Inside story: Creative writing for students by Sue Lawson & Jodi Toering

This novel-sized guide to creative writing is the perfect book to support writing in the home or classroom. Wonderfully accessible with well-spaced information, it will be a practical reference for either those children who often struggle with where and how to begin or those children who just love to write and want to improve their writing skills.

The book has a handy contents page and lets the reader know that it does not need to be read at the beginning but where the writer’s interest or needs lie. The first chapter begins simply with ‘Making a Start’ and goes on to look at the tools needed including valuable information about writers' notebooks where writers often store ideas, quotes, experiences, descriptions and more to perhaps use at a later date. In this chapter are also warm up prompts and writing from memories.

Chapter Two delves into writing your story - the ideas, planning, drafting, beginnings, characters, dialogue and setting.  The third chapter considers the revision and editing of your story, looking at tense, descriptions, adjectives and adverbs, and word pictures such as similes and onomatopoeia. Throughout the book are stand out handy hints and comments placed in a white oval shape. There is also a glossary at the end and a spare lined page for notes.

Inside Story is an extremely handy reference and resource tool to help children understand the components of the writing process and to further enhance their skills.

Themes: Creative Writing, English, English Language, Story Writing Hints.

Kathryn Beilby