Live Writing: Breathing Life into Your Words – A Practical Toolbox for Young Authors

by Ralph Fletcher

A practical guide for how to make your writing come alive , by the bestselling author of A Writer’s Notebook and the ALA Notable Book Fig Pudding . What is “live writing”? It’s the kind of writing that has a current running through it—energy, electricity, juice. This book is a young writer’s toolbox for bringing writing to life. But instead of awls and hammers, this toolbox contains words, imagination, a love of books, a sense of story, and ideas for how to make the writing live and breathe. Perfect for classrooms, Live Writing is full of practical wisdom for young writers, from bestselling writer Ralph Fletcher. Aspiring writers will devour these tips for how to make their words jump off the page!

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Education, Professional Development, Teaching, Middle Grade

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Ralph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.

Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.

Reviews

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very informative and valuable. Just like Ralph Fletcher's other books, A Writer's Notebook and How Writers Work, it's written for younger readers, but as and adult I found it just as useful.

The author explains a lot of elements that would make your book better and improve your overall writing, giving numerous examples. The explanations are clear and concise and they have me a lot of inspiration.

I really would recommend all three books by Ralph Fletcher to the beginning writers who want to learn a lot of useful tricks! He truly pointed out some things that I've never thought about.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, useful guide for writers that, in the author's words, provides a "toolbox" of elements to use when writing. Chapters focus on narrative tools such as setting and conflict, but also on the importance of finding the author's own unique voice. Although geared towards younger writers, there are useful ideas here for any author, especially one experiencing writer's block.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an informative, little how-to book on the ‘ins and outs’ of writing. While the primary audience is children, this is good for anyone who is just starting out on their writing journey, or needs some gentle reminders about what makes a story work.

I think this would be a useful guide for someone who wants to write books for children, so... someone like me then. ☺️

[Paula Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Middle schoolers can learn lots about effective writing by reading Fletcher's simple, user-friendly book, Live Writing. He uses students' writing samples to make his points. Topics in this book include strategies for writing "grabber"leads and satisfying conclusions. He writes about how to include supporting details and how to bring characters to life. Descriptive settings can make or break a story and small, important moments can help readers focus on what is significant in the writing. The examples he uses, poetry, excerpts from short stories and nonfiction, are taken from his students, his own writing or published authors. This book is written with a very simple, conversational tone from one of the most respected authors of writing instruction, so I would highly recommend this book. Multiple copies of this book for a writing club or an ELA class would be ideal.

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though written for young readers (many of the writing examples are from middle grade students) this book is jam-packed with valuable suggestions for all who desire to learn to write better... or for publication. On the cover one reads "strategies, ideas, and tips to fuel your for a lifetime of writing."
This little book delivers what it promises.

I have been writing for publication for more that forty years. LIVE WRITING was a speedy reminder of things I'd forgotten, neglected, or simply needed to keep in mind.

[Khulud Khamis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how Fletcher's books came to live in my library. I might have found them on the street, because otherwise I wouldn't have picked them up. However, I enjoyed them. They're meant for budding writers, school children. Still, they have some gems in them for any writer. I just reread this book, to be reminded of the simple tools in my writer's toolbox. It was a quick read, less than a couple of hours. I'd recommend his books to middle-school children.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely intended for a younger audience, but it’s light reading with useful tips that everyone can use for writing. Also, reading all the writing samples from the young students makes me cry because I love it when little kids write.

[BradMD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the quotes in this book are great. She also wrote the Writer's Notebook. I believe she may be writer of children's books.

[Shel · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW: Live Writing: Breathing life into your words

Fletcher, R. (1999). Live Writing: Breathing life into your words. New York: Avon Books, Inc.

131 pages.


Appetizer: As part of his series on writing, in Live Writing Ralph Fletcher describes tools to help middle grade readers bring their writing to life.

With accessible terms, examples and writing from his own, other published authors as well as the writings of third to seventh graders, Fletcher describes ways to bring stories to life, focusing on character, voice, conflict and setting. He also discusses having a strong beginning or lead, a satisfying end, vivid details and golden lines. In culmination, Fletcher unpacks a 7th grader's writing sample for all of these aspects.

