Product Description
Enhance the quality and effectiveness of your school-wide writing program with a balance of expository writing that integrates science with writing! Here's how to use Newbridge Early Science Big Books as models of good writing to teach the information-writing techniques so critical for student success on performance-based writing tests. Includes: an integrative approach for teaching science and informational writing, strategies for teaching writing-craft fundamentals, step-by-step explanations of the basic process of teaching writing-craft skills, oral and written models, a variety of expository techniques and advice on preparing your young writers for success on performance-based tests. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Finally, help with non-fiction writing for primary grades.!
It is rare that a book is written for teachers of kindergarten through 3rdgrade students. Ms. Freeman gives teachers practical ways to go beyondscience and social studies using Newbridge Big Books as catalysts forwriting interesting non-fiction pieces. Her strategies are clear andexamples are given throughout the book. This is a must have for thematicteaching -extending core subjects such as science and social studies intothe language arts arena.

Finally, help with non-fiction writing for primary grades.!
It is rare that a book is written for teachers of kindergarten through 3rdgrade students. Ms. Freeman gives teachers practical ways to go beyondscience and social studies using Newbridge Big Books as catalysts forwriting interesting non-fiction pieces. Her strategies are clear andexamples are given throughout the book. This is a must have for thematicteaching -extending core subjects such as science and social studies intothe language arts arena.

An excellent resource!
Marcia Freeman has done a top-notch job presenting information in Non-fiction Writing Strategies. This book will assist all teachers with helping students to develop their ability to effectively communicateinformation in writing.Teachers and students will find the suggestionspractical and easy to implement. The author has done an outstanding jobhelping teachers see how to integrate writing instruction acrossdisciplines and throughout the instructional day.This book is a must-havefor anyone wishing to help their students improve their writing.

Recommended for elementary grade teachers & homeschoolers.
Integrating science with expository writing,Marcia Freeman's Non-Fiction Writing Strategies is ideal for school-wide curriculums. This innovative resource guide provides an integrated approach for teaching science andinformational writing; strategies for teaching writing-craft fundamentals;a step-by-step explanations of the basic process of teaching writing-craftskills; oral and written models, student examples, practice activities, andassessment procedures; a variety of expository techniques with relatedprecursor activities appropriate for children; and advice on preparingyoung writers for success on performance-based school examinations andstate competency tests. Highly recommended for use by elementary teachersand homeschooling parents. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a non-fiction writing coach in your pocket...Getting published is now easier than ever but the fundamental things that distinguish winning non-fiction from the pulp have never been more important. If you're serious about writing a high-quality non-fiction book, getting it published and making it commercially successful then this book treats you to a masterclass that covers all you need to know about creating, crafting, writing and pitching your next bestseller. When you read this book you will learn...what every non-fiction book needs to be successful; how to get a good idea and how to turn it into a winning idea; why so many books get started but not finished; how to plan your book so writing it is fast, painless and easy; alternative publishing options and when you should pursue them; how to pitch your book to mainstream publishers; what happens from proposal to acceptance, to contract and beyond; how to devise a winning title for your non-fiction book; the mechanics for writing a book and meeting your obligations; and, when to get in outside help and how to find it.Using real-life pitches, proposals, reviewer feedback, extensive links and even an entire sample contract, Suzan delivers in straight, honest terms what you need to do to succeed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Most Up To Date Book Out There
There are several good books available on writing and publishing non-fiction.

The main strength of this book, in my opinion, is that it is up to date with a modern perspective. The author is very savvy about how technology is changing the publishing business and she has some good advice to offer on how to take that in to account. Most other books on this subject don't even mention the changes in technology or the resultant changes in the publishing industry. I thought the author's ideas about the future of book writing were fascinating.

The book is written in a very pleasant "voice" that is enjoyable to read.It is an easy read and the author is a good writer with lots of experience to share.

