Do you feel a persistant "tug" to write? Do you find yourself collecting ideas and trying to sort them out into a story or article? What writing tools do you need to get started? Which books offer helpful advice?

Here's a special corner especially for you - a storehouse of tips, techniques, and advice from professional writers.

We'll cover the basics of writing, explore related websites, and enjoy fun, challenging activities that will give your creativity a good workout.

• A Writer's Toolbox 
• Do You Have a Way with Words? 
• How to Begin a Reading Journal
• What's a Story Starter?

More Story Starters - Want to explore some story starters online? Try these story starter suggestions from authors Laura Numeroff , Jean Craighead George, Bruce Hale, Joan Holub, and Chris Cheng.

Sometimes an experience in life will spark a new interest. Author Jane Kirkland has created two wonderful books for ages 9-12, which are meant to be used as field guides. Write in them, record thoughts and questions, and jot down story ideas about your experience outdoors. Take a Tree Walk and Take a Backyard Bird Walk are causing quite a stir--and understandably so. Read our review!

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Free Downloads in .pdf

The following files are in .pdf form, and require Adobe Reader. Once you install according to the simple instructions, download the following computer-related articles.

• "Before You Panic: Online Solutions to Common Computer Problems"

• "Fun with Digital Photography"

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When you visit, let Shana and Niki know that you heard about them right here, at WriterKorner. Want to see what others are saying about KidsOnline Magazine.com? Check out their comments.

 

Quotes for Writers

• "A writer is someone who can make a riddle out of an answer." --Karl Kraus

• "How can you write if you can't cry?" --Ring Lardner

• "Being a real writer means being able to do the work on a bad day."
  --Norman Mailer

• "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer,
  no surprise for the reader." --Robert Frost

• "We regret that The Atlantic has no place for your vigorous verse." --Rejection letter sent to poet Robert Frost, four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize

• "The discipline of the writer is to learn to be still and listen to what his
  subject has to tell him." --Rachel Carson

• "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer,
  no surprise for the reader." --Robert Frost

• "A writer begins by breathing life into his characters. But if you are very lucky, they breathe life into you." --Caryl Phillips

• "Life itself is a quotation."
  --Jorge Luis Borges

• "Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down."--Robert Frost

• Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come out as you first hoped."--Lillian Hellman."

• "I hold any writer sufficiently justified who is himself in love with his theme."--Henry James

Encouragement & Tips for Writers

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• "How Does My Garden Grow?"

• "Tips on Selling Your Children's Writing to Magazines"

• "Searching for Things to Fix"

• "Learning to Say 'I Do!'"

• "Hatching New Ideas"

• "How to Write the Five-Paragraph Essay"

• "Ten Ways to Stay Committed"

• "Take Out the Trash!"

• "Success: Horse Before the Cart" reflects Kristi Holl's definition of a writer's success.

• "Secrets & Surprises About Writing"

• "How to Write a Book Review"

• "What is Character?" by Richelle Putnam divides characterization into bite-sized pieces.

• "Four Surefire Ways to Speed Up Your Writing"

• "Eleven Rules of Writing"

• "Why Does it Take So Long?" -

• "Dear Character, Tell Me About Yourself"

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• Let Your Characters Grow

• The Basics of Internet Research

• Writing Dialogue

• Beyond "Once Upon a Time..."

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View our Guestbook

• E-Pals translation tool - Learn how to write a phrase in eight

• Biography Maker proves that biographies are not boring!

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• Need to brush up on your spelling? Drag 'n Spell is a great solution!

• What's a homonym? Check out Alan's list!

• VoyCabulary - a great resource as you research & write!

• Bonnie Bruno's General Reference Index

• iTools.com - general and specialized dictionaries.

• Bartleby.com - look up famous quotations

• Vocabulary University has enough word puzzles to make your head spin.

 

Book Awards

• Caldecott Medal + Caldecott Honor Books

• Newbery Medal

• Coretta Scott King Award

• Michael L. Printz Award

• Pura Belpre Award