How Writers Work: Finding a Process That Works for You – Essential Wisdom for Aspiring Authors

by Ralph Fletcher

Unlock the secret to being a writer! Turn to this practical and enjoyable guide by the bestselling author of A Writer’s Notebook and the ALA Notable Book Fig Pudding . Surprise! There is no secret to being a writer. But there is a process. Good writing isn't forged by magic or hatched out of thin air. Good writing happens when you follow certain steps to take control of your sentences—to make your words do what you want them to do. This book lifts the curtain on how writers work and helps aspiring writers discover their own writing process. Perfect for classrooms, How Writers Work is full of practical wisdom. It's tailored especially for young writers, but aspiring authors of all ages can benefit from bestselling writer Ralph Fletcher's tips. Everyone can struggle with the writing process at times. Unlock your potential by reading How Writers Work !

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Education, Professional Development, Teaching, School, Reference

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2000

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

[Rebecca I · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short book aimed at grade school children, I think. It proves to be good for adults as well. The author goes through the process of writing step by step and demystifies it. This is quite helpful for all ages. It is like the book The Artist's Way in that the writer is not put up on a pedestal. We all are artists, we all are writers. The important thing in the process can be to find out what your purpose is in writing something. Also, he and other authors of various ages share their methods and prove that it is not an absolute process. There are many ways to do it. Very positive.

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the other book by Ralph Fletcher, Writer's notebook, I found this one very useful. It's full of tips for beginner writers and I believe it can be helpful for people of all ages, even though it's aimed at the younger readers.

The author goes through all phases of writing a book and gives a lot of advice and examples. I'm really glad that I read it!

[Mahi Raja · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is written for youngsters, i reallly enjoyed reading it as a 22 year old teen. It got me back to the days I used go to library in school. I knew half of the tips and tricks already but the way it is written felt like it was coddling the little me inside who still loves the magical world of words but sometimes forgets how much. My favourite line in it goes something like "i imagine my notebook with holes so tiny that no idea can escape"
Reading this book out loud to myself felt like a therapy for the creative in me. Thanks for reinvoking the childlike wonder in me.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the target audience of elementary and middle school kids, this is a good book with all the basics - lots of concrete ideas for the writing process, lots of examples from Fletcher and other appropriate authors. For me as an adult reading for the usefulness to a high school English class, it seems a little bland and boring, watered down, and casual, but still hammering on the things high school students have already heard for a decade.

Also, probably thanks to the colorful and nicely illustrated cover, I expected some illustration inside, even if it was just a few little doodles with the end of each chapter. But there is nothing. It's fine, since art is not usually Fletcher's medium, but I felt like the cover was a little misleading.

All in all, I was thinking about reading his other three books of writing advice, but I suspect they will be in a similar vein to this one and I can skip them.

[Ene Sepp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kuigi see on suunatud rohkem lastele ja noortele, kes unistavad kirjanikuametist, siis ka täiskasvanud kirjanikuna sai siit jällegi nii mõnegi kasuliku mõttetera, mida edaspidi arvesse võtta. Arvestades seda, et haarasin raamatu riiulist siis, kui "kirjutamisblokk" peale tuli ja pärast raamatu kiirest läbilugemist sain kirjutamist jätkata, läks ju igati asja ette. Kaanepilt on boonuseks ja eks sellega mulle silma jäigi ja koju sai toodud.

[Kioka Tuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I needed it for an undergraduate class. I never read it for that class which was almost six years ago. However, now I am glad I made time for it! Great tips for children, adults, and teens on the writing process.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ralph Fletcher is great at inspiring the writer and finding interesting ways to look at the problems and struggles associated with writing in ways that make them look less daunting and more like opportunities. Pretty genius really.

[Toryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with another writing book I recently read of his, Fletcher does a good job stating the basics of writing (in this case, the writing process), and I thought it was very well-presented. There wasn’t anything mind-blowing or life-changing, but still, a worthwhile read!

[Nicole alphAbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid tool for young writers! I loved the revision checklist and ideas to make your writing sing. Fletcher made great points about stepping back and considering the reader’s experience after you write.

[Bobbie Darbyshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aimed at American school children, a series of very basic tips on the process of writing. Not a word about how a good story works and lots of plugs for the author’s own books and those of a few of his friends.

[Jack Oughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interviews with various writers from various different backgrounds - sheds some light on the craft and the routines they follow to write. I learned quite a bit.

[Austin Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good intro book to read to students as you walk them through the process of writing. I'm going to use this as a guide for them and for me!

[Britt Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Great read even for beginning adult writers. I especially loved the comparison to the authors brother who is a sculptor.

[Marie Neuner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snapshot: How Writers Work: Finding a Process that Works for You seeks to dispel the myths that kids might have about writing: that writing is a magical, one-sized-fits-all process. Ralph Fletcher proves that writing is a personal endeavor that is unique to each writer and highlights the stages of the writing process by examining his own methods and strategies for writing in relation to the processes of other famous authors.

“Hook”: The language is easy and accessible. Fletcher compares his book to a buffet that offers tips, ideas, and strategies for student writers to choose to put on their plate. He explains that you have to try out new strategies, just like new foods, to see if you like them.

Challenges: There are very few challenges with this book. It is low-anxiety and confidence-boosting. Fletcher models the strategies for his readers.

Student in mind: Any student who is struggling with the writing process or who feels discouraged by it. All students could benefit from this book, even as a review. I’d also use excerpts from this book to teach particular kinds of skills and strategies, like free-writing or revision.

