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Books > Language & Literature > Literary & linguistic reference works > Creative writing & creative writing guides
Jim Denney is a veteran of both traditional and indie publishing. He has more than 100 published books to his credit, including the Timebenders science-fantasy series for young readers. In WRITING IN OVERDRIVE, he shows you how to: Write so fast you'll have no time for self-doubt. Organize your time and workspace to be more productive. Set ambitious yet attainable productivity goals. Overcome self-defeating habits and inner resistance to writing daily. Tap into the power of writing "in the zone" whenever you choose. Use powerful "writing rituals" to prepare yourself to write. Be aware and focused yet relaxed as you write. Become undistractible-even when surrounded by distractions. Leverage the motivational energy of NaNoWriMo. Eliminate writer's block. and much MORE. You'll acquire skills you can road-test immediately on your current work-in-progress. Each principle is powerfully illustrated by stories from the author's own experience and from the lives of such prolific, successful writers as Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, John Steinbeck, Agatha Christie, Michael Moorcock, Ed McBain, Jack Kerouac, Raymond Chandler, and many more. You'll see how to apply these life-changing principles in real-life writing situations, and learn to write with phenomenal speed, confidence, and mastery, whether in traditional publishing or the indie publishing world. Praise for Jim Denney's previous books: QUIT YOUR DAY JOB Sleep Late, Do What You Enjoy, and Make a Ton of Money as a Writer (A Writer's Digest Book Club Selection) - "Follow Jim Denney's suggestions and you will be well on your way to making the dream a reality." -Novelist JAMES SCOTT BELL (author, The Art of War for Writers). "Jim Denney has written a book that every writer and every aspiring writer should own." -Novelist DEBORAH RANEY (author, The Face of the Earth). "Read Jim Denney's book and save yourself much anguish." -Novelist JIM FREY (author, How to Write a Damn Good Novel). "If you think the writer's life is for you, you must read this book." -Novelist ANGELA HUNT, (author, The Offering). ANSWERS TO SATISFY THE SOUL by Jim Denney was hailed by Nebula-winning science fiction writer ROBERT J. SAWYER as a "brisk and enjoyable" book that "challenges, informs, enlightens, and yes, satisfies;" by leadership guru JOHN C. MAXWELL ("if you are on a quest for success, happiness, love, meaning, or God, this book is for you"); by psychologist and author Muriel James ("wisdom clothed in a lively, contemporary, conversational writing style ... thought-provoking concepts"). THE MAGIC OF TEAMWORK by Pat Williams with Jim Denney garnered praise from novelist JAMES A. MICHENER ("a wise and needed book"), L.A. Lakers head coach PHIL JACKSON ("an outline for success in any business"), and television host LARRY KING ("a classic, one-of-a-kind ... four stars ").
Crafting likable, interesting characters is a balancing act, and finding that perfect mix of strengths and weaknesses can be difficult. But the task has become easier thanks to The Negative Trait Thesaurus. Through its flaw-centric exploration of character arc, motivation, emotional wounds, and basic needs, writers will learn which flaws make the most sense for their heroes, villains, and other members of the story's cast. This book's vast collection of flaws will help writers to explore the possible causes, attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and related emotions behind their characters' weaknesses so they can be written effectively and realistically. Common characterization pitfalls and methods to avoid them are also included, along with invaluable downloadable tools to aid in character creation. Written in list format and fully indexed, this brainstorming resource is perfect for creating deep, flawed characters that readers will relate to.
Crafting Poems and Stories is an inspiring new guide to creative writing. Comprehensive in its treatment of poetry and fiction, this book offers features that students most often request, including concise definitions of basic terms of poetry and short fiction, focused discussion of craft, exciting literary models, and engaging hands-on exercises. It is an accessible guide that renders the material of introductory creative writing courses more readily engaging, so that beginning writers see greater progress reflected in their poems and short stories over the course of a single semester. KEY FEATURES Includes 60 poems and 9 complete stories, ranging from classic to contemporary. Each chapter includes craft-focused discussion questions and writing prompts and exercises. Includes appendices on workshopping poetry and fiction and on resources for writers seeking publication.
