I want to hear from you! What books are you reading, loving, and recommending to your friends? What books are keeping you awake with flashlights under the covers? What books have enriched your life and opened your mind to new possibilities?
Email your short book reviews (two to four paragraphs long) to dallaswoodburn@aol.com. Be sure to include the title and author's name.
Here is a sample review of a book I loved:
The I Love To Write Bookby Mary-Lane Kamberg
On November 15, 2002, John Riddle started "I Love To Write Day" – what he describes as "the world's biggest party for writers" – to encourage people across the globe to put pen to paper in some form, whether that be writing a letter or finishing a novel. He says, "I believe that people need to be challenged, and writing is one of the many creative ways to express yourself."
Mary-Lane Kamberg is the author of eleven books and the director of a summer writing camp in Kansas for young writers. Inspired by I Love To Write Day, she wanted to do even more to encourage young people to discover the joy of writing. So she penned The I Love To Write Book as a "practical springboard" for writing enthusiasm.
The book is organized into three sections: Get Started; Write, Write, Write; and Revise, Edit, and Proofread. Each section is broken down into short chapters covering everything from how to get ideas, how to organize “the muddle in the middle,” and how to rewrite using a computer. I loved the inspirational writing quotes sprinkled throughout, like this gem from Ray Bradbury: "We are cups ... constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."
The final chapter features tips for sending your work out for publication – plus information about nine markets that specifically ask for work by young writers. The I Love to Write Book can also be used as a workbook or a self-motivated creative writing course, because each chapter features multiple "Try This!" activities ranging from writing a haiku to writing a letter to the editor. This book would not only make a great gift for kids, it would also be an interesting read for teachers who want to incorporate more fun writing activities into their lesson plans.
The I Love To Write Book is a practical and tip-filled writing handbook, but even more than that it is a wonderful reminder to embrace the joy, discovery, and fulfillment that comes from expressing yourself through writing. Here’s hoping that in 2010, every day is I Love to Write Day!
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