The author is a bit biased toward her friends who run a certain publishing service, and that gets mentioned several times.I felt she had a bit of a slant towards using that particular service and was not as objective about other ways of publishing.

There were some minor typos as well, which kept me from giving the book 5 stars.

But, all in all, this is a good book and worth reading if you plan to get published in this "brave new world".

Excellent
This is an excellent aid for the inexperienced would be author.It holds your hand through every stage of production from writing to publishing.Clearly and concisely written without condescension and with a great deal of humour.Suzan uses her wealth of experience to produce a primer for authors that will be of value to all, be they rookies or working their umpteenth book.Though the book it written with non-fiction in mind, it will be equally of use to would be novelists and poets.

Do You Fancy Writing A Book?
Whilst you are supping a pint or fancier beverage has the thought vaguely crossed your mind that it would be cool to have written a book? Something to show your mum? Something to help people?Make some money? Promote yourself? But then your mind wanders and you think:

"Well, it would be cool. But that is a lot of words! What would I write? How would I go about it? And who the hell would publish it?"

If you have ever vaguely entertained those thoughts then this book was designed for you.The focus is not on bamboozling you with the creative arts and how you must let your 'inner genius' shine through (like some writing manuals) and in truth, is all the better for it. Instead it is a practical guide written with a light touch, good humour and not a little common sense about how to write non-fiction from a writer who has 20 non-fiction titles to her credit.

Once you connect the dots about writing non-fiction (I have so far written and published one non-fiction book (more to come), so I have had a glimpse at the hallowed land of publishing). You really start to 'get' on an an instinctive level that if you have something genuinely valuable to share and a passion to share it that this is perfectly do-able. In reality the hardest part is getting started, and that is where books like this can help.

It takes a step by step approach from coming up with an idea for your book, figuring out the title (Sidenote - The title is generally less then 10 words, so even if you are taking 'baby steps' with writing then you can get that wrapped up and feel like you have accomplished something meaningful!) Through the planning stages, and then onto the bit you have been avoiding all these years, namely setting fingers to keyboard (or paper if you are feeling 'retro') and actually writing the thing.

Now that's as far as many books in this area go. But I liked that Suzan delved extensively into discussing the different publishing options. With the main thrust of this part of the book being aimed at factors to consider with attracting a traditional publisher (as opposed to say print on demand or vanity publishing though they are talked about). There is also a really interesting appendix where Suzan shows examples of various proposals, feedback forms and a contract that she had used with her own books. So you can copy the format over to any book proposals you need to submit to publishers you approach.

Like any "How To Write" book this is not going to explode in a shower of fairy dust and write your book for you. So you will need to prepare yourself to do more then just read. But if you are in a mind to seize your destiny and start writing your book, then this could be a good catalyst to drag it kicking and screaming out of you.

After all, if not today, then when? If you want to write a non-fiction book and haven't a clue where to begin, then Suzan's book is a great place to start your journey.

A must-read for aspiring authors
Most of us fancy having a go at writing a book at some point in our lives, and most of us fail. With Suzan St. Maur's "How to write winning non-fiction" there are no excuses any more. Suzan takes us through every aspect of writing in a way that enables us to overcome all the hurdles and avoid the pitfalls. She motivates us as we go and even breaks down the most daunting aspects (such as getting the book published) into managable and achievable steps. Moreover, the book is a damn good read. Suzan engages the reader's attention from page one and using a range of entertaining and humourous anecdotes she illustrates every point in a way that makes it both memorable and amusing. Strongly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description

Award winning essayist Scott Russell Sanders once compared the art of essay writing to ?the pursuit of mental rabbits?—a rambling through thickets of thought in search of some brief glimmer of fuzzy truth. While some people persist in the belief that essays are stuffy and antiquated, the truth is that the personal essay is an ever-changing creative medium that provides an ideal vehicle for satisfying the human urge to document truths as we experience them and share them with others—to capture a bit of life on paper.

