The Making of a Writer

By Joan Lowery Nixon

Book Overview

Many of Joan Lowery Nixon's readers have written to her to ask how they, too, can become published writers someday. This memoir, including anecdotes and advice, is her answer to them. From her first... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385730004
• ISBN13: 9780385730006
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.6" x 5.7"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

Beautifully Crafted!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ms. Nixon's biography in which she related biographical anecdotes to the essential elements of writing. This is a great book for readers of all ages!

The Making of a Writer. By Becca Miller

"I was exactly what I had wanted to be. I was a published writer!" The Making of a Writer, a biography of Jean Lowery Nixon is an enjoyable read, revealing her fantastic childhood memories that lead her to become a writer. Jean Lowery Nixon is an extremely accomplished writer who wrote more than a hundred books, mostly mysteries. This biography is made up of engaging little stories of events in her life that contributed in some way to how she became a writer. Jean Lowery Nixon describes her childhood as full of love, laughter, excitement, and throughout this, her strong passion for writing. With puppet shows, poetry, friendship, and family, Jean Lowery Nixon never runs out of stories that contribute to how she became a writer. I loved reading this book because Jean Lowery Nixon goes into detail when she expresses characters, and she encourages you to pursue your dreams, and shows how if it can be possible if you have the dream to write. Throughout the book Jean Lowery Nixon enjoys telling about the people who were important in her life. She goes deep into details while writing about her family, neighbors, and best friend. In one story she describes what her grandpa always did every morning while waiting for his breakfast. She wrote, "He'd take his place at the table, where Hattie was already been busy preparing breakfast. He'd grasp his fork in his left fist and his knife in the right and bang them up and down on the table until his food was placed in front of him." This is just one example of how she gives such vivid descriptions that paints vivid pictures in your mind. Jean Lowery Nixon developed her love for writing at a young age and knew her dream was to become a published writer. In the course of the book Jean Lowery Nixon not only gives tips on how to become a writer, but also encourages you to start now. She suggests that whenever you have imaginative ideas write it down. Creating with words will come naturally if you just try, implies Jean Lowery Nixon. Jean Lowery Nixon also says, She suggest children to enter writing contest in newspapers and magazines and says, "Don't be afraid of rejection," because rejection never hurts. An inspiring quote of hers is, "I don't know a single published writer who hasn't received rejection slips. But none of them gave up. I didn't, either." The biography of Jean Lowery Nixon, The Making of a Writer is a great book and I know readers will enjoy it. The real life stories of Jean Lowery Nixon are all full of life and depth. The way she goes into detail when describing characters, and how she explains what to do if you have dreams of a becoming writer are pleasurable aspects of this book.

Great book

I read this in the 6th grade for a biography of a person project. I loved reading about Joan Lowery Nixen's life and childhood and how she came to be who she is today-- a famous writer. This book inspired me to be a writer, too.

An inspiration for any writer.

Here's a mystery for you: How did a regular kid become an award-winning and popular mystery author? Thanks to this book, that particular puzzle is solved. Joan Lowery Nixon shares how her childhood experiences taught her to be a good writer. She has applied that knowledge during the writing of more than one hundred books for young readers.Ms. Nixon is famous for her mysteries. She is the only author to win the Edgar Allan Poe Best Young Adult Mystery Award four times! Those award-winning mysteries are: THE KIDNAPPING OF CHRISTINA LATTIMORE, THE SÉANCE, THE NAME OF THE GAME WAS MURDER, and THE OTHER SIDE OF DARK. Ms. Nixon has also written historical fiction, including the series The Orphan Train Adventures, Orphan Train Children, and Colonial Williamsburg: Young Americans.Her grandfather and mother read to Joan and her sisters constantly. When Joan learned to read, she read like crazy! In her book she says, "From a very early age I understood that words could be put together in a wonderful way, then written down and kept forever."Before Joan was old enough to write, she dictated poetry to her mother, who then wrote those poems down for her. Later, she filled journals with poetry, stories, greeting card verses, descriptions and thoughts. At age ten, a magazine published one of her poems --- and when she saw her poetry in print, she knew she had to publish more of her writing.There was no television set or computer in Joan's house. The children played games and listened to radio shows. One of Joan's favorite radio programs was called "I Love a Mystery." The show's suspenseful stories were complete with creepy sound effects. Joan loved those tales, which led to her discovery of mystery books at the library. She swore she would become a mystery writer one day.Joan began making up "what if" stories at a young age. She would ask herself, "WHAT IF this person was actually a prince? . . .WHAT IF he was a troll?" In her book she says, "What ifs are the keys that unlock the door to imagination." Joan acted out her made-up stories with dolls and puppets for her neighborhood's children. She quickly learned to catch her restless audience's attention by starting each tale with action and suspense.Throughout THE MAKING OF A WRITER we learn the ingredients for a terrific story. The author used those same brilliant yet simple writing tips when she wrote this book. The account of her childhood is as fascinating as any of her thrilling mysteries, and is an inspiration for any writer. --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (...)