There are Nine Essential Questions that all writers must answer before any manuscript is finished and before it can win an editor's acceptance. They're not our questions. They're the same questions editors ask every day. So, why doesn't every writer use these questions? Is it possible that some writers may not know the Nine Essential Questions . . . or how to answer them? The authors in Writing It Right! respond to their editors critiques and show you every trick in the book to get their stories accepted and published . . . and give you permission to use these techniques in your writing and revising. You'll see how to turn a short poem into a picture book (by cutting all but two lines of the first draft) and completely shifting the point of view . . . You'll watch a first draft go through three versions as the title changes and the author's best-loved section is cut to answer an essential question . . . You'll be astounded as you watch the author shift from third person past tense to first person present tense, while changing the main character . . . and many more feats of editorial skill. It's a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-go-to-work writer's manual that's guaranteed to change your perception of revision forever.
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"Over my long span working as an editor, I've discovered that the greatest barrier to publication is the author's satisfaction with a first draft . . . Sandy Asher's marvelous book, with more than two dozen successful authors and editors speaking to you, will change that. I know of no single tool for writers that will have the impact of Writing It Right." --Kent L. Brown Jr., Executive Director of the Highlights Foundation, Inc.
"This book is a must-must-read for writers . . . In story after story, through draft after draft, successful authors explain the changes they made, and experienced editors weigh in from the other side of the desk. On a personal note, I put stickies on 23 pages for future reference when I get stuck." --Barbara Robinson, author of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
"This is a must-read for anyone interested in a writer's creative process. Proving that writing is revising, Asher demonstrates the fine-tuning writers do to move a story from rough draft to a polished finish. Trust me, a veteran of Sandy Asher writing workshops--if you apply her Nine Essential Questions to your own stories, you might be surprised to find how close you ve come to 'writing it right.'" --Jan Greenberg, award-winning author of books for young readers, including Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond
"This book is a must-must-read for writers . . . In story after story, through draft after draft, successful authors explain the changes they made, and experienced editors weigh in from the other side of the desk. On a personal note, I put stickies on 23 pages for future reference when I get stuck." --Barbara Robinson, author of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
"This is a must-read for anyone interested in a writer's creative process. Proving that writing is revising, Asher demonstrates the fine-tuning writers do to move a story from rough draft to a polished finish. Trust me, a veteran of Sandy Asher writing workshops--if you apply her Nine Essential Questions to your own stories, you might be surprised to find how close you ve come to 'writing it right.'" --Jan Greenberg, award-winning author of books for young readers, including Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond
About the Author
Sandy Asher is the editor of five collections of fiction and the author of more than 20 books for young readers, among them the award-winning Too Many Frogs! and its companion book, What a Party! As Sandra Fenichel Asher, she's also published close to three dozen plays and has been honored with the American Alliance for Theatre and Education's Charlotte Chorpenning Award. She has taught creative writing and led writing workshops for Drury University, the Institute of Children's Literature, SCBWI, and the Highlights Foundation.
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Sandy Asher grew up in Philadelphia, PA, and now lives in Lancaster, PA, with husband Harvey, dog Rudy, and cat Friday. After Philly and before Lancaster, she lived in Springfield, MO, where she wrote many of her award-winning books and plays (as Sandra Fenichel Asher), served as writer-in-residence at Drury University and co-founded the Web site America Writes for Kids. Sandy enjoys visiting schools and has taught writing workshops from Anchorage, Alaska, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Little known fact: "Fenichel" is pronounced FENN eh shell. Easy when you know how!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Perfect Paperback
How often do we hear about the importance of revision? All the time!
How often do we get to see it in practice? Almost never . . . until now.
WRITING IT RIGHT shows early and often mid-revisions along with the final published work so writers can see the changes made and understand the reasons why. A must for all writers, especially those who think they're hit a home run with the first draft. Thank you Sandy and all the writers who were willing to share their dirty underwear so others can understand the important revising process.
How often do we get to see it in practice? Almost never . . . until now.
WRITING IT RIGHT shows early and often mid-revisions along with the final published work so writers can see the changes made and understand the reasons why. A must for all writers, especially those who think they're hit a home run with the first draft. Thank you Sandy and all the writers who were willing to share their dirty underwear so others can understand the important revising process.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By L. Frase
Format:Perfect Paperback
I found a goldmine in this book. Sandy has compiled a writer's workshop and teacher's toolbox in one. As a writer, I get to see other writer's revision process from beginning to end. As a teacher I now have a tool to show my students how writers revise. This book should be in every writing teacher's classroom and every writer's hands. She not only includes published writing from draft to finish, but revision notes as well. She devised 9 essential questions to consider during revision. I am so excited about this book. It is a rich resource!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Perfect Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was written for anyone who is learning or teaching the revision process. Takes the mystery out of editing any piece of writing!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Resource
As a middle grade author, I've read many books on writing. Sandy's book quickly became one of my favorites, especially all the great advice on revision. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Dianna M. Winget
5.0 out of 5 stars
Actually SHOWS a Writer How to Revise
How do published authors take an "okay" manuscript and turn it into something that grabs an editor? And after that, how do they work with editors to incorporate yet more changes? Read more
Published on March 27, 2011 by Kristi Holl
5.0 out of 5 stars
writer's helper
This book is very helpful for writers working on the revision process. It shows you first drafts, intermediate drafts and final drafts of published works. Very good.
Published on April 9, 2010 by funwriter
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