How to Build a Story . . . Or, the Big What If

(Hardback)

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Description

From bestselling author Frances ORoark Dowell comes a fresh and accessible guide to storytelling that breaks down the sometimes-daunting writing process into straightforward, doable steps, just right for budding writers!

If youve written anything, ever, youre already a writerso, congratulations! As many aspiring authors know, though, telling an actual, complete story is, well, a different story.

As unfinished drafts pile up and writers block strikes, it may start to feel like theres a special formula to finishing a project that youre just not getting. But crafting a story isnt magic, if you have a little know-how! And here it isknow-how! In her witty, clever way, critically acclaimed author Frances ORoark Dowell explains the storytelling process with simple, easy-to-understand steps. Follow along as she shares sample stories and identifies building blocks and obstacles to conquerall hilariously illustrated, in a way thatll have you typing all the way to the end of your own story.

In addition to writing many books including Shooting the Moon and Dovey Coe, Frances ORoark Dowell has over a decades experience teaching writing workshops for kids. Ready, set, write!

Reviews

"Fresh, interesting, and unique." -- Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Frances ORoark Dowell is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author ofDovey Coe, which won the Edgar Award and the William Allen White Award;Where Id Like to Be;The Secret Language of Girlsand its sequelsThe Kind of Friends We Used to BeandThe Sound of Your Voice, Only Really Far Away;Chicken Boy;Shooting the Moon, which was awarded the Christopher Award; the Phineas L. MacGuire series;Falling In;The Second Life of Abigail Walker, which received three starred reviews;Anybody Shining;Ten Miles Past Normal;Trouble the Water; the Sam the Man series;The Class;How to Build a Story; and most recently,Hazard. She lives with her family in Durham, North Carolina. Connect with Frances online at FrancesDowell.com.

Stacy Ebert is an illustrator and writer for children. Shes been creating art since she was young and has worked as a graphic designer. She wrote for her college newspaper andHer Voicemagazine and penned a memoir before turning to picture book stories. If not illustrating, writing, telling, or reading a storyyou might find her pressing dough, painting, teaching, or chalk labeling anything and everything. She creates on the prairie with her husband, three sons, one painted piano, and three coral peonies. Visit her online at StacyEbert.com.