Conference notes: According to the author, what’s the secret of writing? Where do you go to write? How do you get yourself prepared? Why is finding a space of your own important? What small moments or memories have you ever written about? Use your writer’s notebook to write down what happens around you as you ride the bus home. Maybe something you see or hear will be the start of a kernel for a new story or poem. Do you talk with anyone about your writing? Why is this helpful (or distracting)? When you put ideas into specific “drawers” of an informal outline, what are you really doing? What habits do you have that interrupt the flow of ideas and get in the way of your writing (erasing, correcting, etc.)? What will you do when you experience writer’s block?

Level: 5-9

[Rachel M]

How Writers Work is a book written by Ralph Fletcher, which is the main character in the book. He is telling you (the reader) how to help you find your process of writing and how to cast a wide net for ideas. Brainstorming, a place where words can grow, finding an idea, rereading, and many more. These 4 tips are a process of writing. Ralph Fletcher tells you many ideas on writing.
I thought this book was a just right kind of book. I understood what was happening , never lost track of what was going on. I I understood what was happening because very chapter was a new idea on a process of writing. I have not done one process of writing which is sketch ideas, rough draft, final draft and,reread. That process was very a very effective writing process to me. My strength on this book was it was very teaching. It help me have more ideas on writing. For this book , I don't think there is a weakness. I would probably recommend it to my classmates who are into writing and might want to be a author when they grow up. I wish this book was a part of a series because I would totally read the rest of the series. Ralph Fletcher wrote a very good book on the process of writing.

[Lynda Felder · Rating 5 out of 5]

You must read Ralph Fletcher.

According to Fletcher, the secret of writing is that there is no secret. There is a process, but not “the one and only process” that every writer must follow. You’ll need to work out what your process involves. Some writers prewrite pages and pages of stuff. Others jump in and then rewrite their rough drafts again and again. Some outline. Some draw upon life experiences, others mostly on their imaginations. Fletcher discusses many types of process that various writers rely upon, repeating that there is no one and true process that you must follow. He tells us that good writing doesn’t happen by magic; there are steps that you can take to become good. You just need to figure that part out.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fletcher writes in a very friendly style that does a good job of explaining the writing process without turning into a dull fill-in-the-blank formula for churning out "good" writing. I appreciate that the chapters don't have to be read in a sequential fashion. I'm currently picking and choosing chapters as they apply to the 6th grade student that I am tutoring and we read them together. I also appreciate that Fletcher includes examples of his own work as well as student work, which are useful to use as models when practicing his suggestions for implementing the writing process. I also plan to use this text as a mentor text when we talk about incorporating voice into writing.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for students who are just starting or need a little support with academic writing. The font is large and undaunting. The text is simply written with clear ideas and a bit of humor.

The layout of the book helps students easily navigate to information and chapters that serve their individual writing needs. Fletcher is not driven by a five paragraph template paradigm, but instead helps readers flesh out ideas commonly found in writing.

I plan on using this book as resource in my 9th grade Language Arts classroom this coming school year.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very brief writing guide intended for kids/teens on what writing entails. I found this really easy to go through, mainly because it's barely above 100 pages, and because the narrative was quick to fly through. Plus, much of this I already knew about the process of writing. But it's still a nice little resource, and I'm glad I picked it up as a random read from my library. It's organized well, features a few brief interviews with three authors, and goes through each of the processes that authors utilize in order to structure, tell and sell their stories.

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary from B&N: This book will show you how writers work, how you can become a writer, and how you can find a process that works for you.\nThis book was a basic, quick read. However, there are some parts of it I want to read to my seventh graders tomorrow before they start revising their personal narratives. And it has helped me solidify some of my ideas on how I want to revamp how I tackle writing with my students. \nI plan to buy it as a reference.\n

[Kristie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it was easy to read (you can read it in a day) and gives straightforward advice on writing. It's geared toward fourth graders but has great tips for adults as well. Here's a quote:

"Getting published doesn’t make you a writer. A writer is a person who loves words, loves to write, and does write on a regular basis.”

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book!! I really liked it, it helps a lot. There was a few parts that I thought were a bit boring, but not many. I'm now diving into another of his writing books, live writing. I'm looking forward to it! I hope it's as good as this one!
It was very inspirational, I recommend it to all people who love to write. Ages 8-14 is my opinion, but I've been wrong before!!!!!!!

[onysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elementary-age and middle-school kids will appreciate this after unsatisfactory creative writing lessons in school. Fletcher wrote this in an enjoyable way, so it was quite fun to read. I like it very much that he included the viewpoints of other authors in this book. Overall, great advice that I trust will be helpful to writers of any age.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fletcher's books on writing are terrific tools. They're short, fun, and spunky - filled with personality and honesty. Rather than tell you how to do something, he gives you a variety of potential tools to use flexibly as they suit you.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read other books on writing by Mr. Fletcher, but I can't remember when I read them or which books I read. Regardless, his books on writing are aimed towards young writers and have a very relaxed tone. He offers a lot of helpful advice and "writer tricks" to help get students motivated.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and very easy to read book which guides young (and adult) writers through finding their own writing process with hints, tips and tricks. Another gem from Ralph Fletcher that belongs on every teacher's bookshelf.

[Shelby]

This is a personable book filled with tips on how to structure your writing process. It also includes chapters written by different authors, showcasing different processes. This is a great book for students interested in improving their writing.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids love when I read aloud from this book and show them how real people, authors and teachers, learn about writing from their students as well.

[Elfiegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ralph Fletcher you rock. That is all.

[TheLibraryOfSarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meant for children, but still very helpful! Ralph is great at making you feel confident and calm at writing; assuring you it's okay to make mistakes and everything.