"Bursting with practical tips and tricks, such as creating actual story-finding maps of your neighborhood, this book will help you build confidence and establish good writing habits as you learn to use a journal to snoop out plots full of action and emotion about yourself, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your pets. As Jack shows you hot to shape your rough ideas, organize plots, and polish drafts to shiny perfection, he also shares...

"It's raining cat's and dog! Or is it just raining hard? Find out how and why native speakers use colorful language instead of always being completely forthright. Learn how language has evolved, and how and why using idioms when you write can spice up your prose and poetry. Helpful examples and exercises will show you the way"--Back cover.

Presents a humorous and informative guide to writing that combines helpful style rules with story ideas and writing prompts as well as advice on how to write a story that is both engaging and correct.