Product Description
Discover the secrets of writing the thriller film in this book which will have your audiences on the edge of their seats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

intelligent
This is one of the best books on film I've read and studied. The author goes into detail about the components a good number of the basic genres, not just the Thriller. He also makes a call to have a positive influence on the state of the world through film communication.In my view, the true power of film has barely been tapped into.The time is now to create films of empowering enlightenment as opposed to crippling propoganda.

What is this supposed to be?
I thought I was buying a book about writing a thriller screenplay.I don't know what the heck this book is supposed to be.I have a college degree and a law degree, I've published a number of stories and four novels, I've sold a screenplay, and I've read all kinds of books and articles about screenwriting -- and I don't understand how this book is a screenwriting book.It reminds me of some of the sociology professors I used to have, who used Very Big Words to make it sound like they were saying something important.The Cosmos of Credibility?The Genre Continuum?Narrative Trajectory?Character Ethos?Metaphysical Defiance?Give me a break.

50% great and that's enough
Using several, although repetitive, examples from various films, Hicks clearly defines a thriller film. This alone is worth the price. The word thriller is so often thrown around these days, that it's true form is very hard to find. After reading his book, I realized I wasn't writing a thriller at all. Very key information that helped me solve a few holes.

Upon completion you will clearly understand the thriller genre and be able to explain it to others. As far as helping you write a thriller film goes, well isn't defining the genre necessary before writing it? A worthy purchase.

The BEST there is on the Thiller genre
Neill Hicks is a GENRE-OLOGIST of the highest degree.The author takes you on a tightly writtern journey into the conventions and principles of the Thriller genre.Just like a well told story, this non-fiction delight will have you saying "Oh Yeah, that's right" over and over.I have returned to his chapter "Character Ethos" multiple times, finding more depth in each reading.Even if you don't want to write a Thriller, this work will help you grasp the nuances of genre in general.Written with authority and humor, I highly recommend this book.

Terrific Book -- A Must-Have
First, a disclaimer:Hicks and I share a publisher (Michael Wiese Productions) but we've never met.That being said, this is a terrific book. Hicks clearly lays out the elements necessary to create a tight, emotionally-satisfying thriller.He outlines the narrative structure of a solid thriller in clear, helpful language, and goes on to explain the characteristics of a strong protagonist and antagonist.He also offers an explanation of the differences between an action film, a detective film, a horror film and a thriller -- and he provides examples and script excerpts from great thrillers (such as North By Northwest and Breakdown) to demonstrate his ideas.If you want to write a thriller script, or just get a better idea of what it takes to create and structure a solid thriller, this is the book for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

From Maps to Rubrics:
When writing rubrics were first introduced to the teaching of composition, instructors thought that we had finally created the ideal tool for assessing student writing.It seemed that writing rubrics were all that we would ever need to formalize and guide our assessments.Bob Broad challenges the idea that traditional rubrics can effectively chart each of the criteria by which we really assess writing in our classrooms.

The dominant metaphor Broad employs to demonstrate the inadequacy of writing rubrics involves early attempts at creating geographical maps.Such an attempt to map various landmasses adorns the cover of the book.The result of is what looks, by today's standards, to be a distorted and rudimentary sketch of what the continents "really" look like.In short, these maps were both inaccurate and useful.

Similarly, Broad argues that rubrics, while extremely useful, are also highly inaccurate in charting the things that we "really value" in assessing writing.Broad also outlines a method of assessing writing which abandons the concept of rubric and embraces a more comprehensive mapping of the things we value in writing.

This book is both revolutionary and inspiring.Years of using rubrics have convinced writing teachers that the scope of criteria by which they can assess student writing is quite limited.Instructors often assess writing by examining and commenting only upon grammar and mechanics; Broad's argument opens new avenues for instructors to look critically at many other important criteria.The best thing about the book, however, is that Broad creates practical and useful methods for assessing those seemingly intangible criteria we really value yet rarely assess.

Broad's "What We Really Value" only begins the process of"mapping" writing assessment.Much like ancient maps, the rubrics we currently use to assess writing fail to adequately represent the things we really value in writing.Broad's book makes it clear that this is the time to acknowledge the terrain that rubrics fail to chart and develop ways of exploring those uncharted areas. ... Read more

Product Description
I Hate Writing may be the only "page-turner" textbook out there. J.M. Bohannon gives her readers invaluable writing advice, using an uplifting, modern voice tinged with humor. She takes her readers through the stages of writing a paper, giving detailed advice on how to find topics, turn ideas into words, and organize those words into coherent paragraphs with seemless transitions. She shows her readers how to revise their own work and through her "Critical Q's" teaches them to become critical readers. She also explains how to find outside sources and how to include those sources in a paper. "Too many students approach writing at the university level as a scientist approaches a volatile experiment:with protective suit, goggles, gloves, and forceps.They struggle to write without contaminating that writing with anything resembling personality. Don't let that student be you. Your unique voice should blast through your writing, letting everyone know there's a person behind your words." ... Read more

Product Description
This concise, affordable text offers complete coverage of the writing process, strategies using the rhetorical models, and a reader--all in one text. Step-by-step instruction in the writing process is accessible to the reader, with opportunities to practice using these successful strategies. ... Read more

Product Description
In Bringing the Devil to His Knees: The Craft of Fiction and the Writing Life, seventeen award-winning writers--all expert teachers--share the secrets of creating compelling, imaginative stories and novels. A combination handbook, writer's companion, and collection of spirited personal essays, the book is filled with specific examples, hard-won wisdom, and compassionate guidance for the developing or experienced fiction writer.
Each of the contributors is a current or former lecturer at the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers, one of the most highly respected writing programs in the country. Included are essays by Charles Baxter, Robert Boswell, Karen Brennan, Judith Grossman, Ehud Havazelet, C. J. Hribal, Margot Livesey, Michael Martone, Kevin McIlvoy, Pablo Medina, Antonya Nelson, Susan Neville, Richard Russo, Steven Schwartz, Jim Shepard, Joan Silber, Debra Spark, Peter Turchi, and Chuck Wachtel.
Rich with masterful examples and personal anecdotes, these imaginative essays provide hard-earned insight into a writer's work. The book will interest not only those seeking inspiration and guidance to become stronger writers, but also readers of contemporary literary fiction, who will find a number of surprising and original approaches to the writer's work by award-winning practitioners adept at teaching others what they know.
Charles Baxter is author of several novels, including The Feast of Love, Shadow Play, and First Light. and collections of stories including Believers and A Relative Stranger. He teaches writing at the University of Michigan. Peter Turchi is author of the novel The Girls Next Door, a collection of stories, Magician, and a book of non-fiction, The Pirate Prince. He is Director of the MFA Program for Writers, Warren Wilson College.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An Exorcist's Education
I'd say the value of any book on writing can be based on its ability to instruct or inspire.Most people buying these kinds of books are looking for advice on how to be better writers, or simply the spark that'll get them started.(I'm not counting the thornier issue of publication.)This collection of talks/essays from the Warren Wilson MFA writing program includes the following:

