Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook

Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook

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4.31 of 5 stars 4.31  ·  rating details  ·  336 ratings  ·  97 reviews
LEARNHOW TO WRITE LIKE THE EXPERTS, FROM THE EXPERTS.

Practical advice in a perfect package for young aspiring writers.

After receiving letters from fans asking for writing advice,accomplished authors Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter joined together to create this guidebook for young writers. The authors mix inspirational anecdotes with practical guidance on how to find a voice,...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published March 30th 2010 by Flash Point
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Jean V. Naggar Literary
“Agreeable, practical, and commonsensical...Engaging and always appealing illustrations...Will go a long way to convincing their audience that writing can actually be fun!” --Booklist

“Cogent and invaluable.” --Publishers Weekly

“Engaging and informal...[Readers] will feel as if they have been allowed into a friendly conversation with masters of their craft. The best of recent volumes on the subject.” --Kirkus

“Terrific...practical and delightful...crafted with joy and verve.” --VOYA

"One of the bes...more
Brandi Plumlee
Name: Brandi Plumlee, LME 508
Potter, E., & Mazer, A. (2010). Spilling ink: A young writer’s handbook. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press.
Cost: $8.99 (Barnes and Noble)
Dewey/Call Number: (Not available from Library of Congress)

Reading Level: 9-14 years

Category: Elementary Level/Non-fiction Reference-Handbook

Review Citation:
Brownson, A. (2011). Book Review [Review of the book Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook]. School Library Journal, 57(7), 72. Retrieved on June 16, 2012 from Academic Se...more
M. Neeley
Jun 22, 2012 M. Neeley marked it as to-read
Shelves: reference
Melissa Neeley

Title:
Mazer, A., Potter, E. (2010). Spilling ink: A young writer’s handbook. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press.

Type of Reference: Handbook
Call #: Y808.3 Mazer
Cost: $15.34

Description: This book offers playful advice on how to progress through the writing process for intermediate students.

Relevance and Relationship: A useful writing guide for older elementary or middle grade students, this handbook can be used in all content areas across the curriculum.

Purpose: This handbook analyze...more
Elizabeth Lamantia
Jun 22, 2012 Elizabeth Lamantia marked it as reference
Reviewed by: Elizabeth LaMantia
Format: Handbook
Item Title (APA Style):
Phelan, M. l., Potter, E., & Mazer, A. (2010). Spilling ink: a young writer's handbook. United States of America: Flash Point.
Call number: 808.3
Reviewed in: Brownson, A. (2011). Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook. School Library Journal, 57(7), 52.
Price: $17.99
Description:
Book of helpful hints for young writers.
Relevance and Relationship:
This book would be appropriate for the collection analyzed during my field ex...more
Michelle David
Jun 18, 2012 Michelle David marked it as reference-collection
Handbook Reference

Name: Michelle David

Phelan, M., Potter, E., & Mazer, A. (2010). Spilling ink: A young writer’s handbook. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

Dewey: 808.3
Reading Level: 5-8 (Ages 9 and up)
Category: Nonfiction Reference/Handbook

Review Citation:
Y.K.S. (2011). [Review of the book Spilling ink: A young writer’s handbook]. Journal of Children’s Literature, 37(2), 43.

Description: This title prepares a young writer from the beginning. It goes through getting started, staging, revising a...more
Stephanie Jobe
First off just because something is illustrated doesn’t mean that there are huge amounts of images. I always love having a well placed smattering of pictures and Matt Phelan’s sketch style illustrations fit right in with the creative atmosphere of this book. I’ve always been drawn to things with stark contrast so the black and white on this cover styled like the yellow legal pads I used to tear through makes my heart happy.

I spent much of this book smiling a very silly smile and nodding in agree...more
Deana Chandler
Phelan, M. l., Potter, E., & Mazer, A. (2010). Spilling ink: a young writer's handbook. United States of America: Flash Point.

Citation created by: Deana Chandler
Call Number: 808

Description: This is a how-to manual that serves as a guide for aspiring writers.

Content/Scope: The book offers advice about the writing process. It covers everything from character and plot, to accepting criticism and dealing with writer’s block.

