Writing Advice for Teens by Mike Kalmbach

Granted, all of that good information is here, but where WAFT really shines is with the activities. If you are expecting just lists of what to do and what not to do you will be pleasantly surprised. It doesn't read like a text book, it is smooth like suede. This is presented as a textbook of sorts, which I always assume to be dry, but that isn't the case here. The conversational tone makes it easy to read, and easy to digest. Why should you read it? WAFT does something very well: It knows its audience. The long and short of it is if you are a teen, or an adult who is a beginner to writing, this would be a great first resource. I will be giving this book away to a teacher for classroom use as soon as my husband has had a chance to read it. He also advocates that to be a good writer you must be an avid reader, a sentiment that I totally agree. He openly admits that not all methods work for everyone and that you should use what works for you or a combination of methods to make them work for you. Kalmbach offers suggestions on how to make time for writing and offers multiple suggestions for doing so. Each section includes suggestions, examples from the author's own writing, writing exercises, and examples from popular novels. It starts off with setting goals and moves through the writing process. I like how the book is organized, very simple and logical. I learned after receiving the book, that the author is a local man from Minnesota. Upon reading it, I found that it is not only a helpful guide for teen writers, but any writer that has another job or is just starting out. I chose it as a possible teaching resource for junior high and high school teachers. I selected Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories by Mike Kalmbach out of the many books on Goodreads' First Reads list.

Writing Advice for Teens by Mike Kalmbach