5 Great References for Young Writers

Looking for help proofreading and editing your work-in-progress, or just don’t know where to even begin it? Look no further! This short but superb list of references is nearly* everything a young writer needs and will even work for adult writers (because, let’s face it, even we need to go back to basics sometimes).

* I’ll assume you can get your hands on some kind of dictionary and thesaurus, whether old-school books or digital—use them! And don’t forget to spell-check if your work is in a page layout program.

1. Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
by Mignon Fogarty
I love, love, love this book. I use it frequently during the editing and revising stages, and I think I’ve found answers for everything I’ve tried to look up. The page explaining the use of “lay” versus “lie” practically opens itself.

“Why do you love this book so much?” you ask. The obvious answer is that it’s full of helpful information, laid out in a clear, concise manner. Wait—there’s more. I’m sure there are countless books that can tell you the basics of grammar and usage. You may have used one or are still using one in grade school. But Ms. Fogarty has included excellent tips on ways to memorize these rules, using her original characters Squiggly and Aardvark in examples and illustrations, adding mnemonic devices, and employing pop culture references.

The strength of this book lies in Ms. Fogarty’s knowledgeable explanations paired with her humorous first-person anecdotes and friendly, informal style.

2. Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink and Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly
by Gail Carson Levine
Yes, I know I snuck two books into one entry here, but they’re both so good I really couldn’t separate them. Ms. Levine has a wonderful tone in these books; you almost feel as if she’s in the room chatting with you and sharing her writing experiences, both good and bad. The chapters are short—I do one a week as read-aloud inspiration in my homeschool—but they are packed with clear information, real-world examples, and the occasional self-deprecating anecdote.

As a bonus, every chapter ends with several story prompts that relate to the chapter’s theme. Readers are told explicitly they can freely use any ideas generated by using the book’s story starters.

Even though they are aimed at younger writers, these books can really be used by writers of any age who are looking for ideas, inspiration, and tips to better their stories. They do not cover mechanics and grammar (no worries, see entries 1 and 3), but they do cover many topics of interest to fiction writers such as character development, plot, dialogue, and more. I like them so much I’ve given them as gifts to other writer friends.

3. The Elements of Style
by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White
Look up any list of recommended writing resources and you will probably come across this small but superb book on writing. Be forewarned: this one is sometimes a challenge to read. The language is formal and assumes a high level of understanding on the reader’s part. One example that stands out reads: “Young writers often suppose that style is a garnish for the meat of prose, a sauce by which a dull dish is made palatable.” See what I mean?

But to its credit, even if you’re fuzzy on the meaning or uses of clauses, participles, and gerunds, there are lots of great examples of what to do paired with what not to do, making the rules come clearly into focus. Also, there is a handy glossary in the back that does explain clauses, participles, and gerunds in a straightforward manner. While the beginning deals mostly with mechanics, Chapter Five is a treasure trove of style advice that would be especially helpful for someone in the revision stages.

If you’re looking for tips on how to really hone your writing craft, this book is for you. All in all, a challenge, but certainly not an impossible challenge.

4. Write Away: A Handbook for Young Writers and Learners
by GREAT SOURCE
This book is definitely for the younger end of the “young writers” group (mine says the edition is for grade 2). It is full color, filled with simple illustrations, and has examples typeset in a kids-style handwriting font. And don’t get me wrong, it is great for that age.

But don’t be fooled by the youthful design. It is full of useful information, including clear steps of the writing process, different types of writing (letters, reports, stories, and more), and a simple proofreading guide. If you are just starting out writing, or if you’re helping someone who is, this is a gentle way to start learning about the process without it being intimidating. It calls itself, “your own friendly book about writing and learning”. And if you’re further along in your writing journey, you will still find the lessons in this handbook to be a strong reminder of the basics.

5. Write Your Own Fantasy Story
by Tish Farrell
(also available for Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, and Mystery novels)
This series of books is intended for middle-graders, though I feel writers through high school might find the information useful, and even adults could use them as a refresher.

One criticism I read what that the different books are very similar to one another—which is true, they have the same basic steps and layout—but to me, it doesn’t detract from their usefulness. In fact, I’d be surprised if they were significantly different since the writing process doesn’t change just because one is writing in a different genre.

The strength of these books is the simple way they’ve broken down the writing process for kids who are beginning to be able to put together longer stories. The information is in short chunks, perfect for younger writers, while boxes of “tips and techniques” are interspersed among examples and photos drawn from popular movies/shows related to the genre of the book. For instance, in the fantasy-themed book there are quotes and pictures from the Harry Potter series, Peter Pan, and The Hobbit. Whereas the mystery-themed book refers to Sherlock Holmes, the Nancy Drew series, and stories from Edgar Allen Poe. And while the process and elements are the same for all types of stories, the advice, information, and examples in these books are specific for each genre.

Overall, these books offer short, simple steps to guide young readers through writing their own story or book. They are written in an informational tone, rather than conversational, yet the broken-down process and numerous examples make this an easy read. They are helpful, encouraging, and fun.

Advanced tips:

More advanced writers may want to add additional style guides to their collection, such as the MLA style guide or the Chicago Manual of Style.

Also, extremely helpful for reference but also just for browsing (this book is packed with interesting information, but you better have a big gap in your bookshelf), is Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Sometimes when I’m stuck for ideas I will just randomly pick a page, put my finger down, and see where the entries lead me. I know, it sounds weird, but it works for me…

Whether you want to understand the writing process better, need story starting ideas, or are looking for editing tips, these five references will more than get you started.

Do you have a favorite reference that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments section and tell why I should add it to my collection.