Karen Benke has inspired children-and even a few adults-in the art of creative writing for over twenty years as a Poet in the Schools, writing coach, and visiting author. She specializes in leading on-the-spot creative writing workshops and has been known to get even the most reluctant writer to reach for a pen. Her poetry has appeared in many anthologies and national literary journals (Ploughshares, Rattle, Hawaii Pacific Review, Poetry Daily) and her books have been featured in FamilyFun magazine, The San Francisco Book Review, Kids' Book Review (Australia)and elsewhere. The recipient of two teaching grants from Poets & Writers and residencies from Djerassi Resident Artists Program and Hedgebrook, she runs TheWriters Nest and lives north of the Golden Gate Bridge with her teenage son, magic cat Clive, and rescue dog Rasco Roon. Visit her virtually at www.karenbenke.com.
“Rip the Page! is an invitation and a feast. Every page springs the
imagination into freedom, eagerness, curiosity, the spirit of
experimentation, and the power to express the abundant
possibilities of both words and world.”—Jane Hirshfield, poet and
author of Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry
“Alive with ideas, playful, encouraging, and full of heart, Rip the
Page! will help you uncover stories of inner treasure and express
them in a fresh new way.”—Susan Wooldridge, author of Foolsgold:
Making Something from Nothing
“Rip the Page! is fun, sassy, and zany. It's a great resource
for writers of all ages—and for teachers of creative writing—who
want to put the zing back in their writing.”—Julia Alvarez, author
of Return to Sender
“Rip the Page! inspires creativity to flow, sparkle, whoosh, and
claim a child’s imagination. Karen Benke uses playful,
inviting, inspiring language to form 'hooks' to snag the interest
and 'reel in' the imagination of children to write. Great for an
individual writer on their own, and wonderful as a guideline for
teachers or home-school parents to inspire young hearts.”—San
Francisco Book Review
“This collection of exercises and ideas inspires young writers with
interesting prompts, friendly encouragement, and suggestions.
Realizing that beginning writers often have potential for
creativity, yet freeze when faced with the formidable task of
constructing a composition, Benke introduces livelihood and fun to
the risky process of recording one’s thoughts. Working to show kids
that not all writing is dry, formal, or plagued by the pressure of
getting a good grade, Benke stirs the imaginations of kids, never
limiting them.”—ForeWord Reviews
“As a writer, I love the way this author brings fun to the
experience of writing.Too many kids are scared of writing or bored
with the whole exercise. I found many of the exercises to be fun
and engaging: the kind that my kids found silly and different. And
because they were, they didn’t feel like work. This book will do a
wonderful job of adding a key element of fun to what can be a
challenging part of your homeschooling day.”—Practical
Homeschooling
"An inspiring, irreverent, and highly accessible book of ideas for
writing. This is a riotous celebration of language and the
exhilarating joy of words. Great Fun! Recommended for homeschoolers
wanting a creative way into language and parents with a household
of bored, creative children looking for an outlet on a rainy
day.”—Juno (UK)
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