Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fantasy (Blood of Kings trilogy), science fiction (Replication), and dystopian (The Safe Lands trilogy). Find Jill on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or on her author website.
Today I decided to try something different. A book review of a writing book. And then I'm going to give it away! The book? Writing Children’s Books for Dummies by Lisa Rojany Buccieri and Peter Economy. Here's what I thought of it.
Review by Jill Williamson
This book starts with an overview for age groups and genres, which is a nice way to start the topic of writing for kids. Next it talks about the market, finding time to write, setting up your space, etc. Some of this seems obvious, but maybe it wouldn't be to a beginning writer.
In the section that talks about where to get ideas and how to start writing, there are some fun assignments. Throughout the book there are also interviews with industry professionals, which I found intriguing. The book basically takes you from idea to negotiating a contract. There is also information for both traditional and self-publishing, with a whole section at the end dedicated to the topic of self-publishing.
This is not a book you want to blow through in a few days. It’s thick, it’s meaty, and it has answers for everything related to writing for kids, fiction and nonfiction. I’d recommend reading a chapter a week to absorb the content or just using it as a reference for what you want to know when you want to know it.
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Review by Jill Williamson
This book starts with an overview for age groups and genres, which is a nice way to start the topic of writing for kids. Next it talks about the market, finding time to write, setting up your space, etc. Some of this seems obvious, but maybe it wouldn't be to a beginning writer.
In the section that talks about where to get ideas and how to start writing, there are some fun assignments. Throughout the book there are also interviews with industry professionals, which I found intriguing. The book basically takes you from idea to negotiating a contract. There is also information for both traditional and self-publishing, with a whole section at the end dedicated to the topic of self-publishing.
This is not a book you want to blow through in a few days. It’s thick, it’s meaty, and it has answers for everything related to writing for kids, fiction and nonfiction. I’d recommend reading a chapter a week to absorb the content or just using it as a reference for what you want to know when you want to know it.
Want to win this book? Enter on the Rafflecopter form below! USA entries only, please, guys. Sorry. I reviewed this one, so I have to mail it myself.
I have fiction writing for dummies on my kindle, and it's been amazing so far. I get what you mean about not wanting to blow right through it though. It's looooong. I don't actually live in the US myself, but I've got loads of family there who wouldn't mind receiving the book for me, so I hope it's okay if I still enter.
ReplyDeleteAlso, found this today, and wanted to share it with everyone! Just to remind you how awesome you all are:
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/7-reasons-writing-a-book-makes-you-a-badass
I haven't been reading any writing books lately, but one of my favorites is Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine. It's really helpful and fun to read.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! I commented on that one too :)
DeleteLove that one!
DeleteI have "The Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books" which for the longest time I thought was part of the Dummies series (coloring was almost right) but it's a more serious book than the Dummies, so ...
ReplyDeleteAnyways, for the longest time, it was my only writing guide other than actual books which I studied dutifully.
Well ... I'm guessing the best writing book I've read lately would probably be the "Go Teen Writers" book. It's probably because I haven't really read any other writing book yet.
ReplyDeleteBut I did download some free writing e-books by Angela Hunt. I should probably start reading them soon.
My two favorite writing books are Spilling Ink by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter and Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine. Still have to buy the Go Teen Writers Book :)
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DeleteThis sounds like a really useful book. :D
ReplyDeleteI have not been able to read any books on writing in a while. The last one, I believe, was Writing Fiction.
ReplyDeleteOoh, this could be really useful since children's books (and a few YA books) are all I write. :)
ReplyDeleteI really haven't read many writing books, except for No Plot, No Problem, which is really about NaNoWriMo.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for hosting this giveaway, Mrs. Williamson, and for drawing our attention to yet another great resource. You can (almost) never read too many books about writing! :)
ReplyDeleteI recently borrowed Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine from the library, and I must say I've really enjoyed it! It was a fun and inspiring read I'd recommend to any young aspiring writers or writers of the fantastic.
The Go Teen Writers book is my one of my favorite writing books. Another favorite is the Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction.
ReplyDeleteActually *blush* I've never read a writing book in full. But I like "A Novel Idea"--contributed to by many authors, I believe including Randy Alcorn, Jane Kirkpatrick, and Colleen Coble.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite writing book I have read so far is The Art of War for Writers. Short and simple yet packed with information!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! :)
ReplyDeleteI love all the Writer's Digest books. This one sounds really good too!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite writer's book is Seize the Story, by Victoria Hanley. Lots of excerpts from published books and examples.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite writing book is "A Novel Idea." It's written by a group of bestselling authors and it is AWESOME!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHmm... I really love Fiction for Dummies. It's long, but its gooood!