This concise guide offers Wolf's writing techniques from his Free River Press workshops across the country. Rooted in the oral tradition, Wolf's methods include storytelling, visualization, spontaneous prose composition, and sketching. Besides strategies for individual writers, the book will include group activities, exercises and samples by workshop participants.
New Perspectives on Writing Series Editor: Susan H. McLeod EPORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: CONSTRUCTING, PRESENTING, AND ASSESSING PORTFOLIOS addresses theories and practices advanced by some of the most innovative and active proponents of ePortfolios. Editors KATHERINE V. WILLS and RICH RICE interweave twelve essays that address the ways in which ePortfolios can facilitate sustainable and measureable writing-related student development, assessment and accountability, learning and knowledge transfer, and principles related to universal design for learning, just-in-time support, interaction design, and usability testing. ABOUT THE EDITORS: KATHERINE V. WILLS is Interim Division Head of Liberal Arts and Associate Professor in the English program at Indiana University Purdue University at Columbus, Indiana. Recent publications explore uses of reflective practice in writing across curriculum, ePortfolios, and International service learning. With J. Blake Scott and Bernadette Longo, she co-edited Critical Power Tools: Technical Communication and Cultural Studies (SUNY, 2006), which received the national award for Best New Collection in Technical and Scientific Writing by the National Council of Teachers of English (2007). RICH RICE is Associate Professor in the Technical Communication and Rhetoric program at Texas Tech University where he serves as Director of the Multiliteracy Lab. He is a member of the Conference on College Composition and Communication's Committee on Best Practices for Online Writing Instruction. His recent articles are in the areas of ePortfolios, new media knowledge creation, mobile medicine, basic writing and photo essays, remediated film, nontraditional graduate support systems, and media labs.
When too tightly leashed, writing chokes and loses its vitality.
Although the rules of composition popularized in William Strunk Jr.
and E. B. White's "Elements of Style have been "de rigueur for
decades, they won't exactly set your writing free. Arthur Plotnik is an author, and former publishing executive.
Two of his works have been featured as Book of the Month Club
selections: "The Elements of Editing and "The Elements of
Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words . Reviewers have
consistently praised Plotnik's writing for its accuracy, style, and
wit, often ranking it with Strunk & White in
practicality.
An all-in-one craft guide and anthology, this is the first creative writing book to find inspiration and guidance in the diverse literary traditions of Asia. Including exemplary stories by leading writers from Japan, China, India, Singapore and beyond as well as those from Asian diasporas in Europe and America, The Art and Craft of Asian Stories offers an exciting take on the traditional how-to writing guide by drawing from a rich new trove of short stories beyond the western canon which readers may never have encountered before. Whilst still taking stock of the traditional elements of story such as character, viewpoint and setting, Xu and Hemley let these compelling stories speak for themselves to offer readers new ideas and approaches which could enrich their own creative work. Structured around the themes encountered in the stories, such as race and identity, history and power, family and aspirations, this text is a vital companion for writers at all levels keen to develop and find new perspectives on key elements of their craft. Written by two internationally successful writers and teachers, each chapter contains complete short stories and writing exercises for practice and inspiration.
Captivate the hearts and minds of young adult readers Writing for young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) audiences isn't just "kid's stuff" anymore--it's kidlit The YA and MG book markets are healthier and more robust than ever, and that means the competition is fiercer, too. In "Writing Irresistible Kidlit," literary agent Mary Kole shares her expertise on writing novels for young adult and middle grade readers and teaches you how to:
If you want the skills, techniques, and know-how you need to craft memorable stories for teens and tweens, "Writing Irresistible Kidlit" can give them to you.
Capture the minds, hearts, and imaginations of 21st century readers Whether you're a commercial storyteller or a literary novelist, whether your goal is to write a best-selling novel or captivate readers with a satisfying, beautifully written story, the key to success is the same: high-impact fiction. "Writing 21st Century Fiction" will help you write a novel for today's readers and market, filled with rich characters, compelling plots, and resonant themes. Author and literary agent Donald Maass shows you how to:
This book provides comprehensive advice on what to write about for children, how to write it, and how to present the work professionally for publication. It includes an easy-to-use picture book layout plan and tried and tested examples of title sheets and covering letters. It also includes everything a writer needs to know about the international picture book market and how to sell to agents and publishers. This new edition contains advice on enhancing your text for the ebook market.
