The I Love To Write Book: Ideas and Tips for Young Writers    by Mary-Lane Kamberg Order:  USA  Can Crickhollow, 2008 (2008) Softcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Michelle York You could say that winter is when parents get to know their inner child. When your middle-schoolers or teens are stuck inside and complaining that they don't have anything to do, give them a pen and paper, and suggest they write a story. But the blank page can be daunting. That's where a new book comes in. I Love To Write: Ideas and Tips for Young Writers is an extremely well done guide by Mary-Lane Kamberg. The book offers practical advice for writers. Heck, even an adult would benefit from this clear, straightforward guide. Kamberg, who directs a summer writing camp in Kansas, knows her stuff. She begins by telling wannabe writers that they first must read, read, read. Then, she shows them how to come up with ideas and hone their observation skills so they can write, write, write. The book offers advice on stories, letters, poems, book reviews, news articles and even thank-you notes. The only questionable section is a graph suggesting to readers that they never pay to have something published. That is an old-school line of thinking. Many reputable authors today are turning to self-publishing as a way to break into an overly restrictive market. This is Writing 101 and should be on everyone's shelf. Better yet, it should be next to everyone's computer. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews