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故事可以這樣寫：紐伯瑞文學獎得獎作家創作絕技手冊
Chinese edition of "Writing magic: creating stories that fly" by Newbery Award winner Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted. Levine shares her experience and tips of writing: emails, essays, greeting cards, love letters... She inspires young people to effectively communicate with words and how to break through the writer's block. In Traditional Chinese. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.
215 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
362 people are currently reading
3875 people want to read
About the author
Gail Carson Levine
65 books9,663 followersJust letting you all know: I'm only going to review books I love. There's enough negative criticism without me piling on. A book is too hard to write.
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
February 17, 2021
I bought this book for my oldest daughter who absolutely loves to write. After picking it up I found myself doing some of the writing prompts myself. It’s wonderful and really keeps you engaged. The author teaches you how to write good fiction and also how to deal with struggles along the way. The lessons can be applied to other types of writing as well.
5*****
5*****
March 13, 2015
I'm pretty sure I owe Gail Carson Levine my soul for convincing me to save everything I wrote.
When I was eleven and read this book for the first time, I was desperate for help: I could not control my drive to write, but knew that everything I wrote was garbage, and was caught in a constant cycle of hand-cramped creativity and furious rage over how incapable I was. I wanted to be able to improve, and although no book could ever be a magical fix, this one offered some helpful advice and got me thinking about writing in a more analytic, matter-of-fact way. "Writing Magic" taught me that writing was really not magic, and that there were simple things I could do to make my stories more readable. I owe a lot to this book, because even though I developed some bad habits from inaccurately following suggestions I took as rules, for the most part, this book did nothing but help my writing slowly develop. In the following years, I have read lots of other good books on how to write, but this was the one that began it for me, and gave direction to my uncontrollable creative urges. It and my memory of that age are inextricable. This was a huge part of my life, and became a significant part of my approach to writing of any kind.
I was just now sorting through piles of papers, delighting in the heaps of old notebook paper stories I found. Back when I wrote them, I was keenly embarrassed and knew how bad they were, but now that I am years older, I see them through a different perspective. Technically, they are horrible, but because I was so young when I was writing them, the prose, vocabulary, and basic attempts are actually rather impressive. This is encouraging, and it's an experience I could only have had in a limited sense without Gail Carson Levine urging young writers to save everything they ever wrote, no matter how bad they thought it was.
I have almost completely taken her advice, since it's not my fault that a computer crash in 2009 robbed me of a couple year's of stories. (I've never gotten over it. And if you're reading this review in 2050, this statement will still be true, because I never will get over that loss.) But thankfully, I wrote on both the laptop and notebook paper, so I still have many stories from that period of my life; thanks to this author's urging, I never threw them away. Weirdly enough, I'm eighteen now, and lots of time has passed since I first read this book and since I wrote those old stories. My perspective has changed, and just like she promised, I now see great value in everything I wrote, because it captures a frame of mind and a time that is now history. It's hard to believe that I'm really old enough to be having this experience, but skimming through piles of old stories made me stop and think about how deeply, powerfully grateful I am that I wrote, and that I saved all these stories diligently, no matter what I thought of them. Feeling that surge of gratitude, I knew I had to go dig up my Goodreads rating of this book and add a review. Thank you, Gail Carson Levine, for your influence on my writing and your effectual persuasion to Save What You Write.
When I was eleven and read this book for the first time, I was desperate for help: I could not control my drive to write, but knew that everything I wrote was garbage, and was caught in a constant cycle of hand-cramped creativity and furious rage over how incapable I was. I wanted to be able to improve, and although no book could ever be a magical fix, this one offered some helpful advice and got me thinking about writing in a more analytic, matter-of-fact way. "Writing Magic" taught me that writing was really not magic, and that there were simple things I could do to make my stories more readable. I owe a lot to this book, because even though I developed some bad habits from inaccurately following suggestions I took as rules, for the most part, this book did nothing but help my writing slowly develop. In the following years, I have read lots of other good books on how to write, but this was the one that began it for me, and gave direction to my uncontrollable creative urges. It and my memory of that age are inextricable. This was a huge part of my life, and became a significant part of my approach to writing of any kind.