Accuracy/Authority: This handbook has received positive reviews by repu...more
Tasha
Two veteran authors take their years of writing, their know-how, and their energy and offer it happily to new authors, both young and old. What could have been a dry subject is definitely not in their hands. Simply starting the book will have you hooked and make you wonder why you never wrote that book that you know you have inside you. Mazer and Potter take on all of your excuses, throw in some great advice, and really inspire you to go for it! Written with lots of humor, this book has I Dare Y...more
Karen Ball
"When you sit down to write a story, you are embarking on a wild ocean voyage. You don't know where you are going, or what sort of storms you might sail into along the way. You might get shipwrecked by writer's block... But don't worry. Another ship is sure to sail into view and it will whisk you right back out into those tumbling, unpredictable waters of your brilliant imagination!"
Spilling Ink is a delightful book of writing ideas, advice, and "dares" for beginning writers. Instead of chapter...more
Mayday Maddie
This handbook is anything but condescending, which feels nice, as a young writer who was constantly reminded of her lack of knowledge by former language arts teachers. Mazer & Potter have amusing commentary and perspectives on their work. AND, best of ALL, they STICK IT to all those writing teachers. Apparently, all of those academic directions in creative writing can be thrown forcefully out of a window. Which I've wanted to do for a while now (and I CAN with permission from PROFESSIONAL CH...more
Cherylann
Admittedly, this book sat on my desk at school for 7 months before I picked it, and I only picked it up because I was feeling guilty that I was hogging a book from the school library that a student or two probably wanted to read. I took it from the library because I thought it sounded like a good read. I had no idea what a good read this book is! I can't wait to book talk it to my students. The book is full of sound writing advice for kids. And the best part is they'll probably take it for two r...more
Melanie Wyatt
Jun 22, 2012 Melanie Wyatt rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: middle school students
Shelves: reference-shelf
Phelan, M., Potter, E., & Mazer, A. (2010). Spilling ink: A young writer’s handbook. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
Reviewed by: Melanie Wyatt
Category: Handbook
Call #: 808.3 MAZ
Price: $8.99

Description: This book provides creative writing prompts to help young people start the writing process. The book also provides sidebars that engage the students while reading.
Content/scope: The purpose of the book, content and scope are geared towards middle school students. The text is very easy to read...more
Betsy
I was child writer. Which is to say, I was one of those kids who wrote endless stories between the ages of nine and fourteen or so. Of these stories, I finished only one. And I remember taking a writing class over a summer once that I enjoyed, but otherwise I didn't have a lot of direction when it came to my writing. I dabbled a bit in high school, but for the most part my creative side floundered for many years before getting a bit of a revivification in adulthood. So it's impossible for me not...more
NebraskaIcebergs
Having never heard of Anne Mazer or Ellen Potter before, their writing biographies initially felt a little less important than the tips about writing that I could pick up from their guide: Spilling Ink. Ironically, I've now added their novels to my reading list. Such is the power of a good writing guide! (It also doesn't hurt that Mazer has written a series of books about a girl who wants to be a writer.) If you aren't a fan of novels where the character viewpoints switch back and forth (and I'm...more
The Reading Countess
Publisher’s Summary:

LEARN HOW TO WRITE LIKE THE EXPERTS, FROM THE EXPERTS.

Practical advice in a perfect package for young aspiring writers.

After receiving letters from fans asking for writing advice,accomplished authors Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter joined together to create this guidebook for young writers. The authors mix inspirational anecdotes with practical guidance on how to find a voice, develop characters and plot,
make revisions, and overcome writer’s block. Fun writing prompts will help...more
レジ ー爆弾
Apr 13, 2011 レジ ー爆弾 rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Young Writers
Spilling Ink By Ellen Potter and Anne Mazer is a handbook for young writers. In this book Ellen and Anne give all sorts of tips and advice on making a book. From making characters come to life to how to turn on your idea radar, this book has it covered. Spilling Ink also gives some insight on making picture books and more on being a writer instead of just how to make a book.

Spilling Ink really is a great handbook for any young author. I feel like a changed writer after reading it. I feel more co...more
Jessica
If Anne Lammot were going to write Bird by Bird for kids, right down to the Messy/Shitty First Drafts, this would be it. I even checked the acknowledgments to see if the authors thanks Lammot for giving them ideas of what to write.

That being said, though, I did enjoy the book. I read it with post-it flags next to me and tagged up many pages in the book, ready to share it with my students.

I loved their simple, yet meaningful suggestions and that they left them as just that--suggestions, reiterati...more
Bridget R. Wilson
You want to be a writer? This is the book for you. Two skilled (and published) authors cover every topic from getting started, revision, and writer's block. It's all there.