Customer Reviews (2)

A fun guide to essaying across the genre
Crafting the Personal Essay will make a terrific textbook for writing students, but I'm a fiftysomething writer who has made his living in journalism, publishing, and teaching and I found it interesting and inspiring. It makes me want to try writing different types of essays than I've attempted and to develop new skills, to grow.

Dinty Moore discusses a wide range of essays, including: contemplative, memoir, nature, lyric, spiritual, gastronomical, humorous, and travel. To show how they work, he dissects some, inserting commentary in places; this includes some of his own work, and throughout the book he includes parts of an essay he's currently writing to show his thinking and decisions as he tries to practice what he's preaching. This is a great idea--it really makes the book lively and engaging.

The second part of Crafting the Personal Essay deals with practical writing issues, such as forging a regular routine, blogging, overcoming writers block, getting useful feedback from other writers, effective revising, and persevering through life's vagaries. I'll return to this section periodically, as I will to Moore's reading recommendations.

Stirring Guide
This guide was chock full of filling facts that nourished my writing like a big bowl of beef stew. ... Read more

Product Description
Twelve valuable rules for writing non-fiction, each elaborated:

1. Choose the subject
2. Gather the material
3. Put it away
4. Make an outline
5. Write it straightthrough
6. Makeit readable
7. Make it logical and persuasive
8. Make it interesting
9. Make it vivid and clear
10. Revise
11. Get advice
12. Revise again

While following these rules won't guarantee success, you will know that you have done your best. ... Read more

Product Description
Now that you've identified your need, you're ready to move on to THE WRITER'S TOOL BOX which covers the all-important aspects of Openings, Voice, Character and Plot.

These tapes have been distilled from classes, seminars and workshops given from Florida to Finland. They hold the accumulated wisdom of more than 25 years of writing, editing and publishing savvy. They'll open your eyes and save you time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Enjoyable and informative
These tapes were enjoyable to listen to on my daily walks.It was like having the author (Patrika) walking beside me, discussing the "how to's".When I finished my walks, I'd set about putting the ideas into practice.

You need this
I had a few writing problems I couldn't shake, no matter how many classes I took.Hearing these practical instructions and examples made the solutions sink in.For any writer having problems with plot, orcharacterization, or viewpoint, or arresting openers - you need this.

Workshop in a box
I loved the book (Write Publish & Market Your Book), but these audio tapes gave me hands-on practice with plotting, characterization, viewpoint,openings, etc. -- it was like having a workshop in a box.Anabsolutely great help to my writing career.

Gave me a solid foundation
addressed particular areas of writing that I needed assistance with and gave me a solid foundation in them.Ray ... Read more

Product Description
This book tells people how to write a book, and then how to get it self-published, as well as how to sell it. In addition, it offers authors a last chance at getting someone else to publish it, the university presses that most writers don't even know exist. (There are well over 100 of them in America.)

The book instructs writers on how to produce and sell a book in partnership, how to start a publishing company, and how to handle the insurance needs of that company. Further, it describes how to set up their own web site. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Great Quick Read
This is a great primer on how to get started.... or to even decide if you want to publish your own book. Great advice and down-home common sense.

"So You Want To Write A Book"
"The book, written in entertaining, common-prose style, not only provides useful insight into the writing process, but also the self-publishing, marketing and selling process of the non-fiction book." (Mr. Witt did not actually "star rate" the book)

"So You Want To Write A Book"
"The book, written in entertaining, common-prose style, not only provides useful insight into the writing process, but also the self-publishing, marketing and selling process of the non-fiction book." (Mr. Witt did not actually "star rate" the book)

Really Useful
So You Want to Write is an instruction manual. That's not a put down. This extremely useful book tells aspiring authors step by step how to get their book published. It is the first one, I know of that spells out honestly how much it costs to self publish. His section on promotion had many workable ideas and the whole tone of the book was friendly and informative. If you can only buy two book on self publishing get Dan Poynter's book and this one. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
An instruction manual on how to write non-fiction books, which reveals how to develop a basic idea into a proposal, sell an idea to a publisher before actually writing the book, prepare a manuscript and cope with copy-editing, proofs and indexing, including examples and checklists for ease of reference. ... Read more