ReplyDeleteI already read 'Writing Fiction for Dummies' and I would love to read this on.
ReplyDeleteSo far I think the best one I have read is "Write Good or Die" It was a very well written book, and I got it for free on Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThis is me by the way, I just used my blog profile instead.
DeleteBest writing book... hmmm... there's this little book that I think is called Pocket Muse that has lots of interesting and random writing inspiration. It's not so much a read as just a fun thing, but I like it. :)
ReplyDeleteI just read Bird by Bird by Annie Lamott, which is awesome and funny and honest. It's not a craft book as much as a book about writing /life, but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and thanks for the review and giveaway, Jill! I appreciate it :)
DeleteI cannot recall the best one I have read recently because it has been a while. However, I think the last ones I read for a Creative Writing class at my school. And one was called Metro and the other was If You Want to Write, which were both good and have great points to writing. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the best writing book I've read would have to be "Plot Versus Character" by Jeff Gerke.
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ReplyDeleteThe second best would have to be "Go Teen Writers" by Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one yet. It looks interesting! The best writing book I've read lately would be Writing the Breakout Novel by Donad Maass. I've read it a lot, but I keep learning from it. Whenever I'm reading it, I'm constantly running through my WIP, thinking, "Raise the stakes. Gotta raise the stakes." It's good motivation.
ReplyDeleteThe only writing book I have ever read is the Writer's Little Helper by someone whose name I do not remember. It has been a while, but I do remember that he used the H and D words in his examples sometimes. So I don't know whether I'd say that was the best... but it was the only, so it'll have to do. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't really read writing books that often, but I read writing blogs plenty. Lately I've been reading Author Judy Hedland's blog and the Steve Laube Agency Blog, plus the Books & Such blog.
ReplyDeleteThe only writing book I have read this far is YOURS! So far I love it! I am getting a lot of great ideas for the book I am currently writing.
ReplyDeleteAbrielle Lindsay
The best writing book I have ever read is Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. Tons of good stuff in there, even though it's super long. Makes you want to sit down and write :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite writing book has to be Go Teen Writers, because it was the book that has helped me the most and answered almost of my questions as a beginner writer. It made me want to just jump on my computer and never stop writing! lol
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Go Teen Writers. It was a writing book for kids/teens that wasn't written "down" to us. And all the extras in the back are SUPER helpful. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read many writing books at all -- not nearly so many hundreds as I'd like -- but the best was called "Seize the Story." I don't remember the author, unfortunately, but it was a helpful everything guide for writing YA.
ReplyDeleteI love to read about writing. Some of my favorite books include Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott), How Writers Work (Ralph Fletcher), and Writing Magic (Gail Carson Levine). Oh, and the Go Teen Writers book! ;)
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a number of writing books I want to read, but I have yet to do so. This sounds like a very helpful book. Thanks for letting us know about it!
ReplyDeleteOn Writing by Stephen King. . .
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book to reference!
ReplyDeleteWriting Magic by Gail Carson Levine was pretty cool, especially since she's one of my favorite authors. I also read the Elements of Style recently
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit ago, but I read a YA-geared Writing Fiction for Dummies book, and it was packed with loads of great tidbits. Sounds like this one's the same way! Reading it slowly to really soak in the information is a great tip, though--I'll have to try that next time I read a writing book.
ReplyDeleteChildren's books? That's right up my ally!
ReplyDeleteI just read the "The Plot" book that Stephanie told us about recently. That was cool. =)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any fiction-writing books. I'm a lifelong reader, but I have thought about writing once or twice ... Especially now, since I'm currently helping test read an aspiring author friend's in progress fantasy novel. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
I loved Heather Seller's "The Practice of Creative Writing: A Guide for Students". It was incredibly helpful. It had examples, encouragement, inspirations, and GREAT advice for every genre including poetry. I would recommend it to ANYONE.
ReplyDeleteI don't read many books on writing, but one that I especially liked was Writing Screenplays That Sell by Michael Hauge, the new twentieth anniversary edition. I know it's not technically on writing novels, but I believe many of the techniques and plot structures for screenplay writing can be applied to novels.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!
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