The I Love To Write Book:
Ideas & Tips for Young Writers
by Mary-Lane Kamberg
with preface by John Riddle (founder, I Love To Write Day)
Click here for Table of Contents
Crickhollow Books
Original Trade Softcover • Available October 2008
136 pages, 7.5” x 9.25”
Juvenile Nonfiction / Language Arts / Composition & Creative Writing (ages 8-14)
$16.95 • ISBN 978-1-933987-05-7
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SUMMARY: An inspiring guide for young writers, with lots of tips, techniques, and templates for writing success . . . activities, worksheets, samples, and best practices for classroom, homeschool, or independent writing projects.
“An ideal gift for the young potential author in one's life.” Midwest Book Review
"A most welcome source for educators and children – both inspiring and practical. Her enthusiasm for teaching young people to write will grab the attention of teachers, librarians, and kids themselves. Teachers need her straightfoward text. Librarians can recommend it whole-heartedly to the public. And kids will grow in their writing skills enthusiastically. Buy two copies! One for yourself, and one to share!"
– Jan Irving, author of Stories NeverEnding (2004) and Stories, Time and Again (2005), respected consultant in the field of children's literature and library services to children
This collection of practical advice, activities, and worksheets, with many samples, is published in support of national "I Love To Write Day" (which occurs each mid-November, on Nov. 15 in 2008). The book includes a preface by John Riddle, the founder of the annual event now celebrated in more than 20,000 schools.
The book introduces sound writing principles, not age-dependent but the beginnings of a skill set used by successful writers at all levels.
The tips includes advice for developing ideas, observing the world, using the senses, writing different types of pieces (news articles, book reviews, thank-you letters, how-tos) and best practices for writing poetry and fiction. It also covers the fundamentals of revising work and submitting it for publication.
There is also an active blog (Blue Zoo Young Writers) with additional exercises, writing tips, seasonal contests for young writers, links to reproducible materials for classroom use, updated resources, info on young writer’s camps and summer programs, and more.
The book will help any young student on the first stages of his or her journey to become a successful, self-motivated writer.
Mary-Lane Kamberg is director of a summer writing camp in Kansas for young writers. She has a journalism degree from the University of Kansas and has authored 11 books, including Bono: Fighting World Hunger and Poverty (Rosen Publishing, 2008) and The “I Don’t Know How To Cook” Book (Adams Media, 2004). She has also published hundreds of articles, short stories, and poems. She lives in Olathe, Kansas, near Kansas City.