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Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink
Bestselling author Gail Carson Levine shares her secrets of excellent writing in this lively book that is essential for all writers and aspiring writers!
Have you ever wanted to captivate readers with a great opening, create fantastical creatures, realize a dastardly villain, or make your characters leap off the page? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Gail Carson Levine can help you achieve your goals.
This companion to the popular Writing Magic teaches you how to become a world-class author. Drawing from her popular blog, the Newbery Honor author answers readers' questions and dives into how to make a story come alive. If you're interested in writing prose and poetry or just want to be a better and more rounded writer, this book will help you on your creative journey.
With her trademark humor and vast writing knowledge, Gail Carson Levine reveals the tricks of her trade, writer to writer.
Have you ever wanted to captivate readers with a great opening, create fantastical creatures, realize a dastardly villain, or make your characters leap off the page? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Gail Carson Levine can help you achieve your goals.
This companion to the popular Writing Magic teaches you how to become a world-class author. Drawing from her popular blog, the Newbery Honor author answers readers' questions and dives into how to make a story come alive. If you're interested in writing prose and poetry or just want to be a better and more rounded writer, this book will help you on your creative journey.
With her trademark humor and vast writing knowledge, Gail Carson Levine reveals the tricks of her trade, writer to writer.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published December 23, 2014
105 people are currently reading
3551 people want to read
About the author
Gail Carson Levine
62 books9,584 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 157 reviews
May 28, 2017
lot of useful info & it did get me inspired to keep working on my novel-in-progress. But I was disappointed she never mentioned anything related to social justice, especially when she encouraged young writers to use physical character description to show personality & made a very heterosexist romance chapter. It was also quite skewed towards fantasy & realism, so those interested in other genres would do better to find another writing guide.
June 4, 2020
This was a wonderful non-fiction! Great advice and an enjoyable read.
I would recommend this to a writer who is just dipping his or her toes into the sea that is creative writing. It mostly covers basic or beginner topics in writing. Nonetheless, it was an excellent reminder of what to keep in mind when writing in any form.
I wish I had picked this up a few months ago when I was really struggling with writing, since it seems to focus on the basics. I would still recommend this to any beginner or struggling writer or to anyone who wishes to remind themselves of the importance/basics of writing, or why they love to write.
I would recommend this to a writer who is just dipping his or her toes into the sea that is creative writing. It mostly covers basic or beginner topics in writing. Nonetheless, it was an excellent reminder of what to keep in mind when writing in any form.
I wish I had picked this up a few months ago when I was really struggling with writing, since it seems to focus on the basics. I would still recommend this to any beginner or struggling writer or to anyone who wishes to remind themselves of the importance/basics of writing, or why they love to write.
September 30, 2018
Definitely intended for a precocious child-writer, or possibly an average teenage writer, or perhaps just a very dull adult.
But there’s a sweetness to it, to seeing GCL interact with her readers (the book is largely a response to questions posed to her blog about writing).
It’s an exceedingly wholesome book of the kind I find myself seeking out often these days, that gives my brain and my heart a wee break from the harshness of other places. It’s like having your favourite aunt, or your grandmother, pet your hair as you fall asleep, telling you how great you’ll do, or telling you stories about dragons and princesses and fairies.
But there’s a sweetness to it, to seeing GCL interact with her readers (the book is largely a response to questions posed to her blog about writing).
It’s an exceedingly wholesome book of the kind I find myself seeking out often these days, that gives my brain and my heart a wee break from the harshness of other places. It’s like having your favourite aunt, or your grandmother, pet your hair as you fall asleep, telling you how great you’ll do, or telling you stories about dragons and princesses and fairies.
March 20, 2015
FIRST THOUGHTS:
It's always interesting to read a book that offers advice on writing. I love the candidness with which Levine approaches her thoughts! This is a good book for younger readers, but even an older reader like me can learn a lot from this book. Plus, there are fun writing prompts too!
