Review by Frank Plowright
For all the importance of writing as an art, the thought might be that an instructional graphic novel will be somewhat the dry bone. Well, Mary McInerney and Rivkah LaFille blow that misconception out of the water.
The author credits note McInerney as a lifelong teacher with passion for awakening creativity in young writers, and it doesn’t take long reading Creative Writing With Miss Mary Mac to realise she can be inspirational. Instead of taking the usual path by highlighting writing itself, she draws parallels with other creative activities, noting the thought the composer applies to ensuring sound is satisfying and the brush strokes of the painter. Adults will realise where she’s heading with regard to precision, but the younger readers at whom this aimed ought to be drawn in by the comparisons.
Before reaching the actual process of writing, observation is noted, explaining how anything can serve as the basis for a subject. McInerney’s speciality is poetry, but her examples could serve equally well for other forms of writing. A great one is a friend who has her friends inscribe her kitchen table when they’re round for a meal.
Once the topic of actual writing is reached the advice is sound and full, and even experienced writers are likely to consider aspects of their craft through McInerney’s prism. No matter where she’s led, LaFille accompanies the path with beautiful illustrations. She maintains clarity amid impressive and lively page designs, brightly coloured to further attract attention. Although not highlighted as doing so, she in fact exemplifies McInerney’s initial thoughts about creativity, choosing how best to transmit the creative impetus.
Perhaps for younger readers McInerney could have pointed out in bold text that the most important thing of all for any would-be writer is just to write without over-thinking the process. The advice is there in other forms, but not explicitly stated. That, however, is a small niggle in the face of so much that’s so well explained and so well presented. It’s an inspiration.