I was just now sorting through piles of papers, delighting in the heaps of old notebook paper stories I found. Back when I wrote them, I was keenly embarrassed and knew how bad they were, but now that I am years older, I see them through a different perspective. Technically, they are horrible, but because I was so young when I was writing them, the prose, vocabulary, and basic attempts are actually rather impressive. This is encouraging, and it's an experience I could only have had in a limited sense without Gail Carson Levine urging young writers to save everything they ever wrote, no matter how bad they thought it was.
I have almost completely taken her advice, since it's not my fault that a computer crash in 2009 robbed me of a couple year's of stories. (I've never gotten over it. And if you're reading this review in 2050, this statement will still be true, because I never will get over that loss.) But thankfully, I wrote on both the laptop and notebook paper, so I still have many stories from that period of my life; thanks to this author's urging, I never threw them away. Weirdly enough, I'm eighteen now, and lots of time has passed since I first read this book and since I wrote those old stories. My perspective has changed, and just like she promised, I now see great value in everything I wrote, because it captures a frame of mind and a time that is now history. It's hard to believe that I'm really old enough to be having this experience, but skimming through piles of old stories made me stop and think about how deeply, powerfully grateful I am that I wrote, and that I saved all these stories diligently, no matter what I thought of them. Feeling that surge of gratitude, I knew I had to go dig up my Goodreads rating of this book and add a review. Thank you, Gail Carson Levine, for your influence on my writing and your effectual persuasion to Save What You Write.
November 15, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
Although WRITING MAGIC is geared towards young adults, this is the perfect helper for anyone who has ever wanted to write a book. Creating stories is hard work. It takes practice, discipline, and dedication. It would be nice to think that writing a book simply means sitting down and typing up words, but, alas, it really doesn't work that way. Thankfully, though, we have Gail Carson Levine, Newbery Honor author of some of my favorite books (ELLA ENCHANTED, THE TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE, and FAIREST, to name a few) who has taken the time to put together WRITING MAGIC. Filled with tons of wonderful tips about becoming a great writer who creates even greater stories, there are also writing exercises to get those creative juices flowing.
The book is broken down into five sections, with several categories in each:
Section one is entitled Liftoff, which includes A Running Start, Why I Wrote This Book, Shut Up!, Eureka!, Getting into It, and Noticing.
Section two, Heart and Guts, includes The Nitty-Gritty, The Kiss of Life, Character Helper, Suffer!, Talking, Back to Beginnings, Where Am I?, Who Am I?, Voice, and Happily Ever After--Or Not.
Section three, Plowing Through, includes Stuck!, The Operating Room, and Writers' Groups and Other Helpers.
Section four, Digging Deeper, includes Show and Tell, Abracadabra!, I'd Recognize Her with My Eyes Closed, Speaking Body Language, Method Writing, Writing Funy/Writing Punny, The Right Moniker, and Fiddling with Fairy Tales.
The final section, called Writing Forever, includes Writing for Your Spirit, Putting Your Words Out There, and Exeunt Writing.
I loved the writing exercises included in WRITING MAGIC. From the simple (writing brief character descriptions) to the more advanced (writing convincing dialogue), this book is a great tool for anyone. If you've ever wondered how to get started writing a story, ever questioned how to get that great book idea down on paper, this is the guide for you. Pick up a copy of WRITING MAGIC, try the exercises, take Ms. Levine's words to heart, and you're guaranteed to write anything--story, e-mail message, diary entry--with an easier flow and style.