"Omniscience," Russo -- Claims that the all-knowing third person narrator is the most mature and thereby most desirable literary perspective.A little pompous in places, but entertaining (like most of Russo's work) and almost convincing.4/5

"Know Myself," Shepard -- Argues that epiphanies are the siren songs of literature: authors think they need them, but they ruin plots.A compelling essay, but mostly it's just an evaluative praise piece for Robert Stone's short story, "Helping."4/5

"Iago," Neville -- A treatise on how evil (or Evil) is the fire in the belly of all great stories.Juicy, insightful, and an all-around inspiring essay.5/5

"Voice," Schwartz -- Short and too-the-point, and yet it resists all attempts at summation.Schwartz takes a complicated and overly-trendy subject -- how writers find their "voice" and what that even means -- and makes it relatable and workable.5/5

"Mask," Wachtel -- Long, pointless, and over-written.Not only does the author fail to make any relevant or specific points at all, but he even admits as much at the end of the essay.Tries (and fails) to do in 17 pages what the previous essay just did in 6.0/5

"Weight," Silber -- Brief and forgettable essay on perspective that makes a few interesting comparisons but fails to come to any real conclusions.3/5

"Form," Havazelet -- Uses Chekov to describe how authors should seduce readers with proper form.He leaves the term "form" purposefully vague, and the essay turns into a deep, analytical discussion of the various symbolisms used in Chekov's stories.Certainly interesting, but notparticularly applicable.3/5

"Inflection," Baxter -- Goes over a few ways to provide emphasis and timing to inanimate text (without resorting to ellipses and italics).A nuts and bolts kind of essay that I agreed with but was also fairly bored by.2/5

"First and Last," Spark -- An essay on opening and closing lines.The premise could easily turn into an excuse to list a bunch of interesting first and last sentences, but Spark actually leaves you thinking.4/5

"Memory," Brennan - The author uses a tragic personal event to discuss how literature is an attempt to make sense of the world's random confluence of events.Touching and beautifully written, but also pretty opaque.3/5

"Spandrels," Boswell - Perhaps my favorite essay in the book, Boswell discusses how fiction evolves from concept to finished product.The idea that any good story contains the seeds for its own proper ornamentation is fascinating and it also gets the creative juices flowing.5/5

"Scene Beast," Hribal - A decent exploration of how to feed your audience's hunger for something to happen.Hribal discusses ways to sate that "scene beast," sometimes without actual scenes.Clever and fun.5/5

"Cartographer," Turchi - Intelligent and illuminating essay on both perspective and destination in writing.The subject is vast, but Turchi doesn't labor over any points and uses the topic to both entertain and educate.5/5

"Jokes," Nelson - Discusses the shape and mechanism of jokes and how that can inspire better writing.Intriguing points, but mostly inert.3/5

"Ruins," Martone - Talks about ways that authors "ruin" their stories (read: buck trends for the sake of aesthetic principal).Ruins his own essay with lots of over-written meandering.1/5

"Editors," McIlvoy - Basically a love letter to Stephen Crane and an affectionate analysis of his story, "The Open Boat."Suitably scholastic, but not really useful.3/5

"Democracy," Medina - A complaint about the trend to nationalize authors and their works.I agree with the author, but can't understand how such an essay can be expected to assist writers.1/5

"Readers," Grossman - A debate on whether or not it is useful or advisable to consider the audience when writing a piece.An excellent topic for an essay, but it isn't very thoroughly explored here.3/5

"Truth," Livesey - Analyzing the concept of "true" stories.Clever but pointless essay.2/5

A Must for Any Serious Writer
Serious, well-written, thoughtful and engaging. For any writer who seriously wants to pursue the craft of fiction, this is a must.

Intimacy with the Devil
Although this book wasn't necessarily riveting, envisioning the devil at the heart of fiction writing is most intriguing.Baxter and Turchi combine essays and anecdotesdealing with issues on, technique, devices, and strategies.These anecdotes allow the reader to engage in a sort of dialogue with other published writers who may experience similar problems with creating fiction.

In this book the Devil is interpreted as inhibition; what ever is keeping the writer from writing.But it is the intimacy with this Devil (bringing Him to His knees) that is necessary in order to progress as a fiction writer.This Devil teaches the writer more about him/herself than anything else, as long as he is acknowldged and entertained. ... Read more

Product Description
If you want to write romance and be a professional writer then this book is a must for you. Following on from the success of the first edition of this book, which won a major award, this guide explains what is meant by romance and takes you through the process of writing emotion and conflict. The author explains how dialogue should be natural between your heroine and her hero and she explains the difference between sensuality and passion. With an expanded text and more true insider-secrets this is a must for all writers of romance, whether professional or amateur.In this book you will learn: how to write emotion and create PTQ (page turning quality); why dialogue is the lifeblood of your novel; and, the importance of 'after' and why the intense black moment in romance is so important. The book will appeal to: all students taking courses to improve their creative writing skills; post 16-Level students and first-year undergraduates on creative writing and creative studies degrees; adult education centres including WEA; teachers, tutors and lecturers; school libraries, reference and public libraries; and, University and college central libraries. It is ideal for undergraduates. The related titles in the series include: "Writing TV Scripts"; "Writing Historical Fiction"; "Starting to Write" and "Writing Crime". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Truly MAGNIFICENT!!!
This book is a MUST HAVE if you are writing a Romance novel.It is one of the few books on writing that ACTUALLY HELPS.If you are having plotting problems, trouble developing your characters, or you find yourself dreading time in front of the computer screen because it just isn't happening--there is hope!There is Kate Walker's book.Buy it.Read it.Rejoice!This book is truly all you need.