This writing guide also include advice from some other authors related to the concepts Fletcher highlighted. (Alas, since this book was published in 1999, some of the authors, while excellent, are not as commonly referred to as those included in some other writing guides for children (like Rip This Page.) Along those same lines, Fletcher references some picturebooks and middle grade novels that, while classic, also felt a little dated.

Overall, there is some excellent advice in Live Writing. This is a great resource to have in a classroom to help middle grade authors improve their creative writing.


Dinner Conversation:

"This book is based on the simple idea that every writer has a toolbox. Instead of awls and hammers, a writer's toolbox contains words, imagination, a love of books, a sense of story, and ideas for how to make the writing live and breathe" (p. 2).

"By "live writing" I mean the kind of writing that has a current running through it--energy, electricity, juice. When we read live writing, the words seem to lift off the page and burrow deep inside us. My goal in writing this book is to help you make your writing come alive" (p. 3).

"Writers don't read like other people. Writers are interested in what's going to happen, of course, but they are also keenly interested in finding out how the author created the effect." (p. 10)

"Your writing voice is like a handshake; it makes the connection with the reader" (p. 42)

"Setting does matter. Stories (history) happen in a particular place. Martin Luther King, Jr., got locked in a jail in Selma, Alabama. That place will be forever linked with this event. Wilbur and Charlotte became friends in that dusty old barn. Describing the setting is more than just a necessary chore--it's a crucial element in making your writing deeper and richer." (p. 67)


Tasty Rating: !!!

[Willie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snapshot: One of the best additions to a teacher’s writing library. This book teaches students (and their teachers) how to make their writing, well, come alive. From catchy leads to emotional endings, interesting characters to realistic settings, and conflict to climax, this book has it all. With tips for improving writing and numerous examples packed tightly into a concise and readable format, this book is extremely helpful in guiding teachers and students through the writing process.

“Hook”: It’s very concise. A lot of writing about writing is written in a dry and wordy format. Each chapter in this book is short and can stand on its own. This makes it easy for students to get interested in the book. They might read one chapter, realize how much it has helped their writing, and then want to delve deeper.

Challenges: This is not a novel. It is not fiction. It’s a writer writing about writing. Obviously this book should be used in segments to help students during the writing process. You would not teach it or assign it like other books in your classes.

Student in mind: Independent writers. Students who love writing on their own but need more support that their teachers don’t have time to give them. This book is very user-friendly so sections of it could definitely be assigned to help one of the more advanced writers in the class improve their craft independently.

Notes: Differentiate the use of this book. One possible idea is to assign different chapters to students who are struggling with different aspects of their writing.

Level: Middle School/High School.

[Shon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an informational text, that does not read like an informational text. It offers many different crafts that writer's use when creating a text. It also takes you through the writing process from beginning to end; from decided what to write, to how to start, to story and and character development, to how to end a piece. This book was filled with a wealth of knowledge told from the perspective of an experienced writer. The information provided was not given in a technical fashion that only gave facts, definitions, and the occasional example. The author was able to education in a manner that was very informative, but with the informal feel of a casual conversation. The author's use of personal anecdotes, short to the point chapters, and varied examples made the book an easy enjoyable read. The author was able to appeal to a range of audiences because of his delicate balance of simplistic writing and varied texts used for examples. I believe that this book would be great to use for teaching a novice writer and also an experienced writer that may want to brush up on their skills. The author has given a chronological order to his chapters, but made each chapter to stand alone so that the reader could read the book straight through or only chapters that are related to a craft that they are especially interested in.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about how to create good writing. It's useful for teachers and aspiring writers, including students. Fletcher uses simple, easy-to-understand language so just about anyone and everyone can learn from this book. He discusses all of the elements of writing, including building character, creating voice, describing setting, building up conflict, etc.

The examples that he uses in the book consist of a mix of young adult and children's authors and actual student work so you get to see a good mix of what "works" and he does a solid job of pointing out why it works. The suggestions that he makes are very implementable and realistic for the range of authors that this book can help.

