Wyoming State Law Library

What happens when the story ideas--from a bored Viking to a space robot--kept in a teacher's special jar escape and get rowdy?

"The capstone to forty years of teaching, The True Secret of Writing is Gold-berg?s Zen boot camp. Stories of her own search for truth and clarity as well as her students? breakthroughs and insights give moving testament to how brilliantly her unique, tough-love method works. As Goldberg says, ?To write is to be empow-ered. . . . Writing is not just for someone who wants to write the great American novel."--Provided by publisher.

Presents advice on the basic elements of narrative prose, covering point of view, sentence length and complex syntax, indirect narration, grammar, punctuation, and the sound of writing.

Swallowtail Island is hosting the Swallowtales Writer's Conference. Lark's ecstatic to be chosen as a "page" for her favorite author, Ann E. Keyhart. But they say you should never meet your idols. When Keyhart arrives with her personal assistant in tow, she is nothing but a terror. And within a few hours, the assistant is dead! But the explanation isn't sitting well. Not when lots of people had reasons to want to be rid of Keyhart, and especially...

The best children's and young adult novels take readers on wonderful outward adventures and stirring inward journeys. In The Magic Words, editor Cheryl B. Klein guides writers on an enjoyable and practical-minded voyage of their own, from developing a saleable premise for a novel to finding a dream agent. She delves deep into the major elements of fiction - intention, character, plot, and voice - while addressing important topics like diversity, world-building,...

"Bursting with practical tips and tricks, such as creating actual story-finding maps of your neighborhood, this book will help you build confidence and establish good writing habits as you learn to use a journal to snoop out plots full of action and emotion about yourself, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your pets. As Jack shows you how to shape your rough ideas, organize plots, and polish drafts to shiny perfection, he also shares...

Arthur writes a story: Struggling with a school writing assignment, Arthur decides that all he needs is a little imagination to make his life sound more interesting than it really is. But he crosses the line when the story of how he got his puppy starts to involve invisible elephants and trips to outer space. Locked in the library!: If only Arthur hadn't called Francine a marshmallow! Now they're locked inside the Elmwood City Library together, and...

Supplemented by interviews with successful authors of teen literature--including T. A. Barron, Jona Bauer, Chris Crutcher, and Lauren Myracle, among others--this book presents the elements of fiction, from creating believable dialogue to executing an exciting plot, through real story excerpts. Packed with tips, tricks, and writing exercises from an award-winning author of teen fiction, the guide encourages teen writers to write creatively and explore...

Determined to fit in at his New England prep school, the narrator has learned to mimic the bearing and manners of his adoptive tribe while concealing as much as possible about himself. His final year, however, unravels everything he's achieved, when a visiting writer whose blessing a young writer would do almost anything to gain visits.

A visiting author teaches five friends about the power of words and writing.