REVIEW:
(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)
Even though the process of writing is pretty subjective, it’s always helpful to learn from those with a bit of experience. This is why I picked up Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink (henceforth to be called Writer to Writer) in the first place. Levine presents her take on writing advice, with bits taken from posts she’s shared via her blog.
What I liked best about Writer to Writer is that writing and its elements are presented quite simply. The language and style used is light and accessible, which means even younger readers will understand. Honestly, everything is so organized that I never once felt lost or confused! Levine tackles all the basics, from themes to characters to plots and so much more. While it’s certainly only scratching the surface of the advice she’s dispensed online, it’s still pretty substantial stuff for new and experienced writers alike. Plus, her writing prompts were really fun and challenging!
If you’re an aspiring writer (or if you know one), Writer to Writer is a read for you. It’s especially good for people who are just starting out or are curious about the craft, as it presents most of the basics in a clear, concise way. However, even those with more experience will enjoy the creativity and humor of the advice in Writer to Writer! So, basically, if you’re looking for another book about the craft of writing, this is a great new option.
It's always interesting to read a book that offers advice on writing. I love the candidness with which Levine approaches her thoughts! This is a good book for younger readers, but even an older reader like me can learn a lot from this book. Plus, there are fun writing prompts too!
REVIEW:
(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)
Even though the process of writing is pretty subjective, it’s always helpful to learn from those with a bit of experience. This is why I picked up Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink (henceforth to be called Writer to Writer) in the first place. Levine presents her take on writing advice, with bits taken from posts she’s shared via her blog.
What I liked best about Writer to Writer is that writing and its elements are presented quite simply. The language and style used is light and accessible, which means even younger readers will understand. Honestly, everything is so organized that I never once felt lost or confused! Levine tackles all the basics, from themes to characters to plots and so much more. While it’s certainly only scratching the surface of the advice she’s dispensed online, it’s still pretty substantial stuff for new and experienced writers alike. Plus, her writing prompts were really fun and challenging!
If you’re an aspiring writer (or if you know one), Writer to Writer is a read for you. It’s especially good for people who are just starting out or are curious about the craft, as it presents most of the basics in a clear, concise way. However, even those with more experience will enjoy the creativity and humor of the advice in Writer to Writer! So, basically, if you’re looking for another book about the craft of writing, this is a great new option.
December 28, 2018
I didn't *completely* finish this, I skipped around, but I think it's a great book! It would be especially good for teens that have an interest in writing.
July 26, 2019
4 ⭐️
This is obviously a book written for kids and teens writing fiction. In that aspect, there's little an adult who has written for a while, or writes adult fiction or non-fiction, might learn.
Still, the prompts are enough to make one appreciate Gail Carson Levine's second book on writing. There are a lot of them, and - although they mainly focus on fantasy - they cover a wide range of styles. You're sure to find something to jog your brain a little when you've hit a rock in your regular writing sessions. And, while they're mainly directed toward kids and teens, they can be tweaked easily enough to interest adults.
My copy is now covered in pink and green highlights, which will hopefully help me improve my writing skills!
This is obviously a book written for kids and teens writing fiction. In that aspect, there's little an adult who has written for a while, or writes adult fiction or non-fiction, might learn.
Still, the prompts are enough to make one appreciate Gail Carson Levine's second book on writing. There are a lot of them, and - although they mainly focus on fantasy - they cover a wide range of styles. You're sure to find something to jog your brain a little when you've hit a rock in your regular writing sessions. And, while they're mainly directed toward kids and teens, they can be tweaked easily enough to interest adults.
My copy is now covered in pink and green highlights, which will hopefully help me improve my writing skills!
October 7, 2022
A very well written guide to writing.
January 30, 2022
[REVIEW]
This didn’t really benefit me, but that doesn’t mean it won’t help others. The advice is straightforward, which makes sense because the target audience for this is children. A lot of writing books I’ve read gives advice, but ends with “well, it depends on what you’re writing…” So it was refreshing to see someone giving more direct writing advice. It also has a lot of writing prompts for writers who don’t know where to start.
