Download or read book 101 Creative Writing Exercises written by Melissa Donovan and published by . This book was released on 2012-02-03 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 101 Creative Writing Exercises takes you on an adventure through the world of creative writing. Explore different forms and genres by experimenting with fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Discover effective writing concepts, tools, and techniques. Create projects you can publish. Ideal for new and experienced writers alike, this book will enlighten and inspire you with exciting new ideas. Freewriting Journaling and Memoir Fiction and Storytelling Form Poetry and Free Verse Article and Blog Writing By Melissa Donovan, Founder and Editor of Writing Forward, a critically acclaimed blog packed with creative writing tips and ideas

Download or read book Now Write written by Sherry Ellis and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2006-09-07 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of personal writing exercises and commentary from some of today's best novelists, short story writers, and writing teachers, including Jill McCorkle, Amy Bloom, Robert Olen Butler, Steve Almond, Jayne Anne Phillips, Virgil Suarez, Margot Livesay, and more. What's the secret behind the successful and prolific careers of critically acclaimed novelists and short story writers Amy Bloom, Steve Almond, Jayne Anne Phillips, Alison Lurie, and others? Divine assistance? Otherworldly talent? An unsettlingly close relationship with the Muse? While the rest of us are staring at blank sheets of paper, struggling to come up with a first sentence, these writers are busy polishing off story after story and novel after novel. Despite producing work that may seem effortless, all of them have a simple technique for fending off writer's block: the writing exercise. In Now Write!, Sherry Ellis collects the personal writing exercises of today's best writers and lays bare the secret to their success. - In "The Photograph," Jill McCorkle divulges one of her tactics for handling material that takes plots in a million different directions; - National Book Award-nominee Amy Bloom offers "Water Buddies," an exercise for writers practicing their craft in workshops; - Steve Almond, author of My Life in Heavy Metal and Candyfreak, provides a way to avoiding purple prose in "The Five-Second Shortcut to Writing in the Lyric Register"; - and eighty-three more of the country's top writers disclose their strategies for creating memorable prose. Complemented by brief commentary from the authors themselves, the exercises in Now Write! are practical and hands-on. By encouraging writers to shamelessly steal proven techniques that have yielded books which have won National Book Awards, Pulitzers, and Guggenheim grants, Now Write! inspires the aspiring writer to write now.

Download or read book Steering the Craft written by Ursula K. Le Guin and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2015 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A revised and updated guide to the essentials of a writer's craft, presented by a brilliant practitioner of the art

Download or read book 3 AM Epiphany written by Brian Kiteley and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2005-08-05 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover Just How Good Your Writing Can Be If you write, you know what it's like. Insight and creativity - the desire to push the boundaries of your writing - strike when you least expect it. And you're often in no position to act: in the shower, driving the kids to school...in the middle of the night. The 3 A.M. Epiphany offers more than 200 intriguing writing exercises designed to help you think, write, and revise like never before - without having to wait for creative inspiration. Brian Kiteley, noted author and director of the University of Denver's creative writing program, has crafted and refined these exercises through 15 years of teaching experience. You'll learn how to: • Transform staid and stale writing patterns into exciting experiments in fiction • Shed the anxieties that keep you from reaching your full potential as a writer • Craft unique ideas by combining personal experience with unrestricted imagination • Examine and overcome all of your fiction writing concerns, from getting started to writer's block Open the book, select an exercise, and give it a try. It's just what you need to craft refreshing new fiction, discover bold new insights, and explore what it means to be a writer. It's never too early to start--not even 3 A.M.

Download or read book From Where You Dream written by Robert Olen Butler and published by Open Road + Grove/Atlantic. This book was released on 2007-12-01 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pulitzer Prize–winning author “shares his insights into—and passion for—the creation and experience of fiction with total openness” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Robert Olen Butler, author of Perfume River, A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, and A Small Hotel, teaches graduate fiction at Florida State University—his version of literary boot camp. In From Where You Dream, Butler reimagines the process of writing as emotional rather than intellectual, and tells writers how to achieve the dreamspace necessary for composing honest, inspired fiction. Proposing that fiction is the exploration of the human condition with yearning as its compass, Butler reinterprets the traditional tools of the craft using the dynamics of desire. Offering a direct view into the mind and craft of a literary master, From Where You Dream is an invaluable tool for the novice and experienced writer alike. “Incisive and provocative, Butler’s tutorials are a must for anyone even thinking about writing fiction, and readers, too, will benefit from his passionate exhortations.” —Booklist

Download or read book Techniques of the Selling Writer written by Dwight V. Swain and published by University of Oklahoma Press. This book was released on 2012-09-06 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Techniques of the Selling Writer provides solid instruction for people who want to write and sell fiction, not just to talk and study about it. It gives the background, insights, and specific procedures needed by all beginning writers. Here one can learn how to group words into copy that moves, movement into scenes, and scenes into stories; how to develop characters, how to revise and polish, and finally, how to sell the product. No one can teach talent, but the practical skills of the professional writer's craft can certainly be taught. The correct and imaginative use of these kills can shorten any beginner's apprenticeship by years. This is the book for writers who want to turn rejection slips into cashable checks.

