Lawson, Sue and Jodi Toering, Inside Story: Creative Writing for Students, Wild Dog Books, April 2024, 64 pp., RRP $24.99 (Flexi Bound), ISBN 9781742036670
This is a helpful and accessible book. It’s not too long but contains all sorts of useful information for students wanting to start creative writing or indeed polish their technique.
The book is clearly set out into sections – Making a Start, Writing your Story. Revising and Editing Your Story and What Now? There are sub-sections within each such as planning and drafting, There are helpful hints on naming characters and writing good dialogue. The questions that are suggested as a guide to revising will provide a framework for any young writer tackling that difficult task – so necessary even if you think your story is finished.
The short glossary at the end gives the reader a useful list of definitions of some of the things they need to know to enrich their writing, such as metaphor and point of view.
The inside flap of the cover of the book suggests that this is a book that young writers will return to many times and I think that is true. The contents are, as I have said, very useful and, in addition, it is well-produced. It feels good to hold and, although a kind of manual, has an appealing layout and design.
Reviewed by Margot Hillel