Although WRITING MAGIC is geared towards young adults, this is the perfect helper for anyone who has ever wanted to write a book. Creating stories is hard work. It takes practice, discipline, and dedication. It would be nice to think that writing a book simply means sitting down and typing up words, but, alas, it really doesn't work that way. Thankfully, though, we have Gail Carson Levine, Newbery Honor author of some of my favorite books (ELLA ENCHANTED, THE TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE, and FAIREST, to name a few) who has taken the time to put together WRITING MAGIC. Filled with tons of wonderful tips about becoming a great writer who creates even greater stories, there are also writing exercises to get those creative juices flowing.
The book is broken down into five sections, with several categories in each:
Section one is entitled Liftoff, which includes A Running Start, Why I Wrote This Book, Shut Up!, Eureka!, Getting into It, and Noticing.
Section two, Heart and Guts, includes The Nitty-Gritty, The Kiss of Life, Character Helper, Suffer!, Talking, Back to Beginnings, Where Am I?, Who Am I?, Voice, and Happily Ever After--Or Not.
Section three, Plowing Through, includes Stuck!, The Operating Room, and Writers' Groups and Other Helpers.
Section four, Digging Deeper, includes Show and Tell, Abracadabra!, I'd Recognize Her with My Eyes Closed, Speaking Body Language, Method Writing, Writing Funy/Writing Punny, The Right Moniker, and Fiddling with Fairy Tales.
The final section, called Writing Forever, includes Writing for Your Spirit, Putting Your Words Out There, and Exeunt Writing.
I loved the writing exercises included in WRITING MAGIC. From the simple (writing brief character descriptions) to the more advanced (writing convincing dialogue), this book is a great tool for anyone. If you've ever wondered how to get started writing a story, ever questioned how to get that great book idea down on paper, this is the guide for you. Pick up a copy of WRITING MAGIC, try the exercises, take Ms. Levine's words to heart, and you're guaranteed to write anything--story, e-mail message, diary entry--with an easier flow and style.
February 8, 2022
Strong 8 out of 10
Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly is a book that teaches all about the ins and outs of writing. I do someday aspire to become a novelist, so this book really appealed to me. It gave me some fantastic pointers on how to write stories and characters. This book also goes in-depth about how to gather ideas for creating books.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked seeing all of the author's personal examples about how she came up with her writing. I read Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink, before I read this book, and I think this book provides a more tight and entertaining experience in terms of writing advice. This book is quite high on my re-read list since I want to re-experience some of the advice. One thing that stood out when recalling my brain for this book is all of the great examples that the author gave along with the advice, and I really appreciate that. If you have someone in your life who wants to be a writer, whether that be you or someone else, I'd recommend reading this book or recommending it to the said writer in your life.
Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly is a book that teaches all about the ins and outs of writing. I do someday aspire to become a novelist, so this book really appealed to me. It gave me some fantastic pointers on how to write stories and characters. This book also goes in-depth about how to gather ideas for creating books.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked seeing all of the author's personal examples about how she came up with her writing. I read Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink, before I read this book, and I think this book provides a more tight and entertaining experience in terms of writing advice. This book is quite high on my re-read list since I want to re-experience some of the advice. One thing that stood out when recalling my brain for this book is all of the great examples that the author gave along with the advice, and I really appreciate that. If you have someone in your life who wants to be a writer, whether that be you or someone else, I'd recommend reading this book or recommending it to the said writer in your life.
October 8, 2011
I'm sixteen years old and have had this book for s couple of years now and let me just say that no book has ever communicated such a deep appreciation and love of the art and whimsical power of writing as Gail Carson Levine did in this book. I've written stories for as long as I van remember and this book has been a true treasure to me! I recently finished an almost 300 page book that sparked from one of the story openers in this book! My story change over time and went from the intended 20 pages to much longer and I did end up changing the beginning but this book is what sparked my imagination for my tale and I know that the things I learned on this book will be things I always treasure and use.
Awesome book! Five gazillion stars!
Awesome book! Five gazillion stars!
