Adventures in Blogville: A Creative Writing Guide for Teens

by Margaret Andrews, Quinnzel (Illustrator)

Today's teenagers have incredible, crazy, and brilliant things to say, and creative writing or blogging is an effective outlet for self-expression. Writers are inspired, validated and empowered by blogging because they'll feel their voices are being heard.

This humorous and quirkily illustrated 24-chapter book teaches students how to write a compelling essay or blog post, one that other people will want to read. It is not a grammar book, but rather, an instructional guide to more colorful and visceral writing. Each chapter introduces a concept, engages the student with entertaining examples, and provides a writing prompt and assignment.

Concepts covered include: How Blogging Can Make You a Better Writer, How to Create a Blog, Grabbing Your Reader from the Beginning, Using Detail to Appeal to the Senses, Active vs. Passive Voice, Metaphors and Similes, Using Dialog, Addressing Writer's Block and more! It's a great resource for homeschool educators.

"Adventures in Blogville" covers some of the same concepts as Andrews' previous book, "Sticky Readers: How to Attract a Loyal Blog Audience by Writing More Better," but is aimed at a younger audience in its examples and family-friendly language.


PRAISE FOR ADVENTURES IN BLOGVILLE...

"I wish there had been a book like this available for me when I was in high school. I also love the illustrations and the author's sense of humor. " -Amber Felix, homeschool mom & blogger

"Adventures in Blogville has the perfect light-hearted tone that young writers need when reading about writing-often a topic they find dull and boring, which Margaret avoids completely with her off-the-wall references and wacky illustrations. Definitely a book I would use for this age group." -Janna Marlies Maron, Adjunct Professor of English, Publisher of True Story magazine

"Margaret nails some of the most important challenges young writers face and shows them how to express themselves in a concise, well-thought-out manner, while effectively engaging her audience. This book belongs in every high school student's backpack!" -Nichole Beaudry, former English Professor, Managing Editor of Savvy Sassy Moms magazine

170 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2014

About the author

Margaret Andrews is a freelance writer and author of the book, "Adventures in Blogville: A Creative Writing Guide for Teens" as well as "Sticky Readers: How to Attract a Loyal Blog Audience by Writing More Better". Her blog, Nanny Goats in Panties, was voted "Best Local Blog" in Sacramento's KCRA A-List as well as CBS Sacramento's Most Valuable Blogger. Her other writing has appeared in literary journals and the video game Coconut Queen for iWin Games.

Visit her blog at www.nannygoatsinpanties.com or the Sticky Readers website at http://www.stickyreaders.com.