Perfection
I have bought this book from the point of view of a frustrated writer. Ms. Walker takes so much time explaining matters that have defeated me in the past. Its been a wonderful experience, I learned so much that I can use in my day to day writing. Ms. Walker has given me hope for the future.

One of the best how to books I have ever read. I am going to polish up my manuscript using the knowledge gained from this book.

A must read for anyone who wants to write fiction!
This is a wonderfully written book.I've been writing for some time but it wasn't until I read this book that I realized why my writing wasn't working.This is a MUST read for anyone who wants to write fiction.Easy to read, to understand, and right to the point.

Read it...you won't be disappointed...in fact you'll wish you'd read it sooner.

I was told she's coming out with an updated edition, so watch for that.

Where's the second edition?
This is a fabulous book! But the 1st edition is out of stock....! Amazon, why aren't you carring the newly-released second edition?

A great guide
Kate Walker is a seasoned professional writer. Her first novel was published way back in 1984. She has written over fifty books and currently has two Harlequin Presents books out this year.

This book explains: how to write emotion and create page turning quality. How to create conflict amidst your characters and why it is a major essential component of your novel. Why dialogue is the lifeblood of your knowledge. How to make dialogue sound realistic. How to make your characters real. How to create the required sharp focus on your hero and heroine. How to develop supporting characters that work. Why flashbacks are important in some stories and how to create them in your novel. Why sensuality is imporant and how to develop sensuality between your hero and heroine. How to pace the development of the romance that is occurring between your hero and heroine. How to write the love scene between your hero and heroine and the importance of 'after'. The importance of the hero and his essential 'vital' vulnerability'. The filter role of the heroine for the reader. The heroine's 21st century response to conflict. How to answer the question 'why?'. How to write the intense black moment and why it is so important. She also has a chapter devoted to the practicalities - agents, market study, rejection, revisions, synopsis', queries etc.

In short the book covers everything that romance writer needs to develop their craft.I found this book to be pretty comprehensive and clearly laid out. If you are serious about writing then this book should be on your shelf. ... Read more

Product Description
The Beginnings of Writing, Third Edition is the best illustrated single source on young children's writing development--from scribbles and invented spelling to composition. This new edition provides the most careful attention to children's development--to what the children are trying to do as they write. It improves on the earlier editions with more teaching suggestions for emergent literacy and detailed guidelines for making reading-writing connections in a productive learning environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great teacher tool!
This book has given me many new ideas for teaching writing to young students. It is full of examples of children's work and includes much helpful information. Check it out. ... Read more

Product Description
Most writing is done under pressure.An executive has to produce a three-page position paper by tomorrow at nine. A department head suddenly has to write a one-page action memo by noon.A graduate student has a twenty-page research paper due in a week.Yet, while most students and professionals write under pressure--with limited time, limited space, and a supervisor or instructor to please--few approach the task systematically.

In Writing Under Pressure, Sanford Kaye, a renowned expert on the subject, presents a system he calls the Quick Writing Process (QWP) that focuses on real-world writing tasks and demonstrates how to produce the clearest, most honest, most powerful work possible under the constraints of time and space.A writing instructor with twenty-five years' experience teaching students and professionals in business and government, Kaye tells writers how to budget their time and how to use this time efficiently.

Exploring particular writing situations in which QWP can be applied to make the most of what the writer knows, Kaye discusses the process of taking exams, focusing on how instructors select questions and evaluate essays.He also considers writing in business and government, featuring an insightful analysis of a memo written by Colonel Oliver North.This memo highlights one of the most important issues writers in business and government face: whether to write the truth as they see it or simply what their bosses want to hear.Presenting a wealth of such examples, Kaye reveals how to break through stifling organizational codes in order to write memos and position papers that count.

While most guides to writing ignore the constraints of time and space, Writing Under Pressure tackles these problems head on, making it an essential reference for students, business professionals, government officials, or anyone else faced with a difficult writing assignment that has to be done now. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

An attempt to create a formula for writing


I can understand Sanford Kaye's objective: provide a program that take the angst out of having to write in high pressure environments, such as a test or presentation at the office. That the author is an academic and his target is primarily students skews this work in a direction it shouldn't really go - and Kaye's sallies into the politics of his day doesn't help matters.

Kaye drops nuggets like "Your goal is a process which allows you to write efficiently and confidently for a reader whom you have placed in an appropriate relationship to your words, and whose questions you have anticipated within the planned structure of your essay, memo, or exam." I can think of a half-dozen ways to express Kaye's meaning in an understandable form, not swaddled with academic window dressing that chokes the meaning out of words. "Conscious, careful selection, whether the representation is a word, symbol, or underlying metaphor, is crucial to both power and clarity in prose." Muddled way of suggesting that you understand the language and choose your words carefully.

Statements like this make up the bulk of this book. The advice is good, but not exceptional. The writing style is dry and dull. The excursions into the politics of the day back then are meaningless to contemporary readers as they were probably at the time.

For the writer who reacts adversely to time pressure, there are many other more generalized books on writing which do the job better.

Jerry

The "Extra" Art History Textbook: A Writing Manual Roundup
"Art history textbooks are dry, encyclopedic, and non-controversial. They include every work of art except our favorites. We hear these complaints often, but nonetheless we use them. One way to spice up a course is to add extra readings. Some extras are practical references, such as writing manuals. Others cover theory or support specific assignments. This is the first in a series of posts on extra textbooks."

"For students struggling to finish well-structured essays during exams I recommend Sanford Kaye'sWriting under Pressure: The Quick Writing Process. It discusses the writing and grading of essay exams from both a student's and an instructor's viewpoint, which is insightful to both."