September 2, 2025
I have to say that this book really surprised me. I ended up valuing this book despite the fact Levine wrote it for young and developing writers, and technically, writers of middle grade and YA (not my genres). What I ended up loving about this text, among many other things, was the vivaciousness and energy Levine puts into her theories. I felt like I had been eating pot roast without gravy for months and Levine came along with her lemonade ice with cherry sauce. Everything I had been reading about developing writing skill suddenly seemed bright. Because in the world Levine creates, writing is magic and she makes the reader believe that too.
Levine doesn't deliver exactly unusual lessons on writing in her book, Writing Magic, but she delivers them in such an unusual order, and tucked in odd corners within categories you wouldn't expect. Even though the concepts are designed for a beginning writer, I enjoy her staging and structuring of the ideas; She encourages a fresh way of thinking about all aspects of story.
Because I am an adorable nerd (and because I collect writing exercises for those days my work in progress looks like mud), I found huge value in Levine's end-of-chapter exercises. Not all writing exercises are created equal. These eggs test grade A for sure, so go grow a story, novelette, or novella like I did. Maybe Writing Magic is just the book you need to find your book.
Levine has just released an updated version of this book, so I bet it's good. Also, I entirely intend to read her new book: Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink. You know I'll post a review once I've read it. Pick this book up, fellow creatives. Even if you buy it new, it's priced well, and like the great On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, this one is inspiring as heck! Take care writers and creatives!
Levine doesn't deliver exactly unusual lessons on writing in her book, Writing Magic, but she delivers them in such an unusual order, and tucked in odd corners within categories you wouldn't expect. Even though the concepts are designed for a beginning writer, I enjoy her staging and structuring of the ideas; She encourages a fresh way of thinking about all aspects of story.
Because I am an adorable nerd (and because I collect writing exercises for those days my work in progress looks like mud), I found huge value in Levine's end-of-chapter exercises. Not all writing exercises are created equal. These eggs test grade A for sure, so go grow a story, novelette, or novella like I did. Maybe Writing Magic is just the book you need to find your book.
Levine has just released an updated version of this book, so I bet it's good. Also, I entirely intend to read her new book: Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink. You know I'll post a review once I've read it. Pick this book up, fellow creatives. Even if you buy it new, it's priced well, and like the great On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, this one is inspiring as heck! Take care writers and creatives!
July 30, 2017
Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I hate reading books on writing. They're all either dry, give bland advice, or they repeat what they say over and over again, and it feels like reading one of the countless OTHER books out there on writing.
This book doesn't feel that way for me.
I've adored Gail Carson Levine since I was a child. Ella Enchanted was one of the books that made me who I am today, steered my interests towards fractured fairy tales. I've read many of her books, and she is somebody I recommend to nearly everybody who asks.
I hadn't realized she wrote two books on writing, so I was thrilled to find they were both only 3 dollars on Amazon!
Levine doesn't go into much detail as to bore a reader, but the small details she gives makes an impact. She related her chapters to actual parts of her own life: she talks about how it was a struggle to finally get published, how peers have helped her, how shes used some of the actual prompts in this book to help her get through tough times. Many books on writing do the same, but Levine kept me interested. It's great (but scary) reading about how one of the favorite authors of my childhood struggled with the same things I've struggled with.
She kept the style of this book personal and easy to follow, without force. My eyes usually begin to glaze over in other books on writing I've read, but that never happened here.
I also enjoyed many of the prompts in this book.
Basically, I love Gail Carson Levine, and while I feel I didn't learn much of anything new, I feel rejuvenated.
This book doesn't feel that way for me.
I've adored Gail Carson Levine since I was a child. Ella Enchanted was one of the books that made me who I am today, steered my interests towards fractured fairy tales. I've read many of her books, and she is somebody I recommend to nearly everybody who asks.
I hadn't realized she wrote two books on writing, so I was thrilled to find they were both only 3 dollars on Amazon!
Levine doesn't go into much detail as to bore a reader, but the small details she gives makes an impact. She related her chapters to actual parts of her own life: she talks about how it was a struggle to finally get published, how peers have helped her, how shes used some of the actual prompts in this book to help her get through tough times. Many books on writing do the same, but Levine kept me interested. It's great (but scary) reading about how one of the favorite authors of my childhood struggled with the same things I've struggled with.
