Thinking Like a Writer - Hardcover

Stanek, Lou Willett

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679962174 ISBN 13: 9780679962175

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1994

Synopsis

Shows how to develop characters, write vivid descriptions, invent names for characters, turn everyday experiences into story material, and avoid common fiction-writing mistakes

About this title

Reviews

Grade 5-8?Although this guide to writing fiction offers little in the way of new information, it does contain some useful ideas. Stanek includes grammar rules, literary devices such as metaphor and simile, and suggestions for developing interesting characters, as well as descriptions of many other tools used to create good stories. Many of these elements have been discussed elsewhere, and in some cases, defined better. It is hard to imagine readers with a proclivity for writing who haven't yet heard about keeping a notebook or jotting down ideas from everyday experiences. There is far too much digression from the task the author sets; it is sometimes difficult to find an idea in the plethora of chatty sentences. In fact, sometimes the text consists only of phrases, which is not the best stylistic example for would-be writers. Teachers and individual writers may find some of the exercises enjoyable, but not particularly memorable. Marion Bauer's What's Your Story? (Clarion, 1992), which covers the same basic material, is much more fun to read.?Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0679962174
• ISBN 13: 9780679962175
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 108