Excerpt from my blog entry The "Extra" Art History Textbook: A Writing Manual Roundup: http://arthistoriansatwork.blogspot.com/2008/12/extra-art-history-textbook-writing.html

Quick and complete.
More than a how to write fast manual this book addresses the process of writing from start to finish. The steps are laid out in an easy to follow fashion with gems like "talent is the result of consistent practice" dispensed along the way.The author advocates a structured thought process without falling into the programmatic do's and don'ts of the ordinary writing text.In summary, great for a new writer or rusty writer looking for a writing framework to make the process easier.If you already have an efficient writing stlye then not needed, for the rest of us, great book.

A great reference book - you will refer to it many times!!!
I've had this book since the first paperback edition came out in 1990, and have referred to it many times over the years.The material is well layed out, easy to read and more importantly, easy to apply!You definitely won't regret buying this book!

This is the Writing book you want on your shelf
When I first got into college, I had absolutely no idea how to
write. I had written papers in high school, yet it had always been an agonizing process. As a result, I dreaded every paper assignment, and put off writing until the last minute. Then, one day, in the midst of such procrastination, I discovered this book on the library's shelf.

Shelved between two books on grammar, this book looked like another long-winded treatise on sentence construction. Yet after opening the book, I was pleasantly surprised.

Sanford Kaye's book, Writing Under Pressure, puts forth an interesting, well thought out strategy for writing papers.Through a case study, and then specific applications, he outlines his strategy in a clear, easily understandable way that is immediately applicable.Yet this is not this book's main strength. Kaye clearly loves writing, and he communicates this in a way that makes the reader feel the same way. Now, this is the book I turn to whenever I feel overwhelmed by a writing task. So if you are looking for a book on writing, or even if you are not, you cannot do better than Sanford Kaye's Writing Under Pressure. ... Read more

Product Description

Written by a veteran Associated Press sports writer, this handbook arms aspiring and working sports reporters, broadcasters, and photographers with exactly what they need to know to make it to the top in the glamorous and exciting world of sports journalism. With the help of dozens of fascinating and instructive quotes and war stories, contributed by heavy hitters like Dave Goldberg, Jim Litke, Alan Robinson, Joan Ryan, and other top AP sports reporters, the book tutors readers in the core techniques and methodology of sports writing, while at the same time exploring the important professional aspects of the business: how to get started and make a name for yourself; local, national, and feature writing; how the Internet is changing the face of sports writing; and where the business is headed over the next decade.

Customer Reviews (2)

Please, dumb it down for me.
To call this a handbook is a joke. That implies it is for professionals working in the field. In reality, it's dumbed down to a junior high level and seems to be written for kids who think they want to be sports writers when they grow up.
That's nice, but I bought the book after making a career change and was hoping to find useful information about my new field. Unfortunately, I found none here.

Basic Introduction to Sports Writing
This handbook is a very basic introduction to sports writing. It's written at what appears to be a junior high/high school level for kids looking at sportscasting as a career. I was expecting something a little more comprehensive, something along the lines of an MLA styleguide...But, then again, it is "just" sports writing. Doesn't take a genius, I guess! ... Read more

Product Description
"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on  a land mine. The land mine is me. After the  explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the  pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!"  Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities  every writer must have, as well as a spirit of  adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable  Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and  excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are  practical tips on the art of writing from a master of  the craft-everything from finding original ideas to  developing your own voice and style-as well as the  inside story of Bradbury's own remarkable career  as a prolific author of novels, stories, poems,  films, and plays. Zen In The Art Of  Writing is more than just a how-to manual for the  would-be writer: it is a celebration of the act of  writing itself that will delight, impassion, and  inspire the writer in you. In it, Bradbury  encourages us to follow the unique path of our instincts  and enthusiasms to the place where our inner genius  dwells, and he shows that success as a writer  depends on how well you know one subject: your own  life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Not for the casual Bradbury fan
A modest collection of essays and book introductions from one of the legends of genre fiction.The topic is something Bradbury knows very well - the art of writing fiction.Essentially, he recommends creating lists, practicing copiously, and approaching one's art with gusto.

Bradbury advises would-be writers to start with a simple noun that catches their interest and write prose poems on the subject until they find their characters.That accomplished, simply allow the characters to tell their own story.It works for Bradbury, but will it work for you?Not necessarily, since this reader can't recall any other writer whose work so much resembles prose poems as Bradbury's.And keeping that in mind, one might have hoped for a variety of strategies that took into account differences in writers, in genres, in the state of the publishing industry... perhaps one hoped for too much.

Bradbury's descriptions of the origins of some of his more famous stories were fairly interesting, but to readers only marginally familiar with his work, these would probably fall pretty flat.The chapter of poetry was not impressive at all.Best part of this book - the additional paragraphs written for Fahrenheit 451.Would-be writers who are seriously trying to write like Bradbury might find it worthwhile to learn about his methodology and garner some inspiration, but fans of his fiction will find little of interest here.

Paradox
Let it be noted that this justly famous author, who has written a book on Zen, also received the nation's highest civilian honor from George W. Bush! Hardly a Zen-likepresident by any stretch!

Positive Review
Ray Bradbury is one of a kind, and I've loved all his books. This is different and far more personal, but it is also an excellent read. It contains plenty of good tips for science fiction writers or fiction writers in general of any genre. I believe Mr. Bradbury was anxious to share his inspiration with younger writers, as well as to all writers. I know that there are many of us who could benefit from this very kind book, from one of the greatest of the great true sci-fi writers. Thank you, Mr. Bradbury! John

Ray Bradbury, the Writer's Cheerleader
Ray Bradbury's enthusiasm about writing is like fireworks on the Fourth of July. His encouragement to other writers is electric. For the price of admission, readers get 10 solid essays on the craft, showing us how to "tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." What a deal.

A Classic!
This book has been a powerful influence in both my writing and my teaching about writing. And I'm certain several of his concepts and ideas crept into my own book about writing, The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write. Bradbury is a master storyteller and a master teacher of storytelling. Long may he write! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

A must have for anyone who writes, reads, or breathes.
In this detailed guide to writing poetry, Chad Davidson and Greg Fraser--each accomplished poets and professors in their own right--pull back the curtain and give light on the process of writing behind strong poetry. With examples from Eliot, Frost, Dickinson, and students, they illustrate a broad spectrum of the genre and explain the work that goes into writing strong poetry. Through illustrating necessary writing habits, providing engaging exercises, and critically analyzing existing poetry, Davidson and Fraser show what strong writing looks like, how one critically converses with it, and how it is that you get there yourself. This book is an absolute must for anyone interested in poetry, whether it be in writing it, analyzing it, or simply reading it.