She kept the style of this book personal and easy to follow, without force. My eyes usually begin to glaze over in other books on writing I've read, but that never happened here.
I also enjoyed many of the prompts in this book.
Basically, I love Gail Carson Levine, and while I feel I didn't learn much of anything new, I feel rejuvenated.
January 31, 2012
Gail Carson Levine is a quirky author. I hate to say it, but I've yet to read "Ella Enchanted" or "Dave at Night" or any of her princess books. I have heard of "Ella" but I just never really thought of picking it up. I might after reading this book. Heck, I'll go ahead and say it, I didn't even know who the author was until she mentioned "Ella Enchanted". It's sad, I know...
It is a very helpful book. I like the way she presented things and how she offered more than one way to do everything, being considerate of people who like to do things differently. Though I didn't get to do all of the writing exercises, I really think they could be helpful. I intend to go back and do them sometime I have more time. This was very good. I really liked reading it and it has given me many ideas and inspirations for writing. Thank you, Gail Carson Levine!
It is a very helpful book. I like the way she presented things and how she offered more than one way to do everything, being considerate of people who like to do things differently. Though I didn't get to do all of the writing exercises, I really think they could be helpful. I intend to go back and do them sometime I have more time. This was very good. I really liked reading it and it has given me many ideas and inspirations for writing. Thank you, Gail Carson Levine!
July 19, 2021
This was a wonderful book! It is a great book for beginners, but even some experienced writers can glean great truths. Every piece of information was easy to read, understand, and learn from. I also loved the exercises! I got tons of great ideas from those projects and started a lot of cool stories.
June 22, 2020
Geared toward younger and beginning writers, Writing Magic has some really interesting tips for just getting into the story you want to write and to seek inspiration in everything. A quick, encouraging read!
October 16, 2024
Write to nurture yourself.
Write to tell us about being you.
Write to tell us about being human.
There can never be too many stories. Add to the reservoir.
A lovely craft book for young writers. I would’ve killed to have read this when I was a teen, trying to find my place within the written word.
July 23, 2018
Cool little book. I always learn something new and important reading these.
:)
:)
December 5, 2025
This is a great resource for beginning writers! Best suited for ages 8-15, although the writing exercises included could potentially work for any age.
September 1, 2025
I love Gail Carson Levine's work. Some of her books are bright spots in my childhood, but even as an adult I've read and reread her work and thoroughly enjoyed it.
When I learned she had books on writing, I was ecstatic to read them! I found the second book she put out first and read through it and felt so inspired by it. Then I eventually found the first book, this one, and finally made time to read it. The last several years I've studied creative writing via online courses, podcasts, conferences, and a handful of craft books, but I've done so much study with non-bookish tools that I usually spent my reading on other subjects.
About two years ago I experienced some deep hurt that took me away from writing for a season. I've prayed through and desired to go back, but each time I tried, I petered out again. Partly I needed more time to heal, but partly, rebuilding the momentum from scratch after spending six years building it up is really, really hard. And this book is the first writing thing that made me feel like I could actually start writing again. <3
Levine is so incredibly creative. Her stories and advice brims with wonder and freedom. There's no pressure, no mistakes, no judgement. She just brings out the fun in writing again. Each of these chapters are bite-sized, full of inspiring creative wonder, silliness, encouragement, and downright fun. It truly feels like stepping into a world of magic where anything is possible and all steps toward writing are progress, big and small.
Levine is a natural teacher and I can see why she's run a blog for young writers for who knows how many years. I love that some of those blogs were collected and put into these two books, and I have treasured the rekindling of the joy of writing through this book. Thanks, Levine <3
Also, as a note, even as an advanced writer, none of these felt "too basic" or like I couldn't find inspiration from them. I rather enjoyed the simplicity of going back to fundamental elements of writing that we all deal with, even as we grow deeper in our craft. I'd definitely recommend this one, and it's totally kid-friendly, even for the youngest writers.