Product Description
What was happening behind the Tampa headlines? How do you force a big company to take responsibility for damaging the health of its workers? What do you do when you suspect a famous author is a fake? How does it feel to be on the receiving end of police crowd control? Or on a hillside, spellbound and fearful, watching the light being sucked from the sky during an eclipse? Top writers and journalists who have written about events and issues big and small talk frankly about how they approach the task in this highly readable new collection. The Writer's Reader combines selected non-fiction articles with interviews with authors reflecting on the process of writing. Academic writing can be dry and dull, but this refreshingly accessible anthology values straight talking about writing and makes the point that if you want to write, then you had better get reading. ... Read more

Product Description
From the art of writing to the nitty gritty of how to get published, this handbook provides help for would-be writers of non-fiction. There is advice on writing books, newspaper and magazine features, and guidance on writing styles, what areas to write for, market research and subject research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Nice resource of basic information
This was the first book I ever purchased online ... a number of years ago:-)

The book gives all the basic information required to start writing articles for magazines and also putting together a book proposal for a nonfiction book. My only criticism is that more information could have been included on the actual writing process.

It is "organise" in the UK
I haven't read this book or anything else by Janet McaDonald and don't wish to comment on the book itself (I gave it three stars only because I had to enter something in the field). However, in fairness to the author it should be noted that she spelled "organize" correctly for her part of the world. British spellings often differ slightly from their American counterparts.

This book is ludicrous at its best!
If I could give this book 0 I would, but I do not have that option. For trying to teach others, she can't even get her own spellings and chapters in order! She says in chap 1 (the introduction) that you can find more oncertain processes on articles in chap 4 (it is not 4 it is 5) and on booksin chap. 5 (it is not, it is in chap. 6) For someone who is telling us tocheck our spelling she spells the word 'organize' as 'organise'! Forexample pages: 23, 24 & 32. She often says in this book to check and recheck our grammer before submitting it to a prospective publisher. She goeson to say that by doing this we might be looked down upon as a new authortrying to break into the business. How the hell did she get this non sensebook of hers published to begin with? I will be re turning this book toAmazon hoping for a refund. I have owned this book for 6 hours and if itwere winter I would use it at best to start a fire! DO NOT buy this book!It is a waste of print and paper! ... Read more

Product Description
This title includes a series of books of ready-made photocopiable activities plus teacher guidance that help teachers to do shared and guided writing with whole class and groups. Each book covers one specific writing type and aims to improve teacher confidence and knowledge about shared and guided writing, plus give them the teaching resource they need to improve practice. This title offers clarity of teacher support and self-contained package with lesson plans plus photocopiable resources. The activities in "Life Stories" (9-11 yrs) enable children to: explore the genre of autobiography as readers and writers; understand the literary and linguistic features of the genre; learn how to use the stages of writing process to produce polished fragments of autobiographical writing; collect, select, and discard interesting detail; consider fact and opinion in the context of writing (auto) biography; and, look at how autobiographers use first person in creating vivid personal recounts. ... Read more

Product Description
This text is based upon a research project carried out by EXEL (The Exeter Extending Literacy Project). It shows ways in which children's non-fiction writing can be made to be more purposeful and structured, thereby moving away from them copying "chunks of text" from reference books. This is achieved by using writing frames. These frames consist of skeleton outlines which can be used to scaffold children's writing. They provide a strategy which helps children to use the generic structures and language features of recount, report, procedure, explanation, exposition (arguing a point) and discussion until children are familiar enough with them to be able to assimilate them into their own writing. The theory is supported with practical examples and children's work. ... Read more