Personally, I just didn’t find anything that I didn’t know already. And I wish this had been a little more organized. Like, I’d be reading about character development, and then Levine would say “Writing time!” and provide a couple of writing prompts. No bullet points or change of fonts to help see what was coming next. I think it would’ve definitely been easier to read if all of the writing prompts had been placed at the end of each chapter.
All in all, though, this is a good writing book if you’re a newbie writer.
This didn’t really benefit me, but that doesn’t mean it won’t help others. The advice is straightforward, which makes sense because the target audience for this is children. A lot of writing books I’ve read gives advice, but ends with “well, it depends on what you’re writing…” So it was refreshing to see someone giving more direct writing advice. It also has a lot of writing prompts for writers who don’t know where to start.
Personally, I just didn’t find anything that I didn’t know already. And I wish this had been a little more organized. Like, I’d be reading about character development, and then Levine would say “Writing time!” and provide a couple of writing prompts. No bullet points or change of fonts to help see what was coming next. I think it would’ve definitely been easier to read if all of the writing prompts had been placed at the end of each chapter.
All in all, though, this is a good writing book if you’re a newbie writer.
December 31, 2015
This book is SOOOOO helpful! It feels as though Miss Levine is actually teaching you a class on how to create better writing. And even if you're a great writer, her prompts are fun for practice or for starting a new idea! I definitely need to own this book.
June 21, 2015
This book goes a bit deeper than Writing Magic by the same author. I liked this a little better since the language, while still aimed at younger aspiring writers, is less childish. There are even more prompts and writing exercises.
June 23, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I took several notes and even managed to get a good idea for a story or two. I skipped the poetry part because I'm not much of a poetry writer and don't plan on it. The rest of the book though was very helpful and insightful.
April 25, 2015
I believe that this might have helped me if I didn't already know the subjects the author was talking about....
July 15, 2020
This is a very good book for a writer that's young or a beginner and is just starting to get into the finer details of story construction, or for those who haven't yet had their work thoroughly critiqued yet. If you haven't had much opportunities or experiences than this is a good primer or foundation builder.
Gail Carson Levine gives her advice/suggestions in a very optimistic and whimsy sort of tone, so you always feel good about it. A lot of the discussions revolve around writing prompts and tackling them from certain angles, viewpoints, etc. I enjoyed the chapter (I think it was chapter twenty eight?) on word choices and how to use varied vocabulary to success and to vary and/mix up sentence formation and structure to make it more appealing to read.
The next chapter or two after that outlined how the production of a book - from idea to draft, to editing, to galleys - which I think would be absolutely enlightening and fascinating for writers who aren't familiar with the steps of traditional publishing.
And for those of you who write poetry, she comments on that as well. There are helpful tips and hints to practice or create poems in a myriad of different forms. For those who don't care or don't participate in poetry writing then this section might be a miss.
Short and sweet but if you were looking for more technical guidance on plotting, character creation, emotional beats, and plot structure then this might not be thorough enough for you. Also there is no mention on how to respectfully include social commentary, nor does the book make any mention on the inclusion of diversity. A big miss I think.
Think of this as the stepping stone to future enhancement.
Gail Carson Levine gives her advice/suggestions in a very optimistic and whimsy sort of tone, so you always feel good about it. A lot of the discussions revolve around writing prompts and tackling them from certain angles, viewpoints, etc. I enjoyed the chapter (I think it was chapter twenty eight?) on word choices and how to use varied vocabulary to success and to vary and/mix up sentence formation and structure to make it more appealing to read.
The next chapter or two after that outlined how the production of a book - from idea to draft, to editing, to galleys - which I think would be absolutely enlightening and fascinating for writers who aren't familiar with the steps of traditional publishing.
