Mystery

April 1, 2009
Gr 5-8-These books are for students who have a serious interest in the writing process and are thinking of pursuing it professionally. "Screenplay", for example, gives specific directions for formatting their work so that it will garner the attention of a producer, while the other titles each feature a chapter on publishing. Hamilton frequently makes references to books that may be beyond the interest level or reading abilities of his audience, such as Joseph Campbells "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" and Ray Bradburys "Zen in the Art of Writing". The series is well organized, offering examples from contemporary works to reinforce the points being made. A particularly useful touch is the emphasis placed on work habits. Back matter includes advice from successful people in the field and a list of (ambitious) helpful reading.

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