Your Story Matters: A Surprisingly Practical Guide to Writing

by Richard Scrimger, D. McFadzean (Illustrator)

A hilarious how-to on creative writing that makes the writing process fun for aspiring middle-school authors. For fans of Writing Radar by Jack Gantos.

Interested in writing but don't know how to get started?

Love reading and want to know more about how stories are created?

Like ridiculous tales about troublesome sisters, peanut butter and steamrollers?

Look no further!

Esteemed writer Richard Scrimger is here to answer all your burning questions about whether about plot, character, structure, story hooks or commas. (Actually, don't ask him about commas, it's not that kind of book.)

Using clever (so he thinks) analogies, (sort of) brilliant examples and funny (well . . .) anecdotes, he will give you (truly) useful tools to start you on your way as a writer. And if that's not enough, comic illustrations by D. McFadzean are the pepperoni on the writing pizza! (That will make sense once you read the book.)

So come, read this book and start your writing journey!

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Middle Grade

208 pages, Hardcover

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

I was born with very little hair and very little feet and hands. They all grew together and I still have them, together with all my organs except tonsils. I do not have four children -- they have me and we all know it. I write and teach and talk about writing and other things. Actually, I talk a lot. I’m right handed, my car has a dent in the passenger side door, and my blood type is A-. The motto of South Carolina is Dum spiro spero.— success comes by breathing. I like black licorice and rice pudding and ratatouille and coffee. Lots of coffee. My hair usually needs cutting. How much more do you need to know about anybody?

I have been writing since 1996. No, that's not true. I wrote for years before that, but no one cared. Since 1996 I've published fifteen books for adults and children. You can read more about them somewhere else on this site. A few of the books did very well. Some came close. A couple didn't do well at all. My most recent offering is Ink Me, a tragicomedy about a tattoo gone wrong, told in supercool phonetic speak by our learning-disabled hero. Zomboy – an undead story – is due out next year. (My editor and I are arguing about certain scenes right now.) And I am writing a semi-graphic novel about kids who fall into a comic book.
Do you want more details? Really? Okay, then.

In 1996 I published my first novel, Crosstown (Toronto: The Riverbank Press), which was short-listed for the City of Toronto Book Award.
Humorous short pieces about my life as an at-home dad with four small children used to appear regularly in the Globe & Mail and Chatelaine, and can still be found fairly regularly on the back page of Today's Parent. I reworked some of this material into a full-length chunk of not-quite-non-fiction, which was published by HarperCollins as Still Life With Children.

I started writing children's fiction in 1998. Two middle-school novels, The Nose From Jupiter and The Way To Schenectady did well enough to require sequels. There are four Norbert books so far, and two Peelers.

My work has received a lot of attention in Canada and The United States. The Nose From Jupiter is a Canadian bestseller. It won a Mr Christie Book Award, was on most of the top ten lists and has been translated into a Scottish dozen languages (that’s less than 12). Bun Bun’s Birthday, From Charlie’s Point of View, Mystical Rose, and Into the Ravine made a variety of short lists and books of the year – Quill and Quire, Canadian Library Association, Globe and Mail, Chicago Public Library, Time Out NY (kids), blah blah. Ink Me is part of the “7” series – linked novels featuring seven grandsons with quests from their common grandfather. Pretty cool, eh? As my most recent book, it is my current favorite. But watch out for Zomboy next year. It’s a killer!

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can think of no author more qualified to write a book of this nature. Richard Scrimger brings his innate talent and humor to this practical guide that breaks down the elements of writing a good story. As informative as it is laugh out loud funny, anyone who wants to write stories will find his suggestions to be useful. Highly recommended. #Tundra #Netgalley

[Megan Millard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before I picked up this book, I had no idea who the author was. After I looked him up, I still don't. From what I can determine, he's a middle-grades writer in Canada. Seeing as how I have no experience with his actual works of fiction, I can not determine if he stands in a position to be giving advice, but what the hell.

His advice is not bad. Some of his metaphors get a bit... messy because he tries to explain things in multiple ways. Which is great for when you're speaking to kids. I will interject here that he frequently goes to schools to speak about writing, so in that regard, he comes by it honest. However, when kids are reading, if they're already trying to grasp one relational simile, it is not a good idea to bump up another one next to it.