When I learned she had books on writing, I was ecstatic to read them! I found the second book she put out first and read through it and felt so inspired by it. Then I eventually found the first book, this one, and finally made time to read it. The last several years I've studied creative writing via online courses, podcasts, conferences, and a handful of craft books, but I've done so much study with non-bookish tools that I usually spent my reading on other subjects.
About two years ago I experienced some deep hurt that took me away from writing for a season. I've prayed through and desired to go back, but each time I tried, I petered out again. Partly I needed more time to heal, but partly, rebuilding the momentum from scratch after spending six years building it up is really, really hard. And this book is the first writing thing that made me feel like I could actually start writing again. <3
Levine is so incredibly creative. Her stories and advice brims with wonder and freedom. There's no pressure, no mistakes, no judgement. She just brings out the fun in writing again. Each of these chapters are bite-sized, full of inspiring creative wonder, silliness, encouragement, and downright fun. It truly feels like stepping into a world of magic where anything is possible and all steps toward writing are progress, big and small.
Levine is a natural teacher and I can see why she's run a blog for young writers for who knows how many years. I love that some of those blogs were collected and put into these two books, and I have treasured the rekindling of the joy of writing through this book. Thanks, Levine <3
Also, as a note, even as an advanced writer, none of these felt "too basic" or like I couldn't find inspiration from them. I rather enjoyed the simplicity of going back to fundamental elements of writing that we all deal with, even as we grow deeper in our craft. I'd definitely recommend this one, and it's totally kid-friendly, even for the youngest writers.
January 7, 2011
I. Love. This. Book.
Writing Magic is not the type of book on writing that tells you how to write. It is more a book of writing prompts and exercises. Mrs. Levine doesn't tell you how to write, she just gives you advice and examples of things like writing in the third person, or writing details in your stories.
One of my favorite chapters is Writers' Groups and Other Helpers. It is about being involved in writers groups, or just letting others see your writing. As a writer I know how it is to let others see your writing. You worry if they will like it, you worry what people will say, etc. There is nothing wrong with helpful criticism, but there are times when a lot of criticism is not helpful and just plain mean. I've experienced that myself. What she says on how to deal with them not so helpful helpers is great advice.
The book also talks about finding your own voice in writing and gives you prompts to help you. I've started writing a story with one of the prompts in the book and it is fun and great practice. There are many different prompts and writing exercises to pick from.
But, you don't have to do the prompts or exercises. It is just a great book to read about writing. The way Mrs. Levine writes about writing, about connecting with your story, characters, details and just believing in yourself, is quite positive and inspiring. I think a lot of discouraged writers could use this book to give them some hope. Writers need positive and inspiring books like this because so many other books, web sites, people, often discourage writers and tell them they have hardly a chance of making it. This is definitely not one of those books. And I also like The Writer's Oath in the first chapter of the book.
I've been writing for a long time and probably didn't need to read this, but I am glad I did. I feel that I've taken a lot from reading it. I highly, highly recommend this book for writers or those who want to start writing.
Writing Magic is not the type of book on writing that tells you how to write. It is more a book of writing prompts and exercises. Mrs. Levine doesn't tell you how to write, she just gives you advice and examples of things like writing in the third person, or writing details in your stories.
One of my favorite chapters is Writers' Groups and Other Helpers. It is about being involved in writers groups, or just letting others see your writing. As a writer I know how it is to let others see your writing. You worry if they will like it, you worry what people will say, etc. There is nothing wrong with helpful criticism, but there are times when a lot of criticism is not helpful and just plain mean. I've experienced that myself. What she says on how to deal with them not so helpful helpers is great advice.
The book also talks about finding your own voice in writing and gives you prompts to help you. I've started writing a story with one of the prompts in the book and it is fun and great practice. There are many different prompts and writing exercises to pick from.
