My First Learn-To-Write Workbook: Practice for Kids with Pen Control, Line Tracing, Letters, and More! (My First Preschool Skills Workbooks)

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Your child might also find it useful to draw maps or diagrams. What are all the different areas of their fantasy landscape called? How is the baddie’s base organised? Or for non-fiction, where does their shark or spider live? Wondering what the difference is between alright and all right? Or which spelling is correct? This posts breaks it down using plenty of examples. This book reflects on the artistic side of being a writer. Making art is no easy feat, and Bayles and Orlando—both artists themselves—explore the challenges of making art and the various obstacles that can discourage people along the way. Originally published in 1994, “ Art & Fear” is now an underground classic, dishing out relatable, valuable advice about what it means to create. 23. “The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century” by Steven Pinker

From the book: “A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.” 9. Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale For this post, we’ve scoured the web (so you don’t have to) and asked our community of writers for recommendations on some indispensable books about writing. We've filled this list with dozens of amazing titles, all of which are great — but this list might seem intimidating. So for starters, here are our top 10 books about writing:Plot and structure is a theme interweaved throughout the course. In this first week of plot skills, we’ll focus in on some of the principles of plotting to help you tell your story. No matter what stage you’re at in your writing career, Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones will help you write more skillfully and creatively. With suggestions, encouragement, and valuable advice on the many aspects of the writing craft, Goldberg doesn’t shy away from making the crucial connection between writing and adding value to your life. Covering a range of topics including taking notes of your initial thoughts, listening, overcoming doubt, choosing where to write, and the selection of your verbs, this guide has plenty to say about the minute details of writing, but excels at exploring the author life. Here are two simple truths— writing skills can be taught, and all good writers are also readers. What better way to accomplish two things at once than to read books about writing? From the book: “Here’s the thing: authors don’t find readers; readers find books. [...] Marketing is not about selling your book to readers. It’s about getting readers to find it.” 31. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

A perfect resource for visual learners, this illustrated edition of The Elements of Style has taken the classic style manual to a new, more accessible level but kept its main tenet intact: make every word tell. The written content by Strunk and White has long been referred to as an outline of the basic principles of style. Maira Kalman’s illustrations elevate the experience and make it a feast for both the mind and the eye. Transcription covers the technical aspects of writing: handwriting, spelling, grammar & punctuation, and so on. From the book: “Free yourself of your device, for at least certain hours of the day — or at the very least one hour. Learn to be alone, all alone, without people, and without a device that is turned on. Learn to experience the purity of that kind of concentration. Develop focus, learn to focus intently on one thing, uninterrupted, for a long time.” 39. Essayism by Brian DillonOne of the most common dilemmas an author faces is the struggle between spontaneity and control. Literary endeavors need those unexpected light-bulb moments, but a book will never be finished if you rely solely on inspiration. In The Kite and the String, Mattison has heard your cry for help and developed a guide for balancing these elements throughout the different stages of writing a novel or a memoir. Sure, there may be language and grammar rules that govern the way you write, but letting a bit of playfulness breathe life into your writing will see it take off to a whole new level. On the other hand, your writing routine, solitude, audience, and goal-setting will act as the strings that keep you from floating too far away. In fact, the first couple books I wrote didn't do that well at all — even with a traditional publisher. It took me years to learn this, but here's what nobody ever told me: From the book: “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft.” 19. Take Off Your Pants by Libbie Hawker From the book: “Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.” 27. Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury If your child isn’t sure where to start, it can sometimes be helpful to sketch out their ideas first. For instance, can they draw a picture of a dastardly villain or a brave hero? How about a scary woodland or an enchanted castle? Can they draw the shark or spider they want to write an information book about?

Beginning: You have to start writing. This sounds obvious, but it may be the most overlooked step in the process. You write a book by deciding first what you’re going to write and how you’re going to write it. Although Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style is a time-honored classic, its prescriptive approach to language isn’t for everyone. Enter Harvard professor Steven Pinker with a more contemporary take. His witty approach recognizes that language is fluid and that, while it’s good to know and follow the rules when it makes sense to, expressive writing often relies on bending them. Writing newbs may find this book challenging, but it’s full of insight for those who already have a grasp on grammar and style and want to improve. 4 You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins Continue to encourage your child to draw, colour, paint, and do crafting activities at home using a range of different materials. These activities all provide opportunities to develop control, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. In Year 6, your child will build on their Year 5 handwriting skills and continue to develop fluent, joined-up writing. This includes: From the book: “Because liking the person we go on a journey with is the single most important element in drawing us into the story.” 13. The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne

Since its publication in 2000, The Forest for the Trees has remained an essential resource for authors at various stages in their careers. As an editor, Lerner gives advice not only on producing quality content, but also on how to build your career as an author and develop a winning routine — like how writers can be more productive in their creative process, how to get published, and how to publish well. And just a heads up: if you dream of authoring a bestselling book like I have and you're looking for a structured plan to guide you through the writing process, I have a special opportunity for you at the end of this post where I break the process down. From the book: “What exactly do I mean, even, by 'style'? Perhaps it is nothing but an urge, an aspiration, a clumsy access of admiration, a crush.” 40. Naked, Drunk, and Writing by Adair Lara

A good story has a good place at its heart. But how do you bring your settings to life? We’ll analyse some of the key techniques to help you write dynamic description. Giving your child the opportunity to tell stories orally is a great way to get them used to structuring their ideas and using adventurous language. If they’re not sure where to start, see if they can retell a story that they already know well, like Little Red Riding Hood or Three Little Pigs. If your child prefers non-fiction, encourage them to tell you a subject they are interested in – get them to talk in full sentences with plenty of detail.She offers valuable techniques, like starting each morning with a free-writing exercise and exploring one subject you find fascinating per week. Her tips for gaining the self-confidence to reinvigorate your creative juices could be of help to any kind of writer. 16. “Word Work: Surviving and Thriving as a Writer” by Bruce Holland Rogers