What makes a writer The desire to tell a story, a love of language, an eye for detail, practice, practice, practice. How well should you know your characters Do you need to outline before you write Why is daydreaming important Now Walter Dean Myers, the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, walks teen readers and prospective writers through the writing process.

Includes:
Examples from his writing and reading experiences
Walter’s Six Box and Four Box Outlines for writing fiction and nonfiction
Excerpted pages from Walter’s own notebooks
Afterword by teen author Ross Workman
Writing tips from both Walter and Ross, his teen coauthor of Kick

“Students have told me that if not for Myers’s books, they would not read.”—Jessica Fenster-Sparber, Library Coordinator, Passages Academy

Advance praise for All the Right Stuff:
“All the Right Stuff will introduce readers to the ‘social contract’ debate within political philosophy—while demonstrating that books can be as alluring as smartphones and other high-tech distractions.”—Peter Minowitz, Professor of Political Science at Santa Clara University

Praise for We Are America:
“Few will be unmoved by this stirring and provocative collaboration.”—PW (starred review)

“Stunning.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for Kick:
“A masterful collaboration...that will inspire readers of any age.”—Family Circle

“The respective voices and characters play off each other as successfully as a winning, high-stakes soccer match. How about another collaboration”—ALA Booklist

“With Myers, there are always many layers beneath the surface of the story, and this is no exception. Workman offers a fresh voice as Kevin and more than holds his own as a writer, writing alongside an icon of young adult literature.”—VOYA

“An involving blend of mystery and sports, ably delivered in two convincing voices.”—BCCB