Common Sense Media Review
By Leslie Crenna
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Simple, extensive tool keeps writer's block at bay.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Lists for Writers
What's It About?
Upon launch, the main menu list offers about 50 items in six categories. Some, for instance "phobias" and "plots," have additional information. There are no in-app controls or buttons. All navigation is controlled by tapping text in lists or going back with the device's back button.
Is It Any Good?
LISTS FOR WRITERS serves its purpose well: "Emilia Horn decided to wear her bathrobe to the supermarket this Saturday just to antagonize that gaunt clerk at check stand four, who always asks for her ID to write a check. Every. Single. Week." Lists for Writers supplies long lists of essential words writers need to spark creativity like character names, personality words, settings, action verbs, rhyming words, vehicles, engaging colors, emotions, and more. Both budding and experienced writers can put together sentences that are rich and detailed like the one above (the italicized words were pulled from the app in a matter of seconds). A plot section adds a bit more depth with "the 7 basic plots" (one sentence description each), 36 dramatic situations (also one sentence), 7 conflict types, and a huge list of "issues" from "abandonment" to "yelling."
While it has no fancy bells or whistles, these would likely detract from the app's purpose. The only improvements would be consistent capitalization in the plot section, a disclaimer not to overuse too many unique dialog verbs, a brief tutorial that directs users to select words and put a sentence together, and, finally, references to basic writing resources. Otherwise, the app is well worth the price. You want to know what happened to Emilia Horn at the supermarket, don't you?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Encourage your kids to develop a two-paragraph character study using at least three words from each section under Character.
Ask your budding writer to further research the seven basic plots.
Suggest that your kid's next creative writing assignment include at least seven action verbs from the app.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Kindle Fire
- Subjects : Language & Reading : storytelling , vocabulary , writing , writing clearly , Arts : script writing
- Skills : Self-Direction : academic development , effort , initiative , Creativity : brainstorming , combining knowledge , imagination , producing new content , Thinking & Reasoning : applying information
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : November 8, 2012
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : Thinkamingo
- Version : Android 1.2; iOS 1.5
- Minimum software requirements : Android 2.2 and up; iOS 4.3 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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