Kirkus Reviews

Two prolific writers for children offer advice on the writing process for young writers. In an engaging, informal style, Mazer and Potter cover the range of writing concerns, from getting started, creating characters, writing dialogue, finding a narrative voice and revising. Clearly the authors had fun compiling their tips, and original metaphors and images for the writing process keep things light: "Mental compost" is the fertile soil of the imagination, the "overflowing toilet" comes from having too many ideas and 300-pound drafts are what students lug around when enthusiastic teachers burden them with too many required steps in the writing process. This volume runs that risk, too, with so much well-intentioned advice that it could become daunting, but Phelan's illustrations, "I Dare You" sidebars that encourage students to try out ideas and the authors' own models of their writing help keep the format light and engaging. Young people who have already written a fair amount will best be able to see the value of the advice and will feel as if they have been allowed into a friendly conversation with masters of their craft. The best of recent volumes on the subject. (introduction, appendix) (Nonfiction. 9-14)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Young scribes may find the tools they need with these guides to the craft.

<REVIEW PUBLISHER=""Reed Business Information-US"" RELEASEDATE=""01/18/2010"" LANGUAGE=""EN"" SECRIGHTS=""YES"" PUBLICATION=""Publishers Weekly"" PUBDATE=""01/18/2010"" VOLUME=""257"" ISSUE=""3"" PAGE=""48"" SECTION=""Reviews"" SUBSECTION=""Children's Books"" CONTENTTYPE=""Review"" AUTHNAME=""Staff"">Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's HandbookAnne Mazer and Ellen Potter, illus. by Matt Phelan. Roaring Brook/Flash Point, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-59643-514-8; $9.99 paper ISBN 978-1-59643-628-2

This playful guide for aspiring writers aims to demystify the creative process as it explores first drafts and finding inspiration, the meat and potatoes of writing, and writer's block and criticism. Mazer (the Sister Magic series) and Potter (the Olivia Kidney books) challenge readers to dig deep into their characters, make a “mental compost pile” to find inspiration, and face revision head on, while modeling their own approaches. “I get ideas while waiting in lines, staring at the clouds, or lying sick in bed,” says Mazer; demonstrating how to build suspense, Potter shares the true story (“with a few embellishments”) of a robber hanging from her neighbor's terrace. Phelan's ink illustrations and a lighthearted humor enliven the text, and honest advice, such as “Your character's heart's desire is what propels your story forward,” are cogent and invaluable. Ages 9–14. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Mar.)

Voice of Youth Advocates

Mazer and Potter receive one recurring question from thousands of their readers: ôHow do you write?ö This book is their answer, crafted with joy and verve. Their discussions cover every topic from how to find inspiration to crafting a story to how to find a good place to write. The chapters are short and cleverly interspersed with sidebars, including many ôI Dare Youö sections that challenge budding writers to take on tasks such as describing the color yellow to someone who cannot see and writing irresistible starting lines for stories. The bookÆs light and conversational tone makes it absolutely approachable and fun. The ôRecipe for Mental Compostö in the ôInspirationö chapter is just one example of the practical and delightful advice they offer as a means of breaking down the daunting business of writing. Aimed at middle and junior high students, this book will be terrific for both libraries and classrooms. Mazer and Potter undoubtedly had a good time writing this guide and clearly know their audience. They sometimes toss aside the meticulous planning teachers urge, but for students who want to pursue creative writing, their advice is thought provoking. Rather than outlining the whole plot of a story, Potter says she ôstalk[s] my charactersàfollowing close enough behind them to see what they will do.ö It is also funny (your descriptions should be more interesting than ôàthat smooshed toad on the sidewalkö) and practical (find a writing partner to share work with and to ôcheer each other onö).ùMary Ann Darby.

ALA Booklist (Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2010)

Two fine writers put their heads together and come up with an equally fine guide to their craft for beginners. Avoiding traditional chapters, the coauthors address issues by turns in short personal takes. Mazer speaks to beginnings, for example, while Potter tackles endings; and both have diverting things to say about everything that happens in between, whether it's the narrative voice or (eek) writer's block. Always agreeable, practical, and commonsensical in their approach, the two are also refreshingly permissive ("it's fine to break rules"), though they add the caveat that rule breakage should come from a knowledge of said rules and a good reason for breaking them. Their text is enlivened with sidebar features, personal anecdotes, and suggestions to readers for exercising their new skills (happily these aren't called "Exercises" but, instead, "I Dare You"). Such devices, along with the authors' unfailing good humor, will go a long way to convincing their audience that writing can actually be fun! A notion that is nicely underscored by Phelan's engaging and always appealing illustrations.