And for those of you who write poetry, she comments on that as well. There are helpful tips and hints to practice or create poems in a myriad of different forms. For those who don't care or don't participate in poetry writing then this section might be a miss.
Short and sweet but if you were looking for more technical guidance on plotting, character creation, emotional beats, and plot structure then this might not be thorough enough for you. Also there is no mention on how to respectfully include social commentary, nor does the book make any mention on the inclusion of diversity. A big miss I think.
Think of this as the stepping stone to future enhancement.
April 23, 2021
I loved this book!
This is a fantastic book for new unexperienced writers, although experienced writers could probably glean a thing or two from this book, and for tweens and teens who dream of becoming authors ( such as myself) .This book is mostly for fantasy writers, although there’s a good chunk in the back about how to write poetry.
What This Book Has In It:
This book is made up of eight sections, each focusing on a different part of writing, with roughly five chapters in each section. Each chapter has lots of writing advice, related to the topic of the chapter, and sometimes a story idea, with a few writing prompts at the end of every chapter. For example, here’s one of the many writing prompts in this book:
Bonnie is depressed. Action seems hopeless. Nothing will do any good. Her alarmed parents start making her every wish come true in order to cheer her up, with results that are contemporary at best. Give her a problem that activates and lifts her depression. Write the story. At the end she can be sad again, or not.
What I Love About This Book:
1. All the great writing advice and ideas for becoming a better writer.
2. The writing prompts.
3. How Levine isn’t preachy at all in this book; she has a great sense of humor and connects with her readers who read this book.
I definitely recommend this book to new inexperienced writers of all ages! Thanks for reading my review and have a great day!
This is a fantastic book for new unexperienced writers, although experienced writers could probably glean a thing or two from this book, and for tweens and teens who dream of becoming authors ( such as myself) .This book is mostly for fantasy writers, although there’s a good chunk in the back about how to write poetry.
What This Book Has In It:
This book is made up of eight sections, each focusing on a different part of writing, with roughly five chapters in each section. Each chapter has lots of writing advice, related to the topic of the chapter, and sometimes a story idea, with a few writing prompts at the end of every chapter. For example, here’s one of the many writing prompts in this book:
Bonnie is depressed. Action seems hopeless. Nothing will do any good. Her alarmed parents start making her every wish come true in order to cheer her up, with results that are contemporary at best. Give her a problem that activates and lifts her depression. Write the story. At the end she can be sad again, or not.
What I Love About This Book:
1. All the great writing advice and ideas for becoming a better writer.
2. The writing prompts.
3. How Levine isn’t preachy at all in this book; she has a great sense of humor and connects with her readers who read this book.
I definitely recommend this book to new inexperienced writers of all ages! Thanks for reading my review and have a great day!
June 1, 2019
I'm not sure if I would have picked up this book on my own. I received it as a gift. I'm always interested in reading about the struggles of fellow writers; as the process of writing is a solitary act, such books make me feel I belong to a community and that my own struggles are not unique to me.
This book was light to read, took me less that two days to finish it. It is divided into short chapters and the writing is clear. I think younger writers would benefit from this book the most. It abounds with writing exercises so you might want to dip into it whenever you feel stuck, just to practice your craft.
Most of the examples and writing exercises come from the genre of fantasy, which personally I didn't relate to, but it was a fun read.
The book, ultimately, does what a book on writing is supposed to do, and that is inspire one to open the notebook (or cumputer) and sit down to write.
This book was light to read, took me less that two days to finish it. It is divided into short chapters and the writing is clear. I think younger writers would benefit from this book the most. It abounds with writing exercises so you might want to dip into it whenever you feel stuck, just to practice your craft.
Most of the examples and writing exercises come from the genre of fantasy, which personally I didn't relate to, but it was a fun read.
The book, ultimately, does what a book on writing is supposed to do, and that is inspire one to open the notebook (or cumputer) and sit down to write.
