Fletcher,
Ralph. Guy-Write:
What Every Guy Writer Needs To Know. Macmillan/ Henry Holt 166p $15.99 978-0-8050-9404-6 ms VG-BN
Ralph Fletcher has a winner here! With ideas to promote writing, especially to encourage male
writers, this book includes topics such as how to write about disgusting stuff,
gore, super heroes, sports, scary stories, emotional stories and fantasy. Writers of all ages, sizes and genders will be amazed at his insight into the male
psyche and what “makes good writing”. Teachers and parents can be
advocates instead of killers of guy writing, and Fletcher offers a multitude of
suggestions on how to begin, doing so in an upbeat, interesting format with a touch of comedic
style thrown in! By using examples
from his own writing as well as from other professional writers, he validates
his advice. There is much to glean from
his suggestions. Each chapter begins with
a hook to draw in the reader and help him/her make connections to the
topic. Next, Fletcher offers writing
samples to support his premises.
Finally, several chapters end with writer interviews that are
informative as well as entertaining.
The interviewees include Jon Scieszka, Greg Trine, and Robert San Souci, to name a few. The final chapters provide the “nuts and
bolts”. The importance of keeping a
writer’s notebook is explained in Chapter 10, the importance of reading in Chapter 11, and a
comprehensive list of practical advice in Chapter 12. Layout strengths include the use of bold and
pale text to differentiate his information from his story samples, the addition of drawings
contributed by both family members
and students, and arrows that point out writing
tips. The lists of books to read
that correspond with each chapter are an invaluable addition at the end. This
book is a must-read for all students, not just boys.
Teachers will be amazed at how easily
they can stifle creativity in their students’ writing, so this book should
be required reading for teachers as well.
Middle school is the best venue, but elementary-school libraries
could use a copy as well! --
Martha Squaresky
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