Download or read book Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies written by Maggie Hamand and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-09-11 with total page 397 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Turn your inspiration into a story with clear, expert guidance Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies is a step-by-step creative writing course designed to hone your craft, regardless of ability. Written by the founder of the Complete Creative Writing Course at London's Groucho Club, this activity-based guide walks you through the process of developing and writing in a wide range of genres including novels, short stories and creative nonfiction. The book includes writing prompts, exercises, mind maps, flow charts and diagrams designed to get your ideas flowing. You'll get expert guidance into character development, plot structure and prose, plus extensive insight into self-editing and polishing your work. Whether you're a new writer with a seed of an idea you would like to develop, or are looking to strengthen your creative writing skills, this book has you covered. Covering every aspect of narrative, from setting initial goals to formatting a manuscript, Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies provides the tools and instruction you need to make your story the best it can be. Learn to spark your imagination and sketch out ideas Create compelling characters and paint a picture with description Develop your plot and structure and maintain continuity Step back from your work and become your own ruthless editor The rise of e-books has opened up the publishing world, even to non-established writers. If you have a story you're dying to tell but aren't sure how, Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies is the clear, concise solution you need.

Download or read book Wonderbook written by Jeff VanderMeer and published by Abrams. This book was released on 2018-07-03 with total page 867 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now expanded: The definitive visual guide to writing science fiction and fantasy—with exercises, diagrams, essays by superstar authors, and more. From the New York Times-bestselling, Nebula Award-winning author, Wonderbook has become the definitive guide to writing science fiction and fantasy by offering an accessible, example-rich approach that emphasizes the importance of playfulness as well as pragmatism. It also embraces the visual nature of genre culture and employs bold, full-color drawings, maps, renderings, and visualizations to stimulate creative thinking. On top of all that, it features sidebars and essays—most original to the book—from some of the biggest names working in the field today, among them George R. R. Martin, Lev Grossman, Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, Charles Yu, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Karen Joy Fowler. For the fifth anniversary of the original publication, Jeff VanderMeer has added fifty more pages of diagrams, illustrations, and writing exercises, creating the ultimate volume of inspiring advice. “One book that every speculative fiction writer should read to learn about proper worldbuilding.” —Bustle “A treat . . . gorgeous to page through.” —Space.com

Download or read book The Art of Fiction written by John Gardner and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2010-08-18 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This classic guide, from the renowned novelist and professor, has helped transform generations of aspiring writers into masterful writers—and will continue to do so for many years to come. John Gardner was almost as famous as a teacher of creative writing as he was for his own works. In this practical, instructive handbook, based on the courses and seminars that he gave, he explains, simply and cogently, the principles and techniques of good writing. Gardner’s lessons, exemplified with detailed excerpts from classic works of literature, sweep across a complete range of topics—from the nature of aesthetics to the shape of a refined sentence. Written with passion, precision, and a deep respect for the art of writing, Gardner’s book serves by turns as a critic, mentor, and friend. Anyone who has ever thought of taking the step from reader to writer should begin here.

Download or read book A Writer s Workbook written by Caroline Sharp and published by St. Martin's Griffin. This book was released on 2016-05-10 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Aspiring doctors have medical school. Karate students have belts of different colors. Pianists have scales and arpeggios. But what system do writers have for getting and staying "in shape," to help them focus, practice, and make progress? A Writer's Workbook is Caroline Sharp's ingenious collection of exercises to inspire, encourage, warm up, and jump-start anyone who writes. A wise and funny friend who will cheerlead you through even your darkest can't-write days and "every idea I've ever had is awful" nights, she provides encouraging suggestions, hilarious observations, and an amazingly vivid catalogue of writers' neuroses (with advice on overcoming them, of course). From "Roget's Resume" and "Emulating Ernest" to "End Well," "The Rewrite Rut," and "Dear John," the exercises in this generous, wry workbook will keep your ideas fresh, your mind open, and your pen moving.

Download or read book Step Out of Your Story written by Kim Schneiderman and published by New World Library. This book was released on 2015-06-01 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: REFRAME YOUR STORY, RECLAIM YOUR LIFE Every day we relate stories about our highs and lows, relationships and jobs, heartaches and joys. But do we ever consider the choices we make about how to tell our story? In this groundbreaking book, Kim Schneiderman shows us that by choosing a version that values life lessons and meaningful personal victories we can redirect our energy and narrative toward our desires and goals. It presents character development workouts and life-affirming, liberating exercises for retelling our stories to find redemptive silver linings and reshape our lives. As both a therapist and a writer, Schneiderman knows the power of story. By employing the storytelling techniques she offers, you’ll learn to view your life as a work in progress and understand big-picture story lines in ways that allow you to easily steer your actions and relationships toward redefined — and realistic — “happy endings.”

