Reaching the Reluctant Writer: Fast, Fun, Informational Writing Ideas

by Mike Artell

Mike Artell rouses reluctant writers with 43 short, informational writing exercises that use humor to engage students and equip them with the skills they’ll need to write clearly and effectively. Using "real world" texts like letters, advertising copy, résumés, and maps, Reaching the Reluctant Writer helps you encourage students to trust their own wit, stretch their creative muscles, and learn how to "think funny." Each inventive exercise challenges students to practice specific writing craft skills and includes a drawing component that develops visual literacy. The result is a valuable resource that blends humor and creativity with practical, real world writing practice.

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Mike Artell is a multi-award-winning author, illustrator, musician and professional speaker.

Mike has hosted his own television show and has created cartoons for many national publications and greeting card companies. Mike’s first children’s books were published in 1990 and since then, he has written and/or illustrated more than 40 books. Many of Mike’s books have won awards. Most recently, his book PETITE ROUGE – A CAJUN RED RIDING HOOD was named 2009 Read Aloud Book of the Year by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Over the years, Mike has shared his techniques for thinking, writing and drawing more creatively with hundreds of thousands of students and teachers at schools in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Mike also stays busy as a platform speaker addressing many education, healthcare and association groups.

Mike lives in Covington, Louisiana with his wife Susan, a retired science teacher and middle school librarian. They have two grown daughters and 5 grandchildren.

Reviews

[Théo d'Or]

Write, folks ! Anything, just write ! Artell's book is full of ideas that were already somehow familiar to me, in the context of using the humorous factor in the conception of ideas in writing. Now, I'm not saying that any of you can be a new Shakespeare, but it will certainly be something unique, if you wake up your imagination from its lethargic state, and write with your mind, and not with your hands. Of course, your story will begin with a reluctant pen, a blank page, and a looming deadline. In a realm confined by margins, and ruled by the unforgiving Cursor, your hero, the valiant Wordsmith, wields the mighty Pen of Progress. With each stroke, the beast's fiery breath of doubt is quelled, and the kingdom of Creativity is freed from the shackles of hesitation. Then, you're both the teller and the tale, the narrator and the narrative, spinning a yarn that weaves itself into the fabric of the book. You realize that you're no longer on the edge, you're the bridge, the link between the reluctant writer and the boundless world of words that awaits.
Trying to write the review of this book, the ink of the words had barely dried, when I heard a rustling from the pages below. I peered over the edge to see a new character climbing up, her fingers gripping the edge of a dog- eared page.
" - Who are you ? ", I asked, stepping back to give her space.
" - I'm Idea "- she replied, brushing off the dust of forgotten bookmarks.
" - I've been wandering through the footnotes, looking for a story to call home ".
I smiled, recognizing a kindred spirit.
" - Well, you've come to the right place. This book is full of reluctant writers in need of inspiration. "
Idea's eyes sparkled with mischief...
" - Then, let's give them a story they'II never forget. "
For every story told begets another, and on the edge of this book - the possibilities were endless.
And as for me, the writer on the edge of " Reaching the Reluctant Writer ", I closed the book with a satisfied smile, thinking that even the most reluctant writer has a story possible worth telling.