As a writing teacher, I plan to use a lot of the book's content in my minilessons. The examples, I think, will be especially useful. However, I know I have personally gained a lot of insight about my own writing from this book and have no doubt that this book will also have a positive impact on me the writer.

[Natasha Jesmer]

Ralph Fletcher's text has empowered me to guide students into bringing life into their writing and into my own writing.
Through this text he provides strategies to help bring characters, settings, voice and conflict alive. To have it jump off the page. Fletcher is bringing excitement into learning while teaching valuable lifelong strategies students can apply to their writing skills. Fletcher expresses the importance that writing is not something we know how to do instinctively but rather a skill we need to work at, and the only way to get better at a particular skill is with practice and guidance. We learn to write from reading, reading like a writer. My goal from reading this text will be to provide students with this exposure of live writing and learning from other mentor texts. We learn from others and the only way students will realize this is through the exposure we provide them as educators.

[Tawny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The wacky cover should have tipped me off that this is a book geared for YOUNG writers. (It quotes work from 6th graders.) But, I found it enjoyable and learned a couple things. Favorite lines:
1. "Every writer has a toolbox. Instead of awls and hammers, a writer's toolbox contains words, imagination, a love of books, a sense of story, and ideas for how to make the writing live and breathe" (2).
2. "Details are the lifeblood of writing" (99).
3. "The challenge for a writer is to reveal the complexity of human nature" (24).

[Dr. Laura Meyers]

Great read for improving your own writing ... or a super read aloud for teachers and their students. Could serve as a "hook" to invite students into the writing process. Includes samples of students' writing to illustrate how to improve upon voice, characterization, setting, etc. (helpful within minilessons!).

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my 9-year-old daughter, who likes to write. It is a short and easy read, perfect for the kids it is geared toward. However, adult writers could also benefit from the advice. A straightforward, practical, useful book. I like that he included a lot of writing samples from children.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about writing that helps authors bring their work to life! It's written for young adults, but that makes it no less relevant for the adult author. Ralph Fletcher is wonderful!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slim writer's guide for middle school students (? I think that is the audience) but is also a wonderful tool to steal writing ideas and lessons from for any teacher trying to inspire young writers. Really enjoyed reading it compared to some instructional textbooks, too!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fletcher is just a great author and well rounded. He provides lots of wonderful insite to helping others write in their full potential. Highly recommended to those who inspire to become better writers and those who have never considered themselves a writer.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is an excellent read for young and old learners of writing. It's the perfect class set for third, fourth, and fifth graders, but also an excellent read for pre-service and inservice teachers alike. Fletcher makes writing come to life.

[TSStechAngel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good little book that geared towards younger writers. However, I learned a few things reading this one as well. If you're interested in writing try every resource that you can. Maybe this read is just what you need!

[Taylor]

This a nonfiction book called LIVE WRITING by Ralph Fletcher. I rate 4.5 because I like actual stories over non-fiction, but he does use shirt stories in it:). He also gave really good tips for writing. Read if you love/want to write!

[Chris Meads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this was written for young people, there was a wealth of knowledge that Ralph Fletcher imparts to all writers. He uses kids' examples and I think that is great. Some of us can learn from the younger set. It is well written and easy to understand.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ralph Fletcher's books. They transfer so easily into the classroom. This one is so clearly written that it can be shared with fourth graders, they understand and can put into practice the writing strategies he's teaching. Great resource for teachers or for any writer!

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again nothing new but great ideas, easy to read, but for many teachers they dont seem to know this stuff, so if u r a tracher who wonders how to i prove students work this is the easy short read for you!

[Shelby]

This book is full of tips and examples for young writers looking to make their words sing. I think this could be a great book to read excerpts from, and then allow interested students to read. This book could even be the basis of writing workshop lessons

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book for teaching writing to kids...and also for getting inspiration to write yourself (this wouldn't apply to those of you who are already avid writers...Emily and Meghan...)

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book packs a lot of punch. I just love it.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Ralph Fletcher a few years ago at a teacher workshop. He truly inspired me- not only to help my students discover their writers within, but I found joy teaching writing utilizing his methods.

[MD · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for somebody who already has writing skills. It offers great pointers. I was looking for a book to teach somebody how to write.