book data
209 ratings, 4.15 average rating, 54 reviews
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published
September 1st 2006
by HarperCollins Childrens Book Group
binding
Hardcover, 176 pages
isbn
0060519614
(isbn13: 9780060519612)
description
Do you want to write stories that catch your readers and never let go? Have you ever wondered how to create a book as magical as Ella Enchanted, as t...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 385)
Read in September, 2008
Kalo mau belajar nulis fiksi yang oke, boleh juga nih baca buku ini. Dilengkapi dengan how-to dan step-by-step in writing plus beberapa tips, buku ini dirasa cukup manjur buat dijadiin resep belajar menulis. Dibuat oleh Gail Carson Levine, yang menulis buku 'Ella Enchanted' (I love that book AND the movie, too!)
Isinya sih gak semua baru, dalam arti ada beberapa yang semua penulis pasti udah tau, kayak misalnya jangan dengerin orang yang bilang ke kita bahwa kita gak bisa nulis, atau ...more
Isinya sih gak semua baru, dalam arti ada beberapa yang semua penulis pasti udah tau, kayak misalnya jangan dengerin orang yang bilang ke kita bahwa kita gak bisa nulis, atau ...more
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Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
Although WRITING MAGIC is geared towards young adults, this is the perfect helper for anyone who has ever wanted to write a book. Creating stories is hard work. It takes practice, discipline, and dedication. It would be nice to think that writing a book simply means sitting down and typing up words, but, alas, it really doesn't work that way. Thankfully, though, we have Gail Carson Levine, Newbery Honor author of some of my favorite books (ELLA ENCH...more
Although WRITING MAGIC is geared towards young adults, this is the perfect helper for anyone who has ever wanted to write a book. Creating stories is hard work. It takes practice, discipline, and dedication. It would be nice to think that writing a book simply means sitting down and typing up words, but, alas, it really doesn't work that way. Thankfully, though, we have Gail Carson Levine, Newbery Honor author of some of my favorite books (ELLA ENCH...more
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Read in September, 2007
Levine wrote this book to teach kids how to write, and, frankly, I find the way she writes down to them a little annoying. But Writing Magic would work well as a text in a writing workshop for kids, since every chapter has a great little writing assignment, and Levine has good advice for fiction writers of any age, especially her sections on revising, on showing and telling, on beginnings, and making your character suffer. There's a lot of good stuff packed into this book, if you can wade throug...more
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Read in January, 2008
This is a great book for beginning writers. It's aimed at approximately middle-school-aged kids, but there are some nice, imagination-inspiring ideas for any writer.
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Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone!
The writing group I've joined is reading this book this month and we'll be reviewing it in a couple of weeks. I have an interest in writing, so I'm excited to see what I can learn from this book about writing stories.
AWESOME BOOK! I just finished it. I learned so much about what goes into writing stories - not only fiction but writing about.. anything. Honestly, it made me want to write about everything because there is so much potential out there! It also inspired me to try to finish ...more
AWESOME BOOK! I just finished it. I learned so much about what goes into writing stories - not only fiction but writing about.. anything. Honestly, it made me want to write about everything because there is so much potential out there! It also inspired me to try to finish ...more
Read in September, 2008
I've been doing some writing and thinking a great deal about what it would take to get published. Daniel has been very supportive and even offered to illustrate anything I put my name to. I've been reading how-to books on the side to see what I can learn. This is one of my new favorites in that category.
This book was engaging and gave me many ideas for stories that I am going to write up. Daniel and I have agreed to go through it for a second read and do the writing excercizes tog...more
This book was engaging and gave me many ideas for stories that I am going to write up. Daniel and I have agreed to go through it for a second read and do the writing excercizes tog...more
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Being both an avid writer and reader, you can imagine my excitement when my favorite author came out with a writing book. Gail Carson Levine is one of those authors who can make up an entire world with its own cultures and customs and creatures and people and you read it and immediately sucked into it. It's always believable, creative, and enjoyable. Every time I finish a Levine novel, I put it down thinking, "How did she DO that??" She is a gifted writer.
