How The Aliens From Alpha Centuri

by Jackie French

Do you like to fly to the moons of Saturn or visit talking wombats Do you like to daydream Do you eat chocolate Have you ever wondered how your favourite authors create the fantastic worlds their characters inhabit And have you ever wanted to write yourself Jackie French, one of Australia's most popular and renowned children's authors, helps you to unleash the full power of your creative imagination. Everything is covered from how not to write the beginning of your story to ways you can make your stories fatter and juicier. Hovercrafts, orphaned cats, horrible maths teachers - you never thought writing could be so much fun. Characters made from compost or aliens in your maths class - you too can be a writer. Ages 10+Do you like to fly to the moons of Saturn or visit talking wombats? Do you like to daydream? Do you eat chocolate? Have you ever wondered how your favourite authors create the fantastic worlds their characters inhabit? And have you ever wanted to write yourself? Jackie French, one of Australiaᱠmost popular and renowned childrenᱠauthors, helps you to unleash the full power of your creative imagination. Everything is covered from how not to write the beginning of your story to ways you can make your stories fatter and juicier. Hovercrafts, orphaned cats, horrible maths teachers - you never thought writing could be so much fun. Characters made from compost or aliens in your maths class - you too can be a writer.Ages 10+

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

140 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Jackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.

Reviews

[Emily Wrayburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on A Keyboard and an Open Mind 15 May 2017:
]
I read this book years ago, when I was probably still a member of the target age-group, and there were things in it that I still remember and apply to my writing. When I came across it in my local library while looking for Stephen King’s On Writing, I thought it was time for a re-read.

Jackie French breaks down the writing process into easy-to-understand chunks. There isn’t any jargon; instead, French uses terminology like “make your story fat and then make it skinny again” – meaning, in this case, “write all the words you think your story needs, then go through and cut out all the unnecessary stuff”. It’s all advice that we hear in chunkier writing craft books, just delivered in a perhaps more digestible way.

The fact that it is written for younger writers shouldn’t put you off. Most of the chapters end with writing exercises which I think would be just as beneficial to any adult writer as they would be to a twelve-year-old. We are always learning, and this is a great back to basics book for anyone.

(This review forms part of the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge for 2017. Click here for more information.)

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was user friendly, humorous, practical and helpful. I used some of the techniques in it and although none of them have become my way of writing regularly I do use them to break through writer's block and just to keep my brain in a writing frame of mind. Some of the most helpful advice was alluded to rather than stated (such as the idea of how little of your thinking actually becomes the finished product.

Yes this was aimed at children, as an adult writer I found it encouraging, positive and helpful. It didn't magically make my writing better or get me published, it helped me have a more positive relationship to myself as a (so far unsuccessful) writer. I reckon it is worth a read for most writers and a must for any child who is even vaguely interested in writing.

[Robynsview · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my go-to-book when doing creative writing with 8-13 year olds.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was aimed at children. However there were a few good exercises I intend to put into practice myself. I love Jackie's Books even her non-fiction books are very entertaining.