Customer Reviews

Drop Everything and Write! An Easy Breezy Guide for Kids Who Want to Write a Story

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I've read a LOT of how-to-write stuff, and DROP EVERYTHING AND WRITE! is perhaps the best general guide I've found for beginning fiction writers -- whether adults or children.

This is a book I would have loved to have when I was a child who wanted to be a writer. I would have also loved to have it when I was teaching my first college creative writing course.

The book is very easy and enjoyable to read. It explains basic concepts such as plot, "showing" versus "telling," and narrative viewpoint in such clear terms and with such helpful examples that even a child can understand them.

The lessons contain plenty of hands-on writing exercises and activities to practice new skills. This is something that makes the book special -- it encourages writers to dive in right away and learn by doing.

DROP EVERYTHING AND WRITE! is set up as a self-study guide that aspiring writers can follow on their own. It would also be perfect as a text book in a middle school or high school classroom.

"DROP EVERYTHING AND WRITE! was originally intended as `an easy breezy guide for kids who want to write a story,' but I have found the book to be equally helpful for adult writers. I teach Writing for Children at a community college, and many of the `Drop Everything and Write' exercises were perfect for my students. The format of the book is clear and easy to follow. My adult writers were inspired....Such a great book for new writers of all ages."

Where was this book when I was still teaching?! It is a treasure. It is hands-on, practical and nonthreatening. I kept imagining a classroom brainstorming each chapter's exercise just to get the juices flowing. I especially liked the idea of character charts. What fun to share ideas & experiment before committing words to paper. The steps for polishing the story work for the student as well as providing a tool for the teacher to critique a student's story. The author makes writing seem so "do-able" by giving concrete examples & introducing the process in manageable increments. This book should inspire teachers to have their students "Drop Everything and Write!".

I am so impressed with Ms. Strauss's practical and enjoyable book Drop Everything and Write. It's easy to follow, paced to allow the reader to absorb and practice one concept before moving on to the next, and promises to be a great help for young people interested in writing. Even the physical layout enhances its appeal and accessibility. And I can't say enough about the terrific examples Ms. Strauss provides. The book will be attractive to boys and girls alike, and to a broad range of ages. Happily the author never talks down to the reader. My adult daughter, who journaled for years and loves writing, raved about the book and expressed regret that it was not available when she was in school. Kudos to Ms. Strauss for providing an invaluable resource for budding authors.

Exercises to wake up the author that you are. It's for children, but it's very useful for adults as well.

The reviewers have it right; this would be a great book to have in a classroom, and the student whose teacher chooses to use it will be lucky indeed. But what if your child is not one of the lucky ones with a teacher willing to find time for things creative? Easy! Get your budding author (or your student whose grade in language arts could stand to be improved) a copy of "Drop Everything and Write." Strauss has found just the right tone to encourage potential writers to do it on their own. Reading and then following the hints in the book, is like nothing so much as having a private tutor right by your side--a tutor who is friendly, fun, and available the minute the young (or old!) writer opens the cover of this engaging book. Worth Every Penny!

Strauss, a wide-ranging writer of everything from pre-school rhyming books to teen novels, turns her attention here to describing the writing process to aspiring young authors. The essentials are all here, from beginnings to plots to polishing, writing exercises are interspersed throughout, and the style is truly as "easy" and "breezy" as the subtitle promises. Better even than the fact that such a lot of good information (including an index and glossary) is packaged so succinctly and engagingly is the tone. Strauss is obviously having fun writing this book and her exuberance will undoubtedly infect her readers, convincing them that writing is less a task to be accomplished than a good time to be enjoyed. If you know a young person who wants to write, get this book into his or her hands.

Linda Strauss's book is not just for kids: this ninety-year-old who has been a freelance writer for decades has learned from and been inspired by it.... it's truly helpful.

Drop everything and buy this book today! I bought it for my tween and teen grandkids. We've had alot of fun doing the writing exercises together. Linda Strauss shares her love of writing as she guides aspiring writers through the process of writing their stories. She takes out the scariness, builds confidence, and stimulates creativity. A great book!

Drop Everything is for Everybody. The title is inspirational: who does't want to stop half of

what they're doing? Now there's an excuse - doing something productive and creative. This book tells how do both. You learn(easily) fundamentals you thought you knew, and have a good time doing it. Don't let work interfere with your spare time: Drop Everything and Write has the write (sorry!) idea. A great book.

AWP