The book is billed as a children’s guide to writing. But the creative monster on the title page holds a piece of paper in its paws which boldly states, ‘This book will definitely 100% make you a better writer, I personally guarantee it’.
I agree. This book is packed full of advice, tips and
writing prompts FOR EVERYONE. As the blurb states ‘this book contains essential skills for storytellers, the secret
weapons of successful authors , and over 50 prompts and exercises to inspire
not only young writers but old and gnarled ones like me too’.
The book is split into four sections: Training your creative
monster, Monster mistakes, When your Monster gets stuck, and Feeding your creative
monster. You don’t have to follow it from section to section, it’s designed for
dipping into.
The first exercise invites you to create your own creative
monster and give it a name. It suggests keeping your name secret because the
mystery – that secret bond between writer and monster - is part of it power. Some
monsters do reveal their names as Olaf’s illustrations point out and that is OK
too.
On every page, Olaf Falafel’s illustrations make you smile,
illuminate the concepts, and at times reassure you. For instance the scary wind–up
monkey says, ‘I wouldn’t say I’m evil but
I do eat beans straight from the tin’.
It is not patronising or dull. The muses are mentioned, rich
vocabulary is used, and grammar and literary concepts are explained with
clarity and warmth. You will find an explanation of Chekhov’s gun and quotes
from Stephen King and Neil Gaiman. It shows you how to create FSPs (Fantastic Story
Possibilities) and to play with metaphors but to mix them at your peril! It
encourages you to make mistakes, because at least you are making something, and
to write fearlessly. There is advice on how to start and run your own writers’
group and support on drafting and editing your work. The editing checklist is
brilliant. The pages of advice on adding rhythm and variety to your sentences
are the best!
The book emphasises the importance of developing your own
style and reminds us that, ‘There are a
lot of so-called “rules” for writing, but rules are like eggs. Not everyone
likes them, some are bad, and all of them were made to be broken’.
A creative monster should visit every school in the land and
deliver a copy to each classroom, but only after making the head teacher say ‘bum
glue’ three times in morning assembly.
ISBN 978-1-4063-9662-1
@AllYourMonsters
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