An essential text for poetry teachers AND writers
Davidson and Fraser's central argument (that you can't have good poetry without a solid understanding of criticism--and vice versa) bolsters their fundamental belief in the creative rigor that being either a poet or a critic requires. Their nuts-and-bolts calisthenics strengthen the mechanisms of the craft through analyzing and emulating the poetic techniques of both legends and learners. Rather than being a stolid poetry-writing book, this text will appeal to anyone interested in establishing, developing, or honing his or her creative writing skills. ... Read more

Product Description
Storytelling qualities such as plot and character development often take a back seat in erotic fiction--and why shouldn't they? The reader picks up a dirty book for one reason: to be turned on, right? So why should a writer bother with all that craft stuff? +++ But what if there were more to it than that? What if readers wanted a real novel with a real story that satisfied emotionally and intellectually--as well as erotically? +++ It's possible to craft a story to satisfy those readers. This book will show you how. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Neither erotic nor original
This book was a total waste of money. Most of it is derivative of other, better books on the craft of writing. It mostly repeats general information on character and story development and offers zero insight into the craft of writing about the erotic, unless you consider lists of words for genitals or actions insightful.

Skip this and go directly for "The Joy of Writing Sex" by Elizabeth Benedict.

Not just for novice writers--not just for erotica
Experienced writers, as well as novices like myself, will find lots of value here. Any genre of fiction--not just erotica--will benefit from this book.
Thorn has the talent of a skilled teacher: Clear, understandable explanations; economy in his use of words; stimulating and interesting content.
In 122 pages, Thorn accomplishes more than most books twice this length. "Conflicting Desires" is a superb summary of the principles and techniques for writing fiction, with constant application to erotica.

Great learning tool for new writers like me
I love this book. I've edited about 6-7 books, and although I'm running out of words, I recommend this book. I find it helpful for me...perhaps you will too. I suggest you buy it.

writing erotica
Would recommend if you're writing romance with a bit of 'zaz'. Did help me decide what would be acceptable in general romantic fiction and what would not.

Wonderful
This book packs so much information on the craft of writing erotica. The only drawback is that it's to short. The author covers every aspect that a writer can run into trouble on and includes ways to jump start your writing, and a lexicon. Extremely pleased with this book. It is very through and makes use of all its pages. ... Read more

Product Description
The lonely life of a writer need not be. According to this book, there are ways to break that isolation and find encouragement and support within groups of like-minded people. Sections include "Writing Practice Groups," "Creating Writing Prompts," "Group Leadership," and even "What to Do with the Bores, Whiners, Control Junkies, and Thugs." Whether the group is oriented toward writing the great American novel or a book of family memories, this useful guide offers an array of effective techniques to help writers achieve their goals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

She does it again!!
This is a great resource, whether you are trying to piece together your own writing group, deciding how to choose a group to join, or hoping to reinvigorate your current group. Ms. Reeves offers plenty of practical advice, with true-to-life examples. This is a great follow-up to her collection of writing prompts, A Writer's Book of Days, which I have used almost daily for the past four years!

Writing Alone, Writing Together/No longer alone.
As a lifetime lone writer, I owe Judy Reeves for pulling me-and other fellow writers-out of our caves. This review is not to undermine other books on the subject, for they all have contributed much. What is different about her book, is that words come from the heart with such a direct and deep understanding, they have no other way but to settle in the reader's heart. It sometimes soundss like she knows-and it matters to her-that we benefit from it. As someone who has worked with many writer's groups, she knows their doubts and confusions. Not only does she address the problems of writing in a group, but reveals solutions to help us deal with what we so affectionately call the "block". Although her second book does talk of "writing alone", it succeeds to open a new door to the pleasures and benefits of "writing together". Not only is the book a master's guide for the lost writer, but she connects with the reader and shows how to stop the distraction before it stops the artist. To me, this is a constant guide to fall back on time and again. It is a pleasure to share it with friends and I'll continue to make a gift of it to other fellow writers.

A Writing Guru For Our Time
With this book, Judy Reeves secures her place as the best "writer about writing" we have. In this finely crafted work, as well as in her "A Writer's Book of Days," Ms. Reeves has single-handedly rescued thousands of writers from the fears and insecurities that can cripple even the most talented scribes. If you are serious about writing, wait no longer--BUY THIS BOOK, and write, write, write!

Comprehensive, practical, and inspiring guide to writing
I found this book very helpful with the nitty gritty stuff about organizing my writing and working with a critique group and classes. It was also quite inspiring and full of ideas about how to write, where to write, who to write with, how to critique, how to revise, etc.

It helped enormously when three other writers and I formed an online critique group. Any questions we had, the book answered. It also gave invaluable suggestions for improving our group and our writing.

The author, Judy Reeves, has lead all kinds of writing groups and classes and gives concrete examples of what works best. Her book is well-organized, and an enjoyable read to boot.

Superb Resource for All Writers
Judy Reeves' latest writer's helper is chock full of supportive hints, tremendous insights and guidelines to forming, participating and getting the most out of a writing group. In her clear, concise and genial manner, Ms. Reeves breaks down the "ins & outs" of what writing groups can offer to either neophyte or established writers. It is apparent that Ms. Reeves has garnered much understanding and is excited to share information on how to participate in a writing group-the pages and margins of this book are brimming with assignments, suggestions, prompts, quotes, checklists, everything a writer might need to get going. This book walks the reader/writer through scenarios and suggestions, offering advice of how to start or find an established group and what to do once you are there. She hits on some of the basics, like how to make time to write in our busy lives, to understanding the "Qualities of a Good Group, all the way to dealing with the dreaded "Bores, Whiners and Thugs." She's masterfully included a "how to" guide for the process of reading and critiquing other's people's work.Her "Guidelines for Writing Practice" are worth the cost of this book alone. As with her previous book, "A Writer's Book of Days," Judy Reeves goes for the bull's eye and gets it. ... Read more

