or 13 could you possibly know exactly what career you will choose as an adult? Of course not! But these are the perfect ages for you to start discovering who you are, what you like to do, and what you can do best.

It’s natural for you to change your mind about what you want to be when you grow up. One day it’s an astronaut, the next it’s an athlete. The Career Ideas for Kids series takes advantage of this curiosity and shows you the many, diverse opportunities available to you.

This enjoyable new series guides you through a multitude of career possibilities based on your specific interests and skills and links you talents to a wide variety of actual professions. Highly motivational, and just plain fun, each light-hearted volume is filled with delightful text and playful illustrations to engage you.

Volumes in the series include Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Art, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Computers, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Science, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Sports, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Talking, and Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Writing.

Diane Lindsey Reeves hold an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s-level certification in applied communications. She is a graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute and is the author or co-author of several books. Reeves is the owner of a publication development company and conducts workshops on teaching career-planning skills to students. She is also the mother of two daughters and is actively involved in their education.”

Judgement:

This book, although aimed at pre-teens / tweens, was incredibly useful, informative, and inspiring for me, even at age 16.

It is interactive-optional, meaning there are activities within the book to complete, however they are optional and not necessary to continue reading. It’s well designed and set up in an easy to navigate and easy to understand way. The information is clear and informative while still interesting without being dull. It is easy and fast to read, as you can skip over parts that aren’t applicable or interesting to you. This book provides insights into your personality type, career options, and ways to get your foot in the door.

I found the book engaging and inspiring, as well as informative – it’s not a bore to read, which is key to non-fiction. It delivers exactly what it promises.

 This book has a recommendation from me to anyone wanting to know about career pathways that involve writing.

Write Your Own Fantasy Story, by Tish Farrell

Title: Write Your Own Fantasy Story

Author: Tish Farrell

Target Audience: Young Adult

Pages: 61

Chapters: 10

Genre: Non-fiction

Rating: 4/10

Blurb (quoted):

“Want to be a writer: This is the perfect place to start. The Writ Your Own series will teach you how to craft believable characters and intense plots, along with satisfying beginnings, middles, and endings. Examples from numerous books appear throughout the text, along with tips from published authors to help you along.

Fantasy is one of the most popular types of fiction. Fantasy stories – from The Wizard of Oz to Harry Potter – feature characters, places, and events that are beyond what is possible in our world. These stories make amazing, surprising and fantastic things seem completely real, and these takes hold readers in their grip from beginning to end.”

Judgement:

This book is supposed to be a guide to fiction writing. Although it has suitable content, it taught me nothing new, about fantasy or writing. This fact brings me to say that it is suitable for a beginner, who is just starting on their way to novel writing.

The cover is professional and attractive, eye-drawing, and gives the sense of many pages of text (just as a novel is), however when I opened it I found instead a picture book, which took it down to a younger level and somewhat disappointed me.

I would only suggest this book to younger people looking to begin novel writing for the first time.