Spilling Ink

January 18, 2010
Young scribes may find the tools they need with these guides to the craft.
Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook
Anne Mazer
and Ellen Potter
, illus. by Matt Phelan. Roaring Brook/Flash Point
, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-59643-514-8
; $9.99 paper ISBN 978-1-59643-628-2

This playful guide for aspiring writers aims to demystify the creative process as it explores first drafts and finding inspiration, the meat and potatoes of writing, and writer's block and criticism. Mazer (the Sister Magic series) and Potter (the Olivia Kidney books) challenge readers to dig deep into their characters, make a “mental compost pile” to find inspiration, and face revision head on, while modeling their own approaches. “I get ideas while waiting in lines, staring at the clouds, or lying sick in bed,” says Mazer; demonstrating how to build suspense, Potter shares the true story (“with a few embellishments”) of a robber hanging from her neighbor's terrace. Phelan's ink illustrations and a lighthearted humor enliven the text, and honest advice, such as “Your character's heart's desire is what propels your story forward,” are cogent and invaluable. Ages 9–14.

March 1, 2010
Grades 5-9 Two fine writers put their heads together and come up with an equally fine guide to their craft for beginners. Avoiding traditional chapters, the coauthors address issues by turns in short personal takes. Mazer speaks to beginnings, for example, while Potter tackles endings; and both have diverting things to say about everything that happens in between, whether its the narrative voice or (eek) writers block. Always agreeable, practical, and commonsensical in their approach, the two are also refreshingly permissive (its fine to break rules), though they add the caveat that rule breakage should come from a knowledge of said rules and a good reason for breaking them. Their text is enlivened with sidebar features, personal anecdotes, and suggestions to readers for exercising their new skills (happily these arent called Exercises but, instead, I Dare You). Such devices, along with the authors unfailing good humor, will go a long way to convincing their audience that writing can actually be fun! A notion that is nicely underscored by Phelans engaging and always appealing illustrations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2010
A how-to manual with heart, this guide contains brief sections offering encouragement, advice, and playful exercises for budding writers. Mazer and Potter draw on autobiography as they discuss major writing topics from finding ideas to crafting characters and plot to overcoming nerves and writer's block. Catchy subheadings and Phelan's often-humorous illustrations complement the friendly tone.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)