Product Description
With endorsements from two of the largest and most influential public speaking groups -- the National Speakers Association and Toastmasters International -- this book is written by an expert speechwriter whose eloquent voice leads readers through the difficult process of writing a great speech.In these pages a seasoned speechwriter reveals his trade secrets - from analyzing the needs of an audience to leaving them with a satisfying sense of closure - as he guides readers through the process of planning, writing, and honing an outstanding speech. Readers will discover effective ways to connect with an audience, explain concepts, and support ideas, learn how to time and cut a speech when necessary. The bottom line? When readers have finished this book, they will be well on their way to making their next big speech a big success!Anyone -- from a businessperson to a community member -- who wants to learn the skills necessary to write and deliver a memorable speech. Part of the Essence of Public Speaking Series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Writing Great Speeches
I got this book for a charity auction where I was to give a speech. Among others on the market, I found this to be a valuable resource. The tips offered could benefit those whose jobs require public speaking as well as anyone who needs to give even a small presentation to a group of people. I would recommend it for sales, but for speeches and presentations, the information is very informative and helpful.

Necessary for any great speech
I had an important ceremony coming up and I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to wow the crowd.This book gave me enough good ideas to research, write, and deliver a great speech. I had three goals for my speech:Establish myself as a great speaker, make the audience understand that I had written a great speech, and bring the receipient to the point of tears.

I did just that.The crowd was taken aback by my speech and that speech ended up being the one thing that everyone remembered about that evening.

I strongly encourage anyone who has a speaking engagement coming up to read this book.It will give you the guidance necessary to write a great speech regardless of the reason.

Best Public Speaking Book for analytical & intense reader
In architecture schools considerable time is spent on materials for building. The potential of the materials determines what can be built and how it will look and feel. How is it that other public speaking books spend so little time on choosing the right word. Perlman spends a great deal of effort on teaching how to find and select the right word. He demonstrates how the right word for speaking is different than the right word for written communication. You can be a great writer without being a good speaker, but you can't be a great speaker without being a good writer.

"Writing Great Speeches" is for the analytical or educated reader that can handle a fast and furious pace. A direct approach on how to research and construct well organized speeches. Should be ranked high on anybody's list of excellent books on public speaking. It is the best book in the "Essence of Public Speaking Series." Excellent guidance on how to start writing a speech where you are knowledgeable on the subject and how to research areas that are not your expertise. Excellent chapter on how to pick exactly the right word and why it is important.

No other book covers demonstrating legitimate creditability as well as Perlman. He focuses in on exactly how to write great speeches. Like a fast moving train you are carried down the track of learning the skills with overpowering intensity.

The Appendix of Aids to Quick Creditability is worth the price of the book. It is a refreshing list of reference books the provide a map to rapidly gaining knowledge on any subject.

If you are like me nearly every book I read is disappointing in its content and /or its clarity and hence we read many books when a subject is important to us. Extremely rare do we find books so insightful and tightly written that we read it many times. These special books are so important that they will always stand out in your memory.This may be that book on public speaking for crafting the speech. ... Read more

Product Description
Have you always wanted to chronicle your experience of motherhood, but never knew how to begin? Are you looking for an outlet for self-expression, but can't imagine how you could juggle one more thing? In Writing Motherhood, longtime writing teacher Lisa Garrigues dispels the myth that motherhood is an impediment to creativity. Drawing on her own efforts to balance the demands of motherhood with her dream of writing, she shows readers how everyday life can be a rich source of stories, and how writing can provide a means to both understand and document their experiences. Whether you are a new mother or a grandmother, someone who has long aspired to write or someone who has never written before, Writing Motherhood will help you find your voice and tap into your creative self.

Filled with insight, honesty, and humor, each chapter of Writing Motherhood weaves together stories from the author's life with wisdom from other writers and mothers. In daily writing Invitations, Lisa then encourages readers to tell their own stories. Along the way, she reveals how to:

• Start and fill a Mother's Notebook -- in just fifteen minutes a day.
• Silence the critical voices that stifle creativity.
• Throw away the rules that bind the imagination.
• Carve out the time and space for writing.
• Find a community of other mothers who want to write.

Beautifully written and thought-provoking, this inviting and inspiring book will strike a chord with any mother looking to explore and reflect on her experience of motherhood. Here she will discover that mothering provides endless material for writing at the same time that writing brings clarity and wisdom to mothering. Writing Motherhood is an essential guide for mothers at every age and stage of life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Interesting read
I am the mother of an 8 week old baby, and this book has encouraged me to write in a journal as a keepsake for years to come.I wish my mom wrote in a journal like this for me.I haven't finished the book yet, as it takes time while you are also writing along.As you read, the author gives you writing invitations for you to think about and write down in your journal or Mothers Notebook as she calls it.It is fun for me, and doesn't feel like "one more thing I have to do."I feel good knowing that my son will hopefully value my writing one day when he's old enough to appreciate it.

A Stimulating Prompting from an Experienced Writer, Mother, and Teacher of Writing
I could not put down my new copy of the book Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues. I got it on Thursday and finished it Saturday. I read it while my daughter played on the playground, while she took baths, and while she was napping. It was a thoroughly fun read, and I will keep it on the shelf as a reference for many years to come.

The book centers itself around the very practical "how-to's" of making your own "Mother's Notebook." And yes, we are talking about a hard copy, real deal notebook in the 3-dimensional category. Not blogging, or typing in Word. I was excited to start working on my writing more in the hard copy way after reading this book. I plan to continue to pursue the blogging medium, as I think it has a lot to offer that writing for yourself cannot offer. But keeping a real journal can also serve as a scrapbook or a list-book, and as she points out, holding a pen marks your hands as writer hands. The physical mark of a writer's callus is symbolic for the significance of the writing life and the way it marks us.