January 20, 2025
I adored this as much as her first writing book and would emphatically recommend them both to anyone interested in writing at any age. This would also be a wonderful read if you are in a writing slump and looking for some fun ideas.
It's wholesome and focuses on the fun while dripping in pieces of knowledge on various topics from plot to character growth and even a little bit on publishing. I love that each chapter includes prompts to practice what you learn too.
Have fun, and save what you write!
It's wholesome and focuses on the fun while dripping in pieces of knowledge on various topics from plot to character growth and even a little bit on publishing. I love that each chapter includes prompts to practice what you learn too.
Have fun, and save what you write!
January 1, 2019
I learned more about poetry than writing fiction itself, but I enjoyed knowing about the author's writing process and it has some amazing writing prompts!
October 1, 2020
This was good! Definitely for newer writers, but it had some good tips.
July 12, 2024
I found this to be an extremely useful insight from a successful author willing to share. It covered a lot of necessary topics and helpful, easy to understand bullet points.
September 3, 2024
Read this book for its section on poetry, if nothing else.
January 22, 2019
This book is awesome! I finished it on January 12th, 2019, and it is the fourth of my one hundred books to read in 2019.
This book is basically a book about writing: how to do it, hpow to get better at it. There is a HUGE section on poetry, the one thing I did not love, so if that is one of your interests too, then this book would be perfect for you to read.
I think that Gail Carson Levine has some pretty great advice in here, and I adored how she referred to other authors and poets to back up her techniques.
I don't know if this book will drastically change the way I write, but I know I learned some things from reading it, and you could too!
This book is basically a book about writing: how to do it, hpow to get better at it. There is a HUGE section on poetry, the one thing I did not love, so if that is one of your interests too, then this book would be perfect for you to read.
I think that Gail Carson Levine has some pretty great advice in here, and I adored how she referred to other authors and poets to back up her techniques.
I don't know if this book will drastically change the way I write, but I know I learned some things from reading it, and you could too!
July 16, 2022
This is a lovely reading.
December 27, 2020
Lots of great writing advice in bite-sized chunks with writing prompts. Recommended for any fiction writer.
November 10, 2017
It's been several years since I read Writing Magic, but I have fond memories of that book, particularly one prompt that was so vivid, it spawned an entirely new character and altered the course of a novel.
Now, knee-deep in Nanowrimo and a big fan of Levine's, I was bound to read Writer to Writer, which, from what I can remember of Writing Magic, carried a lot of that same humor and wholesome advice. The prompts here were not as fantasy oriented as in the first book--Levine is writing more her blog audience than would-be fantasy writers exclusively. But her good sense and genuine love of writing were still encouraging. (Also props to her for including several chapters on poetry that didn't sound like a straight re-hash of my high school freshmen English class.)
In the years since Writing Magic, I've grown more serious about my writing. My stories have taken me into previously unexplored territory and pushed me to the limits of my emotional capacity. I'm a better writer now for it, yet it's always refreshing to come back to one's roots, to be reminded that it's ok to experiment and have fun. As Levine herself says, "Poetry flies the flag of freedom."
Books like this do too. And, in due course, I found another great, possibly novel-altering prompt. In Levine's words: "Writing time!"
Now, knee-deep in Nanowrimo and a big fan of Levine's, I was bound to read Writer to Writer, which, from what I can remember of Writing Magic, carried a lot of that same humor and wholesome advice. The prompts here were not as fantasy oriented as in the first book--Levine is writing more her blog audience than would-be fantasy writers exclusively. But her good sense and genuine love of writing were still encouraging. (Also props to her for including several chapters on poetry that didn't sound like a straight re-hash of my high school freshmen English class.)
In the years since Writing Magic, I've grown more serious about my writing. My stories have taken me into previously unexplored territory and pushed me to the limits of my emotional capacity. I'm a better writer now for it, yet it's always refreshing to come back to one's roots, to be reminded that it's ok to experiment and have fun. As Levine herself says, "Poetry flies the flag of freedom."