Writing to Awaken is an inspirational investigation of the self through expressive writing, guiding you along the path of awakening through radical truth-telling and self-inquiry. With targeted and revelatory questions, you'll be prompted to explore your own personal narrative-to write honestly about your deepest wounds, greatest challenges, hidden gifts, yearnings, and opportunities for growth-in order to discover a deeply authentic understanding of yourself and move toward a more liberated, truthful life. We each have our own story, a personal myth constructed from the content life presents us: we connect dots to shape the narrative, devise plotlines from circumstance, change characters, fashion conflicts, and adjust structure, settings, and themes as our lives unfold. But so often, over time, we come to believe that we are our story, identifying so strongly with the tales we've told ourselves and others that we cling to them for our very existence-even when they don't quite fit. The realization that there's a discrepancy between the narrative you've crafted and your authentic self can be disconcerting at first, but the exploration of that gap is a doorway to personal freedom, and this book will lead you through it. The writing exercises in this guide, one for nearly every week of the year, ask you to tell the whole truth about your experience. In doing so, you'll come to realize that once you engage in this radical truth-telling, expressing yourself with complete honesty, your story changes; and when your story changes, your life is transformed. Rather than sticking with your illusive and tricky "Story of Me," you'll be prompted to go even deeper, piercing your personal myth and illuminating aspects of psyche and spirit that give way to profound moments of understanding and personal healing. This is not a how-to book for writers; it's an invitation on a journey of self-discovery-a guide to facing yourself without flinching, accepting yourself as you are, surrendering to what is, and daring to question and transform what isn't true. With Writing to Awaken, you'll learn how to break free from the trance of mistaken identity and discover your essential, authentic self.
The Writing Teacher's Sourcebook is a collection of professional essays on the teaching of writing. It is assigned in graduate courses on the teaching of composition. The authors Tate, Corbett, and Myers are widely respected for their work in rhetoric and composition. The authors have added eleven new essays to the fourth edition and have deleted some essays from the previous edition.
This modernized straight-forward translation of Sophocles' Ajax highlights the nature of man's potential nobility as he faces outward enemies and inner demons. Fresh insights into current issues of post-traumatic stress syndrome and the maltreatment of enemy bodies on the battlefield are dealt with in this classic tale of the Trojan War. The transformation of Ajax, a chieftain of the Greek army encamped before Troy, from the brutal arrogance of a warrior to defiant rationalist creates a paradigm, which the other characters in the play, like Odysseus, Ajax's hated rival, Teucer, Ajax's admirable brother, and Tecmessa, Ajax's loyal wife, feed from in interesting ways, resulting in compassion and final harmony.
With exquisite detail and humble sensibilities, Geoffrey Nutter's sixth collection of poetry offers myriad delights in language and the imagination. In cityscapes, nature, books, and color, we find respite in the complexities of the commonplace-from clocks to teardrops to moths. The poems in Giant Moth Perishes teach us how to live in the world with curious attention. And at the heart of this daydreaming is a spectacular earnestness, firmly embedded in the idea that the landscape of poetry is limitless and wild.
Give your story a solid foundation--a plot that engages readers from start to finish The best stories linger in the hearts and minds of readers for decades. These tales gain their power through plots that connect with the audience on both an emotional and intellectual level. Inside Ronald B. Tobias details these 20 time-tested plots. Each is discussed and analyzed, illustrating how a successful plot integrates all the elements of a story. Tobias then shows you how to use these plots effectively in your own work. Tobias then goes to the next level, showing you how to choose and develop plot in fiction. He shows you how to craft plot for any subject matter, so that you develop your work evenly and effectively. As a result, your fiction will be more cohesive and convincing, making your story unforgettable for readers everywhere. "Plot isn't an accessory that conveniently organizes your material according to some ritualistic magic. You don't just plug in plot like a household appliance and expect it to do its job. Plot is organic. It takes hold of the writer and the work from the beginning." --Ronald Tobias
During the ten years that Stuart Spencer has taught playwriting, he has struggled to find an effective playwriting handbook for his courses. Although most of the currently popular handbooks have good ideas in them, they all suffer from the same problems: they're poorly organized; are composed mostly of quirky, idiosyncratic advice on how specific playwrights have gone about writing their own work; and are full of abstract theorizing on the nature of art. As a result, they fail to offer any concrete information on how to construct a well-written play or any useful guidelines and exercises. Moreover, few of these books are actually written by working playwrights. Out of frustration, Spencer wrote his own book. The result, The Playwright's Guidebook, is a clear, concise, and engaging handbook. Spencer addresses the important principles of structure, includes insightful writing exercises that build upon one another, explores the creative process, and troubleshoots recurrent problems that playwrights actually face.
