By Dylan McDonough
Have you been looking for an easy guide to writing? You just found it! Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter have written “Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook.” It is a valuable book that explains different writing tips and how to craft your story using those tips.
The first three chapters of “Spilling Ink” talk about how to start writing and discovering what kind of writer you are. Do you like adventure stories, suspense or humor? This section fleshes out your true thoughts on writing.
My favorite part of the book was where it helps you create your story. I learned that a fun way to come up with characters is to hold a pretend interview in which your character answers the questions. There is also a lot of different advice about coming up with your plot, describing scenery, and writing dialogue. Did you know that it sounds better to describe someone with three different descriptions then two or four? Also, this book teaches you how to edit your work and why editing is important.
The third section helps you find your unique writing personality. Who is your audience? How do you find your writer’s voice? How do you take criticism? This last part helps you answer all of these questions.
After reading “Spilling Ink”, I now feel more confident in what I like to write. It has a lot of tips and tricks for writing, mixed-in with real-life experiences to help you learn more. So here’s the question, are you ready to go spill some ink?