Books like this do too. And, in due course, I found another great, possibly novel-altering prompt. In Levine's words: "Writing time!"
December 31, 2014
Gail Carson Levine has done it again. I can't believe how talented she is. I have always loved her novels, and since I was in elementary school have kept "Writing Magic" in the back of my head as a favorite. It inspired me to start seriously writing and made me fall (further) in love with fantasy. In this edition, "Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink," Levine takes what she discussed in her first book a bit further, encouraging young writers to embrace real life events and to create characters that stand out on the page in a natural, sympathetic way.
I was initially looking for books that I could use in my middle and high school writers groups when I stumbled across this and had to check it out for myself as well. I love the way the talks to the reader like they're in front of her, like they're a friend.
I don't want to ruin the read for you :) so I'm going to stop here. Pick up a copy from your local library or bookstore, or order a copy online. You won't regret the time you spend reading this if you love Levine's writing or are an avid writer yourself.
I was initially looking for books that I could use in my middle and high school writers groups when I stumbled across this and had to check it out for myself as well. I love the way the talks to the reader like they're in front of her, like they're a friend.
I don't want to ruin the read for you :) so I'm going to stop here. Pick up a copy from your local library or bookstore, or order a copy online. You won't regret the time you spend reading this if you love Levine's writing or are an avid writer yourself.
March 2, 2017
I loved this book's chatty, insightful, and honest tone from the moment I opened it. I immediately felt kinship with the author when I discovered she was also a pantser--and a published one at that! This book didn't say "show don't tell" or "just write"; it gave encouragement and advice on how to show and what to do when you are too busy fussing over your story to progress or are completely inspiration dead. The poetry section wasn't my favorite, but it could be useful to a beginner in that field. Just a note that since this is by a fantasy author there is a cutesy "magic spell" and discussions of how to write magic in your own story.
Best quote: "Usually I have a sense of how the story should end--nothing specific, and nothing that can't change. Then I plunge in and start writing, without an outline but with a rough idea of where I'm going, which may be entirely different from where I end up, and occasionally I lose my way for many pages."
Altogether, I found this to be a refreshing read for us "veteran" writers and an exciting introduction for beginners.
Best quote: "Usually I have a sense of how the story should end--nothing specific, and nothing that can't change. Then I plunge in and start writing, without an outline but with a rough idea of where I'm going, which may be entirely different from where I end up, and occasionally I lose my way for many pages."
Altogether, I found this to be a refreshing read for us "veteran" writers and an exciting introduction for beginners.
February 18, 2016
I read this book for two reasons. 1) I love Ella Enchanted and Levine holds a special place in my heart for that childhood memory and 2) I've always been interested in the reading/writing process.
This book is put together from Levine's blog on writing. I've never visited her website, and I found the information in the book to be useful and interesting even though I don't write. She is encouraging and makes the writing process sound fun and imaginative. She gives great writing prompts that I could see myself having fun with in the future. The book also has a section on poetry and discusses plenty aspects of writing I have never even considered.
I will definitely read this book again and I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to beef up their creative writing skills.
This book is put together from Levine's blog on writing. I've never visited her website, and I found the information in the book to be useful and interesting even though I don't write. She is encouraging and makes the writing process sound fun and imaginative. She gives great writing prompts that I could see myself having fun with in the future. The book also has a section on poetry and discusses plenty aspects of writing I have never even considered.
I will definitely read this book again and I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to beef up their creative writing skills.
August 4, 2017
It's friendly enough to not feel like a lecture on creative writing and all the processes that go with it, but serious enough that you get some deep questions answered in lengthy detail: and it does all of this without being boring.
I grabbed this because I love books on writing and because my oldest daughter had read Ella Enchanted last year for school. I'm so glad that I did. Her blog, which the questions asked generally came from, is also amazing and full of great ideas to help get your inspired. And that is the best word I can think of to describe this book on writing creative fiction (and poetry)- inspired.
