Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-Winning Children’s Book Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing

by Melissa Stewart (Editor)

"Celebrated authors share essays that describe a critical part of the informational writing process that is often left out of classroom instruction, helping students to craft rich, unique prose"--

Genres: Writing

190 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2020

About the author

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 180 science and nature books for children. She offers a wide range of programs for schools, libraries, nature centers, and conferences. www.melissa-stewart.com"

Reviews

[Lesley Burnap]

Finished this several months ago but just getting around to jotting something here. I appreciate the NF authors sharing their reasons for writing NF-their love, purpose, and mission-to encourages other writers, teacher and students of all ages! A much beloved resource that this elementary school teacher will use and share with colleagues and students. Thank you to Melissa Stewart for collecting and editing these fabulous essays on writing NF.

[Darlene Ivy]

An interesting and friendly intro to so many kidlit writers and their process. Geared to helping teachers use nonfiction in the classroom and encourage student writing. A great source of interesting titles.

[Kellee Moye]

Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=2...

I was star struck seeing all of the authors who had contributed! I was lucky enough to be at the presentation that this book’s seed of an idea started, so when I heard about this book, I knew it would be a book I would need!

This book is all about moving nonfiction writing to an authentic experience. The book is broken into 3 sections to help guide writing instruction:

Choosing a Topic
Finding a Focus
Making is Personal
Within each section there are essays by mentor authors focusing on different aspects of the topic. I loved reading the essays that ranged from a look at how to take an idea and make it grow, about complexities within nonfiction, about the bumps along the way, about the writing process, and everything else you can think of.

Then the last part of the chapter is In the Classroom which helps tie the essays all together with how to take it to our students.

This book is written specifically with teachers in mind–it is such an amazing resource!

[Julie]

An excellent resource for teachers and nonfiction writers. Fifty authors give the stories behind their books and writing - how they dig deep to inject a part of themselves into every book they write. This is fulfilling for the author, and makes their books inspiring and compelling for the reader. Chapters are about finding a topic, choosing a focus and making it personal (putting your heart into it). Great overviews for each chapter by editor Melissa Stewart that tie all the individual essays together, with valuable "in the classroom" suggestions.

[Debbie Baker]

Disappointing - was really excited by the concept but it wasn't quite pulled off. A small portion of the essays were insightful, but overall a disappointment. Very little insight into their writing process, and WAY too many of the essays were repetitive. I am fine with people selecting topics to give attention to historically excluded groups. But I don't need 20 essays on that same thing.

[Nancy]

Such a cool book. Authors divulge their writing motivation and process. Teachers learn from professionals how to guide their students to be able to write authentic nonfiction that matters to them and is interesting to read. Not just research reports spitting back other writers' ideas.

[Angie Quantrell]

A great resource of why and how nonfiction writers write what they do. Very interesting.

[Denise]

Great resource for teachers and those interested in writing in the field of children's nonfiction.

[Pat Danna]

This book is a must for children's writers of non-fiction books. 50 authors share their inspiration, their tips for writing nonfiction, and their books.