Welcome to the Guestbook!
I’m always eager to read your comments about my books and stories, so please feel free to pitch in. Here are a few things for you to know:
1) I answer the messages here personally.
2) No message shows up here until I actually answer it to prevent spam and other inappropriate postings. So there will sometimes be a delay before your message posts, especially if I am traveling.
3) Teachers, a gentle request: Please do not have multiple children send me variants of the same message. A group email is much easier to respond to and not such a drain on my time. My thanks in advance for being alert to this.
Sign the Guestbook!
Well, The good news is at least you tried to get a movie for "My Teachers An Alien". My teacher Mrs.Fitch and my classmates and I were woundering if you could stop by our school River View Jounior High and tell us how you start a book or how to write a book....I'm also intrested in writing a book I have an idea I just don't know how to start the book.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Megan -
Thanks for the invitation to stop by your school. Unfortunately, since you are hundreds of miles away from me, just stopping by is unlikely!
Two things about starting a book: (1) Just sit down and do it . . . and remember that you can always change the beginning later. People get tied up about starting at the perfect spot, as if the first opening you write will be the one you end up using. Revision is not fixing the spelling, it's fixing the story, and you can't fix it until you have a first draft to begin with.
(2) Start with something happening. You can fill in some of the details later.
Good luck,
BC
Thanks for the invitation to stop by your school. Unfortunately, since you are hundreds of miles away from me, just stopping by is unlikely!
Two things about starting a book: (1) Just sit down and do it . . . and remember that you can always change the beginning later. People get tied up about starting at the perfect spot, as if the first opening you write will be the one you end up using. Revision is not fixing the spelling, it's fixing the story, and you can't fix it until you have a first draft to begin with.
(2) Start with something happening. You can fill in some of the details later.
Good luck,
BC