What a Writer Needs

by Ralph Fletcher, Donald Murray (Foreword)

In engaging, anecdotal prose, Ralph Fletcher provides a wealth of specific, practical strategies for challenging and extending student writing.

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

182 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 1992

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

[Kathryn Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for school, but it was the most interesting text on writing I’ve ever read. I enjoyed all the little anecdotes that Fletcher included from other books. I especially enjoyed the writing examples from young children. This book didn’t read like a textbook, so I call it a job well done.

[Anna]

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[Tanyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a different perspective than most; instead of giving it directly, he uses examples of student writing and talk.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring. This book is like a writing teacher's muse. It didn't tell me HOW to teach writing, it just gave me insight into what my writers need.

[Jessica Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was one of the most enjoyable writing guides I have read.

[Debbie Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mix of really good thoughts and very self-indulgent ramblings.

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murray provides an alternate way of looking at the teaching of writing. Rather than fill his book with exercises and rules, he lists what he believes to be the essential pieces of each writer's life, touching most frequently and powerfully on the power of agency for a young writer. This is a must-read for anyone interested in writing or the teaching of writing.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This workshop classic from the early 90s works on two levels. You can read it as a wannabe writer and you can read it as a wannabe-better writing workshop teacher. Fletcher, you see, has credentials not just as a teacher but as a writer as well. Unlike some writers of teaching books, he has also published books of poetry, children's picture books, magazine fiction, and essays. What's more, his own work is sprinkled liberally throughout this book. That, combined with generous portions of student works (aged K to 8), serves as exemplars for his points.

In some ways this is a good soup-to-nuts book for teaching writing. If there's an Achille's heel, it is that it focuses way more on fiction/memoir writing than essay writing (a weakness prevalent in many books of this sort). Of course, it's been argued that writing narrative from your own experience is essential in student writing, and I do not disagree. Still, it'd be great to see more methods and strategies for non-fiction pieces too. Fletcher does not ignore it; he just gives it short shrift.

Chapters of note in the book are those devoted to the craft of writing: The Art of Specificity, Creating a Character, Voice, Beginnings, Endings, Tension, A Sense of Place, A Playfulness with Time, Unforgettable Language, and A Significant Subject. The appendix, which includes many books to use in teaching, is helpful but, as you might expect, a tad dated.

If you're workshop savvy already, you may feel like you know a lot of this, but even then you'll come across new ways of approaching old problems. If you're newer to workshop practice or to teaching writing, this will prove even more valuable as a starting point. And if you want to write, OK. Read this and other books on writing, but don't forget to write. Every day. Um, that's what writers do....

[Corby Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre- Theorist text book

Reading Level- grades 6-12

Topic and Themes- How to write and a love of writing and making it a valuable experience for children

Curricula Use- Assist students in different ways of looking at the task of writing

Social- Helping people to write and enjoy it

Literary Elements- Full of personal experiences with writing and ways to make writing enjoyable

Text and Pictures- There are a few pictures of samples to study

Summary- "What a Writer Needs" is an excellent book full of ideas on how to write. This book takes you through the steps of how to be a successful writer.

[Shannon Amici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading level-6-12

Genre-writing text book

Topic-becoming a good writer and learning to love it

Social-helps students to enjoy writing

Curricula Use-guide for writing

Literary Elements-different ways to enjoy writing and examples through experiences

Text and pictures-sample writing pictures

Summary-Steps of the writing process and how to become a better writer.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fletcher provides a great resource for all writers, aspiring and perspiring alike. Some of the chapters offer clear insight and strategies into how to teach writing to student while others do not. However, Fletcher's nonchalant, candid, friendly writing style makes this a pleasure to read. I'd never think of this as a "textbook" because of how enjoyable it was reading it.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this before and I love his approach to writing. I especially love how he recognizes that all aspects of writing tie in together and are hard to separate. He allows for most types of writers from over involved to totally uninterested. He makes it possible for any student to not only succeed but also to love the craft. I want to be like this guy when I grow up.

[Ann Yanchura · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one but Ralph can put the complexities of writing into such beautiful, accessible prose. It's hard to believe it, but this is a professional read that I had a hard time putting down. He lives his work - and it shows. Every one of his own examples and every one of the student examples fits perfectly into this book. I'm jealous of Joann Portalupi!

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the text for a Writer's Workshop that I attended. It is geared towards teachers of writing, mostly those who have younger students. But, Fletcher has a lot of great advice and ideas for writers of all ages.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Ralph Fletcher helps us begin reading like a writer. The way he teaches us to be better writers, while also teaching us how to inspire students is unique and exemplary. I love his writing style.

[Ryan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful examination of writing from a right-brain perspective--instead of setting up writing instruction as a step-by-step, fill-in-the-blank process, Fletcher examines large contexts and treats elementary student composition as seriously as the prose/poetry created by adults. Refreshing.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part-"It doesn't matter if the writer begins cleverly, ends neatly, organizes smoothly, writes dramatically with voice. It is all meaningless unless the writer can find something interesting and important to say about the subject."

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for teacher book clubs.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - it's not life-changing like In the Middle, but VERY thought provoking (a teacher book of course:)

[Abbie K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book for teachers who want to help students write better. It's also good for anyone who wants hints on writing better for themselves.

[Nicola]

Apparently has good examples of writing craft/ mini lesson ideas with actual textual references from novels, short stories, poems ,etc.

[Tynisha Thompkins]

Currently reading for ECE Reading/ Language Arts course!! Helps build and create great writers (and readers)!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every teacher needs this book!

[Annette Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Ralph Fletcher book I read. I read this the summer of 2009. The book opened my eyes to the possibilities of teaching writing.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as a text for the National Writing Project. Good example of writing as practice. Full of sound advice and interesting tid-bits.

[Ms. Carlino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an important book for writers, though it mostly parrots Don Murray, repeating information writers already know. Nevertheless, these kinds of reminders are sometimes needed.

[H.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with a lot of useful information. Wishing it was broken down a little differently but overall a really good book that had a lot of information to come away from.

[Brittani Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good story about this guy's learning to like writing. Get writers to go more in depth when they write. Have them find the deeper meaning in the story. Find the 5 senses of the story.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book the best recommendation possible: I had to stop reading it a few times in order to write.