What I thought: Wow! What a great book for young writers. I would have loved to have had a book like this when I was younger. I've read quite a few writing books (both for children and adults) and Spilling Ink is one of the better ones. A side note: as an adult, I still prefer the children's writing books. I loved the book's o...more
Morgan
If you want to be a writer, this is the perfect book for you. Written by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter this book is filled with their advice on how to become a writer and how they write. It shows you lots of different strategies to developing plot and characters as well as teaching you about dialogue and description. This book has personally helped me when I write stories and it has changed the way I look at my characters and helped me develop things further than the surface. As soon as you finish...more
Karen Arendt
What a great book about the writing process, and what makes it so great is the voice! Ann Mazer and Ellen Potter talk to young writers in such a flowing, talkative way. They don't bog you down in details, they give you plenty of anecdotes, and lots of examples. I found a new way to present the revision process to students, even if I am working on research papers as their writing purpose. Great for students to read and great for teachers to share sections to inspire writing in the classroom.
Amy Carr
Whether you are a child, teenager or adult...whether you are a writer or just secretly dream of writing...this is a wonderful reference book to get you writing or help improve what you have written. It is written for an audience 3rd grade and older and really breaks down not only the process of "writing" but all the different elements of story, character, voice, etc. It gives "writing" assignments, examples, and tries to break down this overwhelming task into bite size pieces. I loved the book.....more
Abby Moreland
This was like my 7,000,000 read. This is an amazing, amazing writing book. It covers plot, characters, writing style, writing habit, metaphors and similes, writing picture books, battling writers block, dealing with criticism, and so much more. I go back to it whenever I'm stuck. And though I've checked it out at the library each time, I'm ordering it on Amazon soon. Best yet - Anne and Ellen put it all together with a modern, humorous, and anything-but-boring style!
Adrienne Furness
This book of essays about writing by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter is as useful and entertaining for adult writers as it is for its intended middle grade audience. Librarians, buy this for your children's and teen collections. Writers of children's and teen books, you might want to give it a read. (Or you could listen. I listened to the audiobook, which Mazer and Potter read. I kind of wanted them both to be my best friends when I was done.)
Margaret
7/5/11 ** Great voice, great tips. Reading this book is like sitting around the kitchen table talking about writing with respected authors. You can dip into any section and get suggestions for various writing challenges - plot, making characters come alive, getting to know your characters, re-writing, etc. While targeted at child/youth writers, many adult writers may have 'aha moments' as they read.

One note, the book focuses nearly entirely on fiction (narrative), so if your writing challenges r...more
Riley Borklund
My teacher from fifth grade, Mr. Pipes, had this book and gave it to me to read. He said he read it and it reminded him of me (because I gave him a small book of Christmas stories I wrote) . I started reading and I love it! This book gives such a great description, I actually use it at school in my writing assignments!

Ps. its also written by Anne Mazer
Laurel
I absolutely LOVED this book. The pages are crammed with helpful tips, but not rules. As I read it I was constantly thinking of my own writing, and it's helped me improve so much! I checked it out of the library, and it's definitely going on my 'To Buy' list. Not only is the info useful, but it's presented in a witty, clever way that keeps you reading.
Angie
Got a little sidetracked on finishing this one but don't let that stop any of you. I would NEVER have ever considered myself a writer but this one makes me want to try. Two well known authors have written one of the best "how to" manuals for kids (or adults) that I've ever seen. They take lots of different aspects of writing and make it funny.


They've also got a pretty decent website up with some teacher helps. So that's always good.


http://www.spillinginkthebook.com/the...
Jana
You know what they say, if you really really know something you can explain it to a child. Well these gals know their stuff. Spilling ink is targeted at kids but still completely applicable (and helpful and funny) to me as an old beginning writer. I would loan it to every wannabe writer I know except I am not letting this out of my collection.
Tara
4.5 stars. Geared towards youth but I'm well past that stage of life and I found it more helpful than any other book I've read on writing tips and techniques. Both myself and my 11 yr. old sister love the layout, the stories/examples and the prompts. Plus, Ellen Potter co-wrote it so you can't go wrong.
Qui
Mar 26, 2011 Qui rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Beginning Middle Grade or Teen authors
This book is geared more towards middle school students, yet I still love it. I bought it for my friend, but ended up buying another copy for myself. It's very easy to follow and gives you great basic tips for writing.
I think that every beginning author should read this book.
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The writing part of Goodreads... 1 1 May 01, 2013 12:15pm  
Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook (Paperback)
Spilling Ink (Audio)
Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook (Audio CD)
Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook (ebook)
290125
Ellen Potter (born 1973) is an American author of both children's and adult's books (as Ellen Toby-Potter). She grew up in Upper West Side, New York and studied creative writing at Binghamton University and now lives in Candor in upstate New York. She has been a contributor to Cimarron Review, Epoch, The Hudson Review, and Seventeen. Her novel Olivia Kidney was winner of the Child Magazine Best Bo...more
More about Ellen Potter...
The Humming Room Slob The Kneebone Boy Pish Posh Olivia Kidney

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