Product Description
With it's unique range of rich fiction and non-fiction texts, and comprehensive coverage of the core skills, "Nelson Thornes Framework English Skills in Fiction and Non-Fiction" targets pupils secure at Level 4, or at Level 5 and above. Uniquely, the Students' Books are available separately for Fiction and Non-Fiction in each year. They contain six units of themed stimulus texts plus differentiated activities at Word, Sentence and Text Level. Illustrations throughout support each text and provide visual stimulus to really encourage students to connect and engage with the topics. It offers complete coverage of the Framework objectives. Differentiation is provided at Word, Sentence and Text Level within each topic, making the texts easily accessible by students of differing abilities at Level 4-5. The rich, full-bodied texts and differentiated activities are particularly suitable for mid to higher ability students who need a more challenging approach to develop their writing skills further. ... Read more

Product Description
Smart Women Publish! is the first book to give the author or aspiring author an insider's view of non-fiction book publishing from someone who has been there - both as a publisher and a successfully published author.

In Smart Women Publish!, Jan B. King advocates for publishing books based on your intellectual capital - your ideas which can and should be shared with others.King will guide you to make the right decisions to save you time and money as you consider how to create, publish, and promote your book. ... Read more

Product Description
This best-selling anthology is a comprehensive and indispensable introduction and guide to the way creative nonfiction is written today. An anthology in Part I introduces readers to works by exemplary contemporary writers in the genre of creative nonfiction—Annie Dillard, Patricia Hampl, among others.Part II presents articles discussing the forms and issues surrounding the fourth genre, including pieces by writers whose work appears in Part I. Part III pairs essays and memoirs with articles by their authors explaining their composing processes when they wrote the essay. Ideal for individuals interested in learning to write contemporary creative nonfiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fantastic essays, great reading even if you're not a writer
The Fourth Genre graces most creative-writing course lists, and for good reason: In addition to outstanding essays written in every style and on every topic imaginable, it offers essays and commentary about the writing process, style, and form.

But don't be put off if you're just looking for excellent reading. This isn't dense, heavy, or academic. The essays are brilliant precisely because you are hooked from the first sentence of each one. These are fine storytellers, and their stories resonate. This is a book for any lover of true stories, nonfiction, essays, or great writing. It's also a compilation of essays, so you can pick it up and read a complete essay (story), then set it aside until you have time to read again, which was perfect for my too-busy-to-read life these days. If you like short stories, nonfiction stories, or great first-person journalism (like "Into Thin Air"), you'll like this.

Good Collection
I think this volume provides a good overview of what is called the personal essay. The only thing I have a problem with is that the margins are huge, which mean this large book could have been a lot smaller (and therefore more portable).

fourth gender
this book is good i like the stories it has it talks about personal essays and other tipe as well and you can relate to the stories to.

Keeper Text Book
I've been using this book in a career writing class where we have been focusing on learning how to write creative non-fiction. It is a great book full of incredible selections and is a great introduction to the field of Creative Nonfiction. Let me tell you, after years of writing academic essays, this has been a blast. The book, and my instructor, has helped me understand the difference between an autobiography and a memoir or a personal familiar essay and a personal critical essay.

All of that being said, I found this book to be more of an introduction into the world of Creative Nonfiction than an instructional 'how to' book. I have enjoyed being introduced to such a large host of, for me, new writers and will definitely keep this text book for reference, enjoyment, and inspiration.

The Guideline for Creative Non-Fiction
Finally the genre of Creative Non-Fiction is gaining recognition as a valid art form.Critics are finally starting to realize what the puplic has always known; real people have valid and intruiging stories to tell. The Fourth Genre collects an overview of the best non-fiction writerswriting in and about their genre.I had the privilege to study under acontibutor fromthis book and discovered the joys of writing about my lifeand reading about the lives of others.This book is a necessity to thoseinterested in Creative Non-Fictions.I would also recommend Naked and MeTalk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, Writing Life Stories by BillRoorbach, and Take the Cannoli by Sarah Vowell. ... Read more