In Your Own Words: A Beginner's Guide to Writing

by Sylvia Cassedy

A guide to writing prose, both fiction and nonfiction, and poetry.

Genres: Writing

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

An American author of picture books, poetry, and fiction, the Brooklyn-born creative-writing teacher began her career with a few minor picture books, such as Little Chameleon (1966), but is best known today for her poetry and novels. Roomrimes (1987) and the posthumously published Zoomrimes: Poems about Things That Go (1993) were praised for their perceptiveness, humor, and unusual variety of poetic forms.

Cassedy's three novels, Behind the Attic Wall (1983), M.E. and Morton (1987), and Lucie Babbidge's House (1989) are all intricate, leisurely paced novels about troubled or difficult protagonists who gain self-esteem through the intervention of possibly magical characters.

The author's incisive characterizations, carefully wrought prose, and ambiguous endings made her a critics’ favorite.

Cassedy's early death cut short an extraordinary writing career that had yet to peak, and fans can only wonder about—and mourn the loss of—the novels that were yet to be.

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

This book was great. It helped me think a lot simpler about writing. All together a great inspiration. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is writing or wants to start.

[Janice]

Although this book is written for young beginning writers, there is good information for all beginning writers.

[alex]

I really liked it! I especially loved the poetry section, it was pretty cool!!! :)