But, you don't have to do the prompts or exercises. It is just a great book to read about writing. The way Mrs. Levine writes about writing, about connecting with your story, characters, details and just believing in yourself, is quite positive and inspiring. I think a lot of discouraged writers could use this book to give them some hope. Writers need positive and inspiring books like this because so many other books, web sites, people, often discourage writers and tell them they have hardly a chance of making it. This is definitely not one of those books. And I also like The Writer's Oath in the first chapter of the book.
I've been writing for a long time and probably didn't need to read this, but I am glad I did. I feel that I've taken a lot from reading it. I highly, highly recommend this book for writers or those who want to start writing.
January 30, 2017
My mom ordered this book for me years ago (when I was in my early teens) after I read Ella Enchanted and wanted to read everything that Gail Carson Levine had to offer. She did not read the description so she did not realize that it was not a story, but rather a collection of tips on how to become a writer yourself. When this book arrived and I got my first glimpse of the cover and title I thought it would be about a girl who could write something down and then magic would happen from the words (like "Bedtime Stories" before it came out).
I was initially disappointed but after I finally picked it up and started reading it, I was glad my mother had gotten it for me. Although I never became a writer, I spent several years wishing I could be and scribbling stories down in my notebooks. This book started me thinking I could do it if I wanted to and gave me a much bigger appreciation for all that writers do.
I was initially disappointed but after I finally picked it up and started reading it, I was glad my mother had gotten it for me. Although I never became a writer, I spent several years wishing I could be and scribbling stories down in my notebooks. This book started me thinking I could do it if I wanted to and gave me a much bigger appreciation for all that writers do.
April 23, 2018
while this was written for young writers, I found it very inspiring as an adult. the content is concise and well thought out. there are plenty of writing exercises and they are not cheesy. her advice are solid and not just fluff. this is a good reference to return to again and again.
September 15, 2018
This was very much writing 101 for children and young adults. I enjoyed it but it wasn't groundbreaking. I more so enjoyed this book for seeing behind the scenes of Gail's books and seeing her specific writing process.
April 30, 2022
This book is full of great advice on becoming a better creative writer. Mostly, the author stresses: write more, save everything. I like what she said about cherishing old writing, to see your own perspective from childhood, though Marie Kondo would advise me to let all that stuff go. While the book seems a little more kid/teen-oriented, a lot of the wisdom applies to kids of all ages.
August 14, 2020
The advice was a bit simplistic, but it’s a great book for beginning writers (especially for kids who want to write)! And Gail’s voice is so friendly and personal, it was like sitting down at a coffee shop with her. :D
June 14, 2017
Great resource.
Review to come!
Review to come!
May 1, 2010
I want to qualify my three star rating with this: Were I in the age group this book is intended for, I'd probably have rated it a 4 or 5.
This is a good book for its audience, and elementary school kids should enjoy reading the short chapters that teach writing basics with a familiar, friendly tone. This book invites kids to play on the page, and encourages the magic of writing while striving to remove the pressure of first draft perfection. It also teaches readers to "Save what you wrote"--something I was especially happy to see. Levine wants to get kids writing, and I think she does a good job of inspiring that.
The reason I didn't give it 4 stars is because the language was for elementary school kids, and I'm no longer used to that. I felt talked down to in a way I didn't when reading books like The Witches (Roald Dahl) or Ella Enchanted (another book by Levine).
That said, I'd recommend the book to pre-teens and young teens who want to write but don't know where to start, or who need a bit of encouragement.
Also, I'd suggest Chapter 27, "Fiddling with Fairy Tales," to pretty much anyone; the ideas are good, and I adore fairy tales and their re-tellings.
This is a good book for its audience, and elementary school kids should enjoy reading the short chapters that teach writing basics with a familiar, friendly tone. This book invites kids to play on the page, and encourages the magic of writing while striving to remove the pressure of first draft perfection. It also teaches readers to "Save what you wrote"--something I was especially happy to see. Levine wants to get kids writing, and I think she does a good job of inspiring that.
