By Piranha T.

The most common piece of writing advice is ‘write what you know.’ But what if nothing worthy of a story ever happens to you?

In Writing Radar, Jack Gantos proves that everyone has tale-worthy material in their lives, and it can be gleaned by recording it in a journal. He highlights ways to discover stories, including taking notes on people you know, recording the madcap stories which your family always tells, and jotting down unusual details which catch your attention. This book is funny, engaging, and reads like the stories it’s teaching you to tell. Interspersed are tales from Gantos’s childhood journals, where he dissects which elements make a good story.
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Writing Radar is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to write, no matter your genre; it helps people find great ideas and turn them into fabulous stories. But it’s also a perfect book for people who don’t think of themselves as authors—if you want somewhere to start, this book is excellent, just like Spilling Ink. I highly recommend Writing Radar to writers and non-writers ages eight and up, particularly those who don’t know where to find ideas. 

By Piranha T.

One of the best parts about fantasy novels are their unique worlds. I love opening a book and discovering a whole new universe between its pages, a place interwoven with magical creatures, complex histories, and unique landscapes. But when you’re the writer, how do you create that kind of world? For many aspiring authors, the question is—where do you start?

In Storyworld First: Creating a Unique Fantasy World for Your Novel, young adult author Jill Williamson proves that you don’t have to invent a language like J. R. R. Tolkien to create a unique, varied storyworld. Throughout this book, she relates different elements of worldbuilding—rules of magic, basic histories, creating interesting creatures, and more—interwoven with strategies for brainstorming and incorporating those details into your story. To any writer looking to take a deeper look at the setting of their story (even if it isn’t fantasy!), I’d highly recommend Storyworld First.
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Note: Jill Williamson is also the coauthor of Go Teen Writers, which is an excellent book about writing, revising and even publishing before you’re an adult.

By Piranha T.

There are many books on writing a first draft. But what about the kids who want to take it further and get published?

Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to polish and publish a novel. Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson outline the process from the first draft to a published book, from the initial major edits to what the publishing process looks like after getting your novel accepted. The first section of this book includes sections on improving characters, worldbuilding, plot twists, and more, while later parts discuss query letters, finding an agent, and publishers. The whole book is told in an engaging, encouraging style with an emphasis on improving, self-confidence and creativity. 

Edit Your Novel is focused on kids and teens, and unlike many books for young writers which don't go beyond the first draft (many of which we also love!), this guide specifically details that part of the process. It shows young writers that publishing is possible no matter your age. 

Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel is one of my favorite resources when it comes to writing and editing stories; I highly recommend it to young authors who want to improve their own books and someday, publish them. 


Note: Author Jill Williamson also wrote Storyworld First, a great book on writing well-developed settings. 

By Piranha T.

Spilling Ink is a helpful book for young writers. It talks about everything from coming up with an idea, to writing a story, and revising it. It gives helpful tips and strategies, things to look out for when writing a book, and tips for revising stories once they are done. I found it quite helpful for writing and getting ideas, and it is well-written and fun—not at all thick to read, and though it offers very good advice, Spilling Ink is also amusing at points.
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I would highly recommend Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook to young (and older) authors who are looking for a book full of good advice, whether they write novels or short stories.