If You Were a Writer

by Joan Lowery Nixon, Bruce Degen (Illustrator)

Melia wants to be a writer just like her mom. She's not exactly sure what a writer does, though. She sees her mom staring at the typewriter and then she sees her opening up boxes of books. But what comes in between?
With some help from her mom, Melia begins to learn the tools of the trade. She learns how to make pictures with words, how to search for ideas, and, of course, how to start a story. Before she knows it, Melia's creating her own spellbinding tales. Maybe she is a writer after all!

Genres: Picture Books, Writing, Childrens, School

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Author of more than one hundred books, Joan Lowery Nixon is the only writer to have won four Edgar Allan Poe Awards for Juvenile Mysteries (and been nominated several other times) from the Mystery Writers of America. Creating contemporary teenage characters who have both a personal problem and a mystery to solve, Nixon captured the attention of legions of teenage readers since the publication of her first YA novel more than twenty years ago. In addition to mystery/suspense novels, she wrote nonfiction and fiction for children and middle graders, as well as several short stories. Nixon was the first person to write novels for teens about the orphan trains of the nineteenth century. She followed those with historical novels about Ellis Island and, more recently for younger readers, Colonial Williamsburg. Joan Lowery Nixon died on June 28, 2003—a great loss for all of us.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A writer works with words. If you were a writer, you would think of words that make pictures." Then Nixon proceeds to show what that means:
- a silky blouse brings to mind slippery, slithery, soft
- a bite of apple pie: tangy, tart, spicy
- stars in the night sky: sparkling, silvery, shining, shimmer
This will be a fun vocabulary building game to play with the kids.

And where does a writer get ideas? "Ideas are everywhere. The more you look for ideas, the more you will find."
- a boy is chasing a dog running down the street, triggering the idea that maybe a diamond necklace is attached to the dog's collar
- the jar of honey is missing: maybe a bear got into the house and took it ...

Yes, I believe this will trigger some interesting conversations.

An added bonus: The people are wearing the same clothes for two days in a row.

This was published in 1988, so Mom, the writer, uses a typewriter, not a computer.

[Amber Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a child who is curious about her mom's job as a writer. She states she wants to write just like her and use the typewriter but her mom goes on to explain that it is a lot more than using a typewriter. Mom explains it is about coming up with words that make the story come alive.

This book is good to introduce young writers to the fact that there is a lot more involved than just putting words down on papers. It explains the process of writing from beginning to end. The book also shows students how to make the ideas come alive that they need to show rather than tell when writing. It also will help students to start coming up with juicy words to make their ideas come to life.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that describes how authors write and the ways that they use words to not only tell a story, but to paint a word picture for the reader to allow the reader to see the scene in her mind. I thought this was an interesting story and it helps to inspire children (and adults, too!) to break out a pen and paper and get writing. Our girls love to write stories and have had several opportunities to get a story bound and "published" in the school library. I love that these experiences encourage them to write more. I also would like to write a book someday, but for now I limit myself to book reviews.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melia asks her mother, who is an author, many questions about writing that kids might have. Questions including how do authors start a story, get their ideas, or create an entire story are discussed throughout the story. Her mother's book arrives in the mail at the end. While not too many people write on type writers anymore the concepts still hold true.

[Melissaschott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to my students to introduce writers workshop. I like it because it has many layers by that i mean many concepts to teach from. How to begin a story, how to add details, how it can be something simple to write about and stretch out the moment. I mix this with Lucy Calkins writer workshop techniques.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an adorable book! Melia asks her mom, who is a writer, questions about what a writer really does and how to come up with stories. The reader will see how to use different words to describe something, how they can use their imagination to make up a story, and how a writer is an observer.

[Chris Cherney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 1988. It is a story about a little girl that is curious what her mom, an wuthor, does each day. This is a great story to use when discussing writing during writing workshop and when discussing word choice. It would be great for grades 1-6.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melia’s mother is a writer. Melia decides she would like to be one, too. Her mother tells her that “a writer thinks of words that makes pictures” and “a writer shows what happens.” Using mother’s advice, Melia is soon inventing stories to tell others.

[Mary Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall. It is a bit lengthy, but it tells a great story that kids can be engaged in and relate to. It would make a great mentor text for the writing process and can be very useful in the classroom.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional narrative picture book about becoming a writer.

[Jessica Vandrovec · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a good book to introduce writer's workshop to young students, this is a good one to read.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this with my students when teaching writing workshop.

[Kristen Edge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, but not a kid favorite. Sparked good conversations about being a writer, but not one I will read over and over to the kids.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice book for 3rd and 4th grade curriculum, but not engaging.

[Janet Flora Corso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up years ago to put in the kids' collection and now it is part of my "writer books". It is a nice story about the daughter of an author finding her own writing path. Good for introducing kids to the creativity process and the career of author. Also inspiring for some of us older folks 😉

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl strives to be a writer like her mother who shares tricks of the trade with her. A nice story about striving toward a goal.

[Jessica Breighner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If You Were a Writer
By, Joan Lowery Nixon
1. Brief Summary:
Melia wants to be a writer just like her mom. She's not exactly sure what a writer does, though. She sees her mom staring at the typewriter and then she sees her opening up boxes of books. But what comes in between?
With some help from her mom, Melia begins to learn the tools of the trade. She learns how to make pictures with words, how to search for ideas, and, of course, how to start a story. Before she knows it, Melia's creating her own spellbinding tales. Maybe she is a writer after all!
2. Potential Audience:
Topic is about an inspiring young writer and the visions she has about being one.
Genre is fiction
Reading Level is transitional to fluent reader because of the lengthy paragraphs
3. Specific Curricular Uses:
Read Aloud for an audience that is not yet fluent in reading
Independent reading for those who are comfortable reading long paragraphs
Shared reading because of the paragraphs on each page
4. Social Issues the book addresses:
Children looking up to their parents, wanting to be like them, role models.
5. Specific Literary Elements the book demonstrates:
Dialogue within the text. Embedded stories within the theme and third person narration.
6. Interactions and Counteractions of text and image; How does the illustration help tell the story?
The illustrations help support the text, especially for transitional readers to help support their understanding of the text.

[Ragina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book to use when teaching word choice!

[Nakitah]

This story can be used to help talk about what writers do, and how we can be writers as well.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

1998 A mother guides her daughter through the thought process of making up stories.

2019 Still just as relevant and imaginative

[Pamela Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful look at being a writer through the eyes of a mother (an author) and young daughter.