The reason I didn't give it 4 stars is because the language was for elementary school kids, and I'm no longer used to that. I felt talked down to in a way I didn't when reading books like The Witches (Roald Dahl) or Ella Enchanted (another book by Levine).
That said, I'd recommend the book to pre-teens and young teens who want to write but don't know where to start, or who need a bit of encouragement.
Also, I'd suggest Chapter 27, "Fiddling with Fairy Tales," to pretty much anyone; the ideas are good, and I adore fairy tales and their re-tellings.
January 14, 2019
This is a great little book! It is obviously targeted at a younger audience and it is perfect for that. It's short, simple, but gives great information and is very encouraging. Even as an adult, I felt I came away a better, more motivated writer and, as a big fan of her other books, loved learning more about Levine's life and writing process!
September 22, 2018
I've never read anything by Gail Carson Levine but I enjoyed this and I felt like she was very encouraging. It put me in the mood to get back into fiction writing.
February 15, 2019
This book is inspiring and helpful to writers! It offers great insight and exercises that relate.
August 28, 2021
Excellent book, full of tips and tricks for young writers. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in writing.
November 16, 2021
The only time I ever pick up a writing guide is when I'm in a writing slump and I need motivation. Normally, any writing guide will do it, and I don't even need to agree with the advice. Yet, this one didn't work. I feel no motivation. I didn't even learn anything. This book used an annoying voice that made the author sound like a kindergarten teacher the WHOLE time. To top it all off, there wasn't even any tips! It just said to practice writing until you get better. I wanted TIPS. TIPS. If you're a ten year old looking for what is basically a book of writing prompts, then this is it. If you're not ten and you don't want prompts, then you're out of luck. There's nothing here for you. Well, maybe there's a couple tips, but I probably missed them because I was so annoyed by the author's voice. I couldn't ignore it. At all. And the same thing was said again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again. So I ended up skimming most of the second half of this book. Overall, I don't think it was really worth my time, but I can see it being mildly helpful to the average ten year old looking to be better at writing. If you're a young adult, I don't recommend. There are hundreds of better writing help guides that you could be spending your time with.
October 9, 2017
This book is written for the young writer, as in biological years. However, I found it no less informative and helpful as a 47-year-old writer. In fact, though I've been writing my whole life, I consider myself a "youth" when it comes to my writing career. I did the exercises at the end of the chapters and even submitted a few of the short stories that came out of the writing prompts. This book was light and an easy read. I could easily have read it in one sitting, but I took the time to do the exercises (and I'm also reading quite a few other books simultaneously).
This book was refreshing and encouraging and gave me a set of rules for writing that I have photo-copied and will be putting in a frame in front of my desk. I will read them every day and I will live by them.
Yes, there are tons of books out there about the craft of writing. Though I borrowed this from the library, I will be purchasing a copy for my personal shelf and will refer back to it over and again as I continue my career as a writer.
This book was refreshing and encouraging and gave me a set of rules for writing that I have photo-copied and will be putting in a frame in front of my desk. I will read them every day and I will live by them.
Yes, there are tons of books out there about the craft of writing. Though I borrowed this from the library, I will be purchasing a copy for my personal shelf and will refer back to it over and again as I continue my career as a writer.
June 26, 2020
A great short read with tips from a real author on writing. Included are little stories and tips about developing stories and characters, choosing point of view, even how she names her characters. It is written for kids, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Since I listended to it in the car I didn't do the writing exercises. I plan rereading the book and completing the writing exercises along with my kids.
May 21, 2024
Ella Enchanted is one of the first books I remember reading that turned me into a reader. I will always love GCL for that.
As far as this book goes, nothing groundbreaking, but full of practicable advice. Basically write. Have fun. Save what you wrote.
As far as this book goes, nothing groundbreaking, but full of practicable advice. Basically write. Have fun. Save what you wrote.
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