Teaching middle school students myself, I like how he boils things down to very simple directions. I will for sure, be using some of his phrasing for my personal narrative unit. He gives due credit for brainstorming and what that actually entails as well as revising, and how you can use that as an opportunity to revise your beginning to loop with something in your ending.

Not a big fan of the dorky humor. I know a lot of middle grades writers will do this in works of nonfiction that are written in a second-person pov, but all of the middle schoolers I've worked with simply roll their eyes when adults try to joke around with them.

Overall, a good book with approachable and logical suggestions to follow, but the tone is a little cringe.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Your Story Matters," Richard Scrimger, a favorite author of young people I work with with a deep understanding of the middle grade audience, delivers an insightful and engaging guide that empowers aspiring young writers to discover the art of storytelling. As a therapist specializing in bibliotherapy and narrative therapy, I found this book to be an excellent resource that not only nurtures creativity but also fosters emotional literacy among young people. There's so much an educator, parent, and/or counselor can do to engage youth with this book!

Having previously enjoyed Scrimger's work, particularly "The Other Side of Perfect," co-authored with Melanie Florence, I was thrilled to explore his latest offering geared towards middle grade writers. Drawing on over a decade of experience as a middle school social worker, I appreciate Scrimger's commitment to providing a resource that supports youth creative development.

Scrimger adeptly introduces the key elements of storytelling, making the art accessible to young minds. His commentary on the significance of stories as a means to experience the world through diverse perspectives is particularly commendable. I value his emphasis on the power of narrative therapy, encouraging young people to reauthor their stories and craft narratives that align with their authentic selves.

The book goes beyond theory, offering practical examples and insights into what makes stories engaging. His writing is equally engaging and fun to read! Scrimger analyzes stories that may lack engagement and provides constructive feedback, highlighting the importance of character wants, needs, and motivations. This approach empowers teachers, therapists, counselors, and parents to guide young writers in developing compelling narratives.

A standout feature of "Your Story Matters" is its exploration of how feelings inform storytelling and narrative paths. Scrimger seamlessly blends emotional literacy with good writing practices, fostering a holistic approach to creative expression. By breaking down common plots such as the stranger plot, the journey plot, and the loss plot, he assists young writers in developing a roadmap for their stories before putting pen to paper.

I especially appreciate Scrimger's encouragement for young writers to study authors they admire. Cultivating a love of reading, he argues, involves exercising choice and curiosity about writing styles. This insight into personal preferences can illuminate much about a developing young writer's identity and tastes.

The inclusion of helpful assignments and prompts throughout the book adds a practical dimension, encouraging hands-on application of the concepts presented. Scrimger even dedicates a section to writing good dialogue, a crucial aspect often overlooked in writing guides for young audiences.

"Your Story Matters" is a gem for middle grade writers and those guiding them on their creative journey. Richard Scrimger's passion for storytelling, coupled with his deep understanding of the emotional and creative needs of young minds, makes this book an invaluable tool for fostering a generation of confident and expressive writers. Whether you're a teacher, therapist, counselor, or parent, this book is a must-have for nurturing the storytellers of tomorrow. Thank you to the publisher and author for the e-arc copy!

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of tips for writing stories of fiction. Some of these were:
(1)Write from your own experiences.
(2)Base the main character or one of the characters on yourself.
(3)Add some characters based on people you know. Or you can make a whole new character combining or mixing characteristics/personalities of people you know.
(4) Start the story with a suspenseful or action packed element, and keep adding to the details slowly.
(5)Always end where you began. Resolve the points you introduced and even add little things into the story that no one would suspect are significant to the plot.
(6) Give your characters flaws. No one is perfect.

The author did refer to Adam and Eve as a story; including it in a list of children's books. In referring to life after death; he describes it as being "either eternal nothingness or eternal torment, of which no one wants to think about." Didn't know what to think of his term 'eternal nothingness.'

I did enjoy the book for the helpful writing tips it gave and will definitely be using them in my own story writing.

Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read this book before its publication date.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2026 Hackmatack Award in the English non-fiction category. When I first read the title ('Your Story Matters') I thought this would be specific to biographical writing, however it was more about writing in general. The subtitle ('a surprisingly practical guide to writing') was spot on. As a facilitator for Hackmatack Club meetings (for kids grades 4-6) I feel like this book is the only tool I would need to do an activity based on writing. The author explains the process of wiring and breaks it down into basic elements (i.e. setting & characters) and steps (prepare, model, write, rewrite). He makes references to various books & other media to help illustrate his ideas. Speaking of illustrations, there are actually a number of black and white illustrations throughout the book that contribute to the humour & help keep the reader engaged. I enjoyed the second appendix, notes on stories that were mentioned throughout the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who was interested in the process for writing, or producing media for film & television. Although the target audience is kids, I think the book would also appeal to adults who are looking for a very basic primer on the craft of writing.

[Shai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc from Penguin Random House Publishing Canada and I thought it was not only practical, as the subtitle says, but an insightful guide to teaching writing directly to middle-schoolers. I often hear children complain about writing. They feel that it does not come naturally to them, but as Richard Scrimger described in this book, story telling is an ancient art form which every one is capable of doing.

His chapters are illustrated with fun graphics. This, coupled with the engaging way in which he writes, are prefect for the all too "cool" middle school age group. They need books that will pull them in and hold their attention, which I believe, this book does. It is a step by step guide for children to put their creative juices into action and come up with their own books. Who knows, Scrimger might inspire the next J.K. Rowling (or Richard Scrimger) with this book?

I would recommend this book for any class above third grade, which, in my experience is when students are more disengaged with writing.

[Dan Allbery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Your Story Matters at my favorite hometown bookstore, Auntie's. As a middle school English teacher, I felt this would be a nice addition to my classroom library and maybe a resource where I could steal a few teaching moves. Although the information wasn't new for me, I did like how it was presented—very student-friendly and the paired illustrations were a nice touch. I'm not sure how many of my students would pick this up on their own, but for the budding writer, it could be a winner.

Some of my favorite nuggets were: the three basic storylines (pg. 33), four types of style (pg. 80), the countering of 'said is dead' (pg. 92), and the ratio between narration and scene writing (pg. 156). However, other readers may have significantly different takeaways. Recommended for GR 5-7.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who keeps getting "stuck" I think this book is fantastic for the middle school audience it's designed for but also as a humorous motivation for adults. This was a humorous explanation of the writing process and what makes it work, how to improve your writing, etc. The examples are hilarious and the style is engaging. I highly recommend this for all middle school kids, even if they never thought of writing before, because everyone has an amazing story to tell.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

[Daniela Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I think?

Very straightforward and with some good advice - nothing super new or monumental but some great basic tips and practical advice for starting to write.

I got a bit tired of the pizza analogy and found the overall tone kind of cringe and trying too hard, but then again, I’m not the target audience.

Overall, I liked the discussion of dialogue and the breakdown of the story, I thought it was very clear and easy to follow.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A positively delightful book for young people, walking them through the process of writing (and, importantly, rewriting!) a story. There were a lot of great prompts and exercises folded into some really practical advice and some great technical knowledge.

I enjoyed the pizza analogy (crust=setting, toppings=characters, then you have to bake it! Plot)) And breaking writing into description, action, dialogue and insight was very helpful. Even though it is a book for kids, I learned a lot!

[Charlie Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many books like this in the library. Like, why are there so many? So basically, this is just another book about the key of writing a good story. I've seen so many of these books already, I'm crashing out. Still, I suck at writing. So this book is a good example of a good educational book. I'm giving it a 4 star for the pure sake of learning kids.

[Laura Stahly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read the ARC for this book. It is a great resource with practical and entertaining suggestions for writers.

[Laura Stahly Dronkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for this book. It has great suggestions for students to expand their writing skills and it does it in a fun way.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely better than other 'how to write' books for kids that I have read. Very practical tips. I enjoyed it.

[Siyka · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good and practical guide to start writing

[Rebecca Upjohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and accessible guide to crafting stories (focused on fiction) for young readers but applicable to writers of all ages. As always with Mr. Scrimger, I enjoyed his humorous turns of phrase.