If you need some help tossing writer's block out of your house, this is a good start.
I grabbed this because I love books on writing and because my oldest daughter had read Ella Enchanted last year for school. I'm so glad that I did. Her blog, which the questions asked generally came from, is also amazing and full of great ideas to help get your inspired. And that is the best word I can think of to describe this book on writing creative fiction (and poetry)- inspired.
If you need some help tossing writer's block out of your house, this is a good start.
May 21, 2019
3.5, leaning towards a 3.75
I've had this book on my shelves for the longest time. When I was younger (lmao like 2-4 years younger. I'm still a little fetus), I loved to write fiction. I wrote a couple not so good short stories and published them on my blog (wouldn't recommend reading them, if I'm being honest.) I guess when I saw this book in the store that combined 1) blogging, and 2) writing fiction, I thought it would be perfect. Now 3-4 years later, I'm not as avid of a writer sadly, but I still dabble. Anyways, this whole thing has nothing to do with the book. Just wanted to tell you how I came about buying this.
This book was told in a very approachable and down to earth way which I really enjoyed. Even though some of the chapters didn't interest me, I kept reading because Levine's writing style was so fun and flowy (that never happens to me.)
I enjoyed some of the prompts and might try them out since this kind of reignited my inspiration to write.
Overall, a good book, but I can't really judge it on it's writing advice since I'm not a professional/avid writer.
I've had this book on my shelves for the longest time. When I was younger (lmao like 2-4 years younger. I'm still a little fetus), I loved to write fiction. I wrote a couple not so good short stories and published them on my blog (wouldn't recommend reading them, if I'm being honest.) I guess when I saw this book in the store that combined 1) blogging, and 2) writing fiction, I thought it would be perfect. Now 3-4 years later, I'm not as avid of a writer sadly, but I still dabble. Anyways, this whole thing has nothing to do with the book. Just wanted to tell you how I came about buying this.
This book was told in a very approachable and down to earth way which I really enjoyed. Even though some of the chapters didn't interest me, I kept reading because Levine's writing style was so fun and flowy (that never happens to me.)
I enjoyed some of the prompts and might try them out since this kind of reignited my inspiration to write.
Overall, a good book, but I can't really judge it on it's writing advice since I'm not a professional/avid writer.
January 1, 2024
Quick notes:
-This book is written by the author of Ella Enchanted.
-I had to push to finish reading this, but that was mostly because the book is informative and I've been spoiled by fiction lately.
-I was surprised by the scope of this book. The author covers a lot on prose (plot, character building, mystery, creatures, romance, conflict, clarity, and even an inside look on the publishing process, to name a few examples) and there were even a few chapters on poetry. (She also mentions blogging at the end but admits that the world of social media is constantly changing.)
-Her style comes through in her advice, so expect a lot of twisted fairy tales and middle reader ideas. (I'm not super excited about fairy tales so I suspect this was another reason why I had to push to finish the book.)
-She gave me a lot to think about regarding my own writing projects, which was my goal when I checked this book out of the library.
-Expect a LOT of writing prompts. I didn't do any of them but some of her ideas were pretty interesting.
-This book is written by the author of Ella Enchanted.
-I had to push to finish reading this, but that was mostly because the book is informative and I've been spoiled by fiction lately.
-I was surprised by the scope of this book. The author covers a lot on prose (plot, character building, mystery, creatures, romance, conflict, clarity, and even an inside look on the publishing process, to name a few examples) and there were even a few chapters on poetry. (She also mentions blogging at the end but admits that the world of social media is constantly changing.)
-Her style comes through in her advice, so expect a lot of twisted fairy tales and middle reader ideas. (I'm not super excited about fairy tales so I suspect this was another reason why I had to push to finish the book.)
-She gave me a lot to think about regarding my own writing projects, which was my goal when I checked this book out of the library.
-Expect a LOT of writing prompts. I didn't do any of them but some of her ideas were pretty interesting.
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