Writing Stories : Fantastic Fiction from Start to Finish - Hardcover

Grade 4-9 - This reader-friendly title makes learning how to write stories interesting and enjoyable. Harrison details the process of writing, including the importance of a good beginning and ending, the elements of a story, genres, and how to revise the first draft and continue with rewriting before the final product is completed. He uses five types of sidebars ("Tools," "Techniques," "Helpful Hints," "Secrets," and "Try This"), all introduced in the first chapter, to give additional information, guidelines, or direction. What makes this book so valuable is that all of the ideas and suggestions are illustrated with fiction stories, including Harrison's own. These examples are identified with the title and author, indented, and set off with blue type. The author obviously feels comfortable writing for young people, and it shows in both the substance and enthusiastic tone of the text. Students may be encouraged to start their own writing career after reading this book. - Linda Wadleigh, Oconee County Middle School, Watkinsville, GA
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Gr. 4-8. Here's a direct and plainspoken how-to book for middle-graders who want to write. Harrison begins by breaking down the elements of a story and giving concrete examples for young writers to make their own. He offers basic descriptions and tools for genre writing and careful instructions on revision and rewriting. The layout makes good use of spot color in fonts, headers, and boxes; text is broken into manageable bits that make the step-by-step advice as easy to grasp as building blocks. Harrison ends with fundamental advice: writers must read, and writers must write. Expect children to begin their writer's journal (the first and perhaps most important writer's tool) immediately. GraceAnne DeCandido
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