The book gets better as you go along. Part One is about the seven ways to start writing your journal, or Motherhood Notebook. Part Two is how to write your "Mother Pages," as she calls them. She encourages you to try to write two "Mother Pages" a day and gives lots of prompts for how to get started. Each chapter in Part Two serves double-duty by giving her example of writing about motherhood- she fills the book with her own stories and collections of memoirs from motherhood. Then she includes examples written by her writing students from the past. Very clever and inspiring methodology, if you ask me, that she demonstrates each exercise (one exercise is "I never thought my husband would be this kind of father..." and she writes her own essay in response to the prompt) as an invitation for the reader to follow suit.

Part Three is a section on what to do after the journal has been written. She offers ideas for sharing your writing, ways to publish your writing, or ideas for why and how to join a writing group. She also includes "inspiration" from her favorite writers about writing at the end of each chapter, and there is an appendix with writing prompts and one on recommended reading.

I liked that the book was written from the perspective of a writing teacher with grown children and many years of experience in writing, mothering, and teaching. She comes brimming with ideas for just starting to write (throw the rules away, she says), getting past your inner critic, and practical "starts" to get you going, such as using objects in your home, smells, places, your parents, your memories, etc. to get you started. She is very specific in her prompts, and they are all very stimulating and inspiring. She also gives great advice for improving your writing (such as reading your writing out loud), and she just so happens to like several of the same authors as me- Anne Lamott, Chaim Potok, Thoreau, Virginia Woolf, etc. After reading the book, I'm excited to find some time to write more intentionally about motherhood.

All in all, I say: read it!

Christmas presents for all!
I am loving working through this book and intend giving it to several 'Mothers' for Christmas this year!Along with a blank notebook and a pen of course.

Exceptional Guide for the Journey to Being a Mom-Who-Writes
I walked through my local Barnes and Noble recently and, as always, headed for the Writing Books. It surprised me, although I don't really know why, to find a couple brand new books written specifically for Moms-who-are-writers as well as another title for "busy women."

Intriguing.

Of the books I read, Lisa Garrigues "Writing Motherhood" is the most in tune with what it means to "be" a writer, not someone who is obsessed with publishing or looking for a recipe book to achieve this or that in 7 hours or 14 days or instant-success, this is a book that is realistic, heartful and a powerful guide for mothers who want to write motherhood and so much more.

She gives specific tips and techniques as she shares stories of how these tips and techniques have worked for herself and others, including a section on "Mother's Helpers" and 7 Building Blocks for Success.

She also pays respect to the concept of having a Writer's Notebook that serves a dual purpose as a Mother's Notebook.I am a longtime fan of folks who write in notebooks like Julia Cameron and Natalie Goldberg, so this struck a significant cord for me as well. We Moms-who-write need to train ourselves to write in small, heartful chunks.

Garrigues is an able guide for us along this journey.

This is a book to have on your shelf, to pick up and use - to refer back to regularly.

For Mothers Who Love to Journal Their Way to Self-Discovery
Mothers have always written about the experience of mothering. They've written letters to other mothers detailing the complex blend of day-to-day minutae and big-picture thinking that go into raising a child. They've recorded the journey of their days in their diaries. They've captured these moments in poetry, fiction, song lyrics, and movie scripts (to say nothing of countless other art forms). And, more recently, they've been inspired to hit the blogosphere to chronicle their lives and experiences and create a community of mothers online.

Writing about motherhood is a proud tradition and one that many mothers are drawn to, both to make sense of the powerful, life-changing experience of becoming a mother and because they want to capture moments of this journey, perhaps to share with their child, another friend, or the broader community of mothers.

WRITING MOTHERHOOD by Lisa Garrigues reads very much like SIMPLE ABUNDANCE FOR MOTHERS in that it is a guided journey to greater self-discovery and creativity as a mother and a writer. The book is inspiring and encouraging, and the techniques suggested will work well for mothers who are primarily interested in journalling (what Garrigues refers to as keeping a "Mother's Notebook"), but who may also be interested in other types of writing. In a short section entitled "Coming Out of the Notebook," pages 253 to 254, Garrigues discusses first steps to pursuing publication and other means of sharing your work with the world (reading your work, starting a blog). There is an additional section on online options for writers (pages 289 to 294), which will primarily be of interest to the mom who is new to the online world.

The book is peppered with encouraging quotes from other writers and Garrigues has included enough resources and writing ideas to provide creative inspiration to keep any mom writing non-stop. I love Garrigues' advice about the need for a holistic writing schedule for mothers -- "one that takes into account your whole life." She argues that your writing schedule should be nonnegotiable, individual, reasonable, resilient, and compassionate." Very sensible advice.

The only suggestion I would make to a reader of this excellent book is not to get too caught up in the formal writing exercises and writing prompts that are provided. Use them to jumpstart your creativity on days when your muse has gone AWOL, but don't allow them to drown out the ideas that are perculating inside your own brain.

What you want to be writing (and what the world wants to hear) are your own unique ideas; your own unique experiences; those raw moments of motherhood that are so fresh and dripping with truth that you have no choice put to reach for your Mother's Notebook and write. That's what motherhood writing is all about and where Garrigues ultimately wants to take you. Enjoy the trip. ... Read more

Product Description
In On Writing Romance, award-winning romance novelist Leigh Michaels talks you through each stage of the writing and publishing process. From the origins and evolution of the romance novel to establishing a vital story framework to writing that last line to seeking out appropriate publishers, everything you ever wanted to know about writing a romance novel is here.

In addition to a comprehensive breakdown of more than thirty romance subgenres, including such categories as historical, inspirational, Regency, and sweet traditional, you'll discover how to:

· Steer clear of clichés and stereotypes by studying the genre

· Craft engaging and realistic heroes and heroines readers will adore

· Convincingly develop the central couple's blossoming relationship

· Add conflict by utilizing essential secondary characters like the "other woman"

· Use tension and timing to make your love scenes sizzle with sensuality

· Get your characters to happily-ever-after with an ending readers will always remember

Plus, read a sample query letter, cover letter, and synopsis, and learn how to properly prepare your romance novel for submission to agents and editors. On Writing Romance has everything you need to leave readers swooning! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Very useful book
I am selective about the writing books I put on my shelf above my computer. This is a book I keep on that shelf and I refer to various sections of it over and over when writing scenes involving romance. I originally read writing articles by Leigh Michael on various web writing sites and found them incredibly helpful. Her book is a keeper.

