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Gabbie
from Syracuse, NY USA wrote on March 25, 2014
I really really really want to write a book, but when ever I have an idea and write it down it comes out sounding like well.......WRONG. Do you have any books that might give me inspiration?(oh yah I forgot , I want to write a modern fantasy book
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Gabbie - Here are a couple of things that might help.
One (and this should be fun) if you want to write fantasy, you need to read a lot of it. And make sure you read the really good stuff - your librarian should be able to help you with that. But you shouldn't just read fantasy novels. You should read tons of myth, legend, folklore, and fairy tales. Most fantasy writers have soaked their minds in that stuff.
Second, I am going to recommend a very useful book. It is called SPILLING INK, and it is by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter. They wrote it especially for kids who are trying to write, and I think it is the best book of its kind that I have seen. In fact I was very happy that they wrote it, because I have long thought about writing the same kind of book, and they did such a good job that now I don't have too! ;>