Download or read book Take Ten for Writers written by Bonnie Neubauer and published by Writer's Digest Books. This book was released on 2009-08-11 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With Take Ten for Writers, it's never been easier to get creative! Each of the 100 exercises in this jam-packed inspirational resource comes with 10 different variables, so every exercise can be done 10 unique times with 10 very different results. That's 1,000 flash writing exercises to keep your pen moving! This exciting follow-up to author Bonnie Neubauer's best-selling Write-Brain Workbook offers even more original prompts to help you: Get into the habit of writing without the burden of weighty expectations--write for the pure fun of it. Write fast in ten-minute bursts without over-thinking or over-editing your work--no self-censoring allowed! Learn how to weave details into your writing to paint a more realistic, tactile picture with your words--be specific and write with intent. Celebrate your writing accomplishments without comparing your work to that of others--every piece you finish is an achievement to be acknowledged! Whether you're a fiction or nonfiction writer, poet, artist, teacher, student, scrapbooker, or lover of words, Take Ten for Writers can help unleash your own writing passion. With 1,000 exercises guaranteed to get the words flowing, you'll come back to the book again and again to stay motivated, get fresh ideas, and keep writer's block at bay for good!

Download or read book Writing from the Senses written by Laura Deutsch and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2014-05-13 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sensory details that infuse our everyday experience—the smell of a favorite dish cooking, the texture of a well-worn coat, hearing a song that reminds you of a person or a time in your life—can be used to add richness and spark to what we write. Whether you are a professional writer (or want to be one) or someone who just enjoys writing for the joy of self-expression, Writing from the Senses will show you how to tap into an endless source of engaging material, using your senses as prompts. Laura Deutsch explores all kinds of writing—from memoir and journaling to fiction, journalism, poetry, travel, food writing, and more.

Download or read book The fantasy fiction formula written by Deborah Chester and published by Manchester University Press. This book was released on 2016-01-01 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There's more to writing a successful fantasy story than building a unique world or inventing new magic. How exactly is a plot put together? How do you know if your idea will support an entire novel? How do you grab reader attention and keep it? How do you create dynamic, multi-dimensional characters? What is viewpoint and do you handle it differently in urban fantasy than in traditional epics? What should you do if you're lost in the middle? How do you make your plot end up where you intend it to go? From the writing of strong, action-packed scenes to the handling of emotions, let award-winning fantasy author Deborah Chester guide you through the process of putting a book together. Convinced there's no need to shroud the writing process under a veil of mystery, Chester supplies tips that are both practical and proven. They are exactly what she uses in writing her own novels and what she teaches in her writing courses at the University of Oklahoma. Along with explaining story construction step-by-step, Chester illustrates each technique with examples drawn from both traditional and urban fantasy. The technique chapters include exercises to assist novices in mastering the craft of writing fantasy as well as suggestions for avoiding or solving plot problems. More experienced writers will find tips for taking their work to the next level. With an introduction by author Jim Butcher, The fantasy fiction formula provides the information you need to gain skill and proficiency in writing fantasy like a pro.

Download or read book What If written by Anne Bernays and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 1991-11-20 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What If? is the first handbook for writers based on the idea that specific exercises are one of the most useful and provocative methods for mastering the art of writing fiction. With more than twenty-five years of experience teaching creative writing between them, Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter offer more than seventy-five exercises for both beginners and more experienced writers. These exercises are designed to develop and refine two basic skills: writing like a writer and, just as important, thinking like a writer. They deal with such topics as discovering where to start and end a story; learning when to use dialogue and when to use indirect discourse; transforming real events into fiction; and finding language that both sings and communicates precisely. What If? will be an essential addition to every writer's library, a welcome and much-used companion, a book that gracefully borrows a whisper from the muse.

Download or read book Bang The Keys written by Jill Dearman and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2009-08-04 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Attention aspiring and working writers alike! Finish your work in four easy steps with this explosion of inspiration. How can aspiring writers-whether aiming for a short story, novel, screenplay, or nonfiction work-gain the confidence they need to follow through on their creative visions.... The answer can be found in this book by a writing coach and university writing professor whose "Bang the Keys" workshop stems from an innovative four-step system that offers practical advice for demonstrated results every time. Step 1: Begin with the strongest idea. Step 2: Arrange the work into a concrete shape. Step 3: Nurture the project with love, so that others can love it, too. Step 4: Go finish, and then let it go so it may live independently in the world. Also included are practical writing exercises that will give readers the tools and the inspiration to finish the writing projects they start ... or bust their fingers trying!

Download or read book Getting the Knack written by Stephen Dunning and published by National Council of Teachers. This book was released on 1992 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduces different kinds of poems, including headline, letter, recipe, list, and monologue, and provides exercises in writing poems based on both memory and imagination.