I would recommend this b...more
I would recommend this b...more
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Read in May, 2007
A fantastic book for young, would-be writers--I bought it for my daughter, but became immediately caught up in it and couldn't put it down. This book is a departure from Levine's fairy-tale fiction, and is my first experience with this author, but I was surprised at the infectious passion she was able to impart. If you love to write and are seeking some inspiration, this book will help you remember what you love about writing, no matter the genre.
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
Teens and Pre-Teens seeking to Write
Ms. Levine presents writing in an easy non-overwhelming way that inspires writing even in me. Her advice is a wonderful lead into the writing life and makes it fun when so many writers make it sound like some sort of torturous walk across the desert to make a masterpiece. I wish I had read some of her advice when I was younger. I would have leaned towards the school of revision sooner and not thought that the masters of writing never made mistakes.
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Read in June, 2008
My daughter loves to write fiction. I picked up this book at the library hoping to find some inspiration and ideas for her work. We have used a number of writing resources, and found little that was new in this book. It offers more encouragement than writing tips, and is too wordy to be very useful. The most useful section (for me) is the one on Digging Deeper, which focuses on revising and refining one's writing.
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
YA wanna be writers
The book is a really excellent series of exercises on writing YA fantasy stories. I liked it so much that I am searching around for a used copy because I didn't have time to do the excercises.
Cautionary note - it is geared for a YA audience. But, I didn't mind at all. It felt like a course in writing that I just don't have the time to take at this point in my life. So what better way, then in my own time?
Cautionary note - it is geared for a YA audience. But, I didn't mind at all. It felt like a course in writing that I just don't have the time to take at this point in my life. So what better way, then in my own time?
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recommends it for:
writers (amateur or not)
Normally books trying to teach writing are boring and somewhat useless, but this one was short, heartfelt, and a perfect tool for learning to write better. I especially enjoyed the chapter on dialogue (not one of my strong points), but most of all I just felt I LEARNED something from Writing Magic, which is so uncommon for any textbook or other instructional book. Why don't we use books like this in school?
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Young writers, around ages 9-12
It's cute, and definitely aimed at kids. I picked it up because I really enjoyed Ella Enchanted, and because I've been trying to write more, and because I'm a sucker for YA Fantasy in general. I knew it was written as a kids' writing book, but I think I was hoping it was aimed at a slightly older group of kids. :) Great writing guide for about ages 9-12.
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Read in June, 2008
When I was younger and wanting to write, I read Patricia Reilly Giff's WRITE UP A STORM WITH THE POLK STREET KIDS! What's better than reading a how-to book by one of your favorite authors? Gail Carson Levine's book is even better than Giff's, and it's the perfect introduction to writing for a young writer. I'd use this in a creative writing class.
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Read in December, 2008
This book made me feel really good about myself as a writer because most of the things she suggests in writing good stories and becoming an author I actually have already naturally picked up on and I already do. But she also gives advice on things that will help me become even better. She gives inspiration to just get through it and do it.
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Read in October, 2008
Gail Carson Levine offers advice, exercises and stories about her own experiences to encourage young writers to improve their writing skills. Her first 3 rules of writing are the same: "The best way to write better is to write more." She offers other helpful rules in this easy to read guide to writing.
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone who likes to write but isn't quite sure how to do it
This book is awesome! I don't own it, but we're reading it in writing class in school and it is just AMAZING!!!!!! We haven't quite read it all the way through, but I can just tell!!!!!!1
It's pretty much just writing help, how to write a book, and help like that. It's awesome!
It's pretty much just writing help, how to write a book, and help like that. It's awesome!
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Read in November, 2008
Although written for a younger audience, I really felt motivated by this self-writing-workshop. I respect Gail Carson Levine's writing and she seems genuinely interested in helping a new generation of writers get off the ground (hence the title). I brings out the creativity in you.
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Menulis itu butuh ketekunan. Ketekunan bisa diasah dengan banyak latihan. Nah, buku ini ngajak kita latihan menulis dengan cara asyik. Levine yang terkenal dengan karya-karyanya yang segar dan sering kali kocak dan konyol, juga menuliskan dengan segar dan sesekali kocak.
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non-fiction (on 12 people's shelves)
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