Generous, passionate and entertaining.
I am trained in script and story editing, have produced literally hundreds of books to unabridged audio and am a bit of a writing book junkie - by no means am I a beginner in storycraft. I bought this book because I wanted something tailored to the romance genre and that is exactly what this book gives you. Yes, you could spend hours on the internet finding similar information and, yes, if you've done your research you'll have heard a lot of it before but this book not only collects it for you in one place but is also utterly entertaining. The book arrived late this afternoon and I have just finished it. It's 3a.m. - I couldn't put it down.
Michaels' passion for the subject is in every word. This is not a book written by someone jaded who wants to be able to point at her book when the 4,999,999th person asks her what the formula for romance writing is! She is also generous with her knowledge. So often one gets the feeling that the author of a writing book is holding something back for themselves - not quite fully explaining a point here or there, alluding to something you sense is more important than they are admitting. Not so here. In fact Michaels is so generous that at one point she even uses a sentence from her own (I assume earlier) work as an example of what not to do!
Highly recommended.

Great for beginners.
I'm a 'newbie' and reference this book a lot when I have a question about craft or the industry.

One of my best purchases this year!
I'm a recent college graduate with a degree in English Literature who, very recently, came to the conclusion that if I could spend the rest of my life writing romance novels, I'd be a happy camper.

Without the time (or money) to enroll in a creative writing MFA program, or even an in-person writing workshop, I've had to "educate" myself with books on writing style.

I've read and skimmed several over the past several months--books on dialogue, scene/plot development, characterization, etc--but Leigh Michaels' "On Writing" is the ONLY style book I've been literally compelled to read cover-to-cover. Usually, I start these types of books with the best laid plans, then end up skimming or skipping to the pertinent parts (i.e., what I need help with at that moment), but THIS book is so well-structured, it pulls you along.

Aimed at the beginning romance writer (like me!), Michaels' clearly outlines common pitfalls and cliches to avoid, gives extremely helpful tips on how to write "from a male POV" or "a female POV", and goes so far as to explain the structure, layout and general guidelines for several types of romance fiction (inspiration, sweet, short contemporary, long contemporary, chick-lit AND erotica). Basically, no matter why type of romance you're trying to write, there are helpful tips for you!

It's also chock-full of excerpts from published romance novels, which helps Michaels illustrate the topics she's discussing (there's one section where she points out how silly the overusage of dialogue tags can be that made me laugh out loud).

I just bought this book yesterday and, despite the fact that it's really just a style book, I've read almost the entire 250-some pages. I'm about halfway through my first novel attempt and I can already see where the tips in this book will help me improve when it's time to go back and revise.

As some have said, this definitely isn't a book for the more experienced/advanced writer (even as a beginner, there were some things discussed that just seemed overly obvious), but it's definitely going to be a valuable resource on my bookshelf as I advance my writing skills.

Romance Novel Writing is Easy with this Book!
There are many books about how to write romances, but this one seemed more modern and in style with the times. It stood out from the shelves at the bookstore and it was well worth the money to buy it.It makes you feel enthusiastic about writing that romance novel, standing apart from the other reference books. ... Read more

Product Description
Step-by-step approach to help you develop a direct, clear, and concise writing stlye. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Start with the basics
A very practical manual that teaches you the basics of sentence structure, and beyond.Recommended for those who need to build a solid foundation on how sentences are structured. ... Read more

Product Description

Writing and Community Action: A Service-Learning Rhetoric and Reader encourages inquiry into community and social action issues, supports community-based research, and shepherds students through a range of service-learning writing projects.   Several chapters offer pragmatic advice for crafting personal, reflective, and analytical essays, while service-learning chapters present experience-tested strategies for doing collaborative writing projects at nonprofit agencies, conducting research on pressing social problems, writing proposals that respond to campus and community concerns, and composing oral histories. The assignments help students to see themselves as writers whose work really matters. Provocative readings spark critical reflection on community service and a range of social concerns (including economic justice, literacy, education, homelessness, race, and identity). Focusing on invention, audience analysis, and the social purposes of writing, Writing and Community Action encourages students to adopt a rhetorical frame of mind.   Hopeful in tone, this book makes clear the ways that writing can serve as action in both academic and community contexts.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

wrong descript
this book was not in the shape it was listed. it has water stains, torn pages,the binding is messed up and pages are fallin out! very disappointed in product.there was no invoice in the box so i could not even contact the seller, could not contact seller via amazon either. be ware of this seller!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Magazine writing has its own set of rules and guidelines that can befuddle anyone trying to break into the business. The Everything Guide to Magazine Writing clarifies the process by providing you with insider tips and guidance to achieve success in this exciting field. With this practical and authoritative book, you'll learn everything from how to come up with ideas that sell to handling billing and taxes.

Kim Kavin, a successful and talented writer who has turned magazine writing into a lucrative career, teaches you how to:

• Write an irresistible query letter
• Find and keep clients
• Start a freelance business
• Negotiate contracts
• Get paid for articles

If you're seeking success in writing for magazines, The Everything Guide to Magazine Writing is your one-stop resource for everything from improving your writing skills to starting your own business! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

One of the best I've read on freelance writing
I've been freelance writing for about six months now, and have read several books about being successful in the trade. For my money, Kim's book was the best so far that I've come across. I agree with the other reviewer that it was written from a very practical and non-condescending tone. I would definitely recommend it.

I can see how underrated this book is...
I've read countless books on freelance writing, and none has lit so strong a fire under my a** to try breaking into the industry as this one. It's about making a living, it's about being prepared for every possible glitch, it's about knowing what to expect as a newbie freelance writer every step of the way. And it's told in a voice that isn't condescending or self-indulgent, in terms that aren't confusing or oversimplified. Kim Kavin knows her stuff, and aspiring freelance writers everywhere are better for her having shared it. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Pathways for Writing Scenarios, Kathleen McWhorter’s new text provides instruction for success in writing situations while featuring an integrated writing-reading approach, step-by-step instruction, and a supportive tone. Pathways teaches the fundamentals of sentence to paragraph writing through structured, sequential instruction; varied exercises that build upon each other; numerous examples of student writing; and the use of high-interest, issue-oriented or experience-related readings. ... Read more