The Organised Writer is a practical, no-nonsense system that allows you to write without worrying about administration, business affairs, or scheduling. This straight-talking guide will help you become more productive, cope with multiple projects, and make time within your life to write - while also dealing with non-writing tasks more efficiently. It includes advice on how to: * Manage your schedule * Prioritise your writing time * Take notes effectively * Work with a 'clean mind' * Get more written every day * Deal effectively with non-writing tasks * Set up a foolproof filing system * Organise your working space Read the book, then spend a weekend setting-up the system described, and you'll make the time back with interest. You'll get more written every day and complete more of your other tasks without being overwhelmed by all the things you have to do, forgot to do, or don't want to do.
Making a good script great is more than just a matter of putting a good idea on paper. It requires the working and reworking of that idea. This book takes you through the whole screenwriting process-from initial concept through final rewrite-providing specific methods that will help you craft tighter, stronger, and more saleable scripts. While retaining the invaluable insights that placed its first two editions among the all-time most popular screenwriting books, this expanded, revised, and updated third edition adds rich and important new material on dialogue, cinematic images, and point of view, as well as an interview with screenwriter Paul Haggis. If you are writing your first script, this book will help develop your skills for telling a compelling and dramatic story. If you are a veteran screenwriter, it will help you articulate the skills you know intuitively. And if you are currently stuck on a rewrite, this book will help you analyse and solve your script's problems and get it back on track.
In this dynamic exploration of the discipline of creative writing, Graeme Harper departs from the established 'how-to' model in a personal manifesto which analyses why human beings are, and have long been, passionate about writing. Illuminating the five essential keys to creative writing, directly related to the desire to undertake it, Harper analyses creative writing's past and ponders its future, drawing on theories of the self, cultural interaction, consumption and communication. Blending practice-based critical context with contemporary creative writing theory, this book is an ideal companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students of creative writing and literature. Lively and thought-provoking, it is an invaluable tool for all aspiring and established writers who wish to harness the positive effects of their craft.
In this inspiring book, based on her twenty years of research,
highly acclaimed author and teacher Louise DeSalvo reveals the
healing power of writing. DeSalvo shows how anyone can use writing
as a way to heal the emotional and physical wounds that are an
inevitable part of life. Contrary to what most self-help books
claim, just writing won't help you; in fact, there's abundant
evidence that the wrong kind of writing can be damaging.
"On Story is film school in a box, a lifetime's worth of filmmaking knowledge squeezed into half-hour packages." -Kenneth Turan, film critic for the Los Angeles Times Austin Film Festival (AFF) is the first organization to focus on writers' creative contributions to film and television. Its annual Film Festival and Conference offers screenings, panels, workshops, and roundtable discussions that help new writers and filmmakers connect with mentors and gain advice and insight from masters, as well as reinvigorate veterans with new ideas. To extend the Festival's reach, AFF produces On Story, a television series currently airing on PBS-affiliated stations and streaming online that presents high-caliber artists talking candidly and provocatively about the art and craft of screenwriting and filmmaking, often using examples from their own work. On Story-The Golden Ages of Television explores the transformation of television's narrative content over the past several decades through interviews with some of TV's best creators and writers, including Garry Shandling (The Larry Sanders Show), Carl Reiner (The Dick Van Dyke Show), Issa Rae (Insecure), Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Greg Daniels (The Office), Paula Pell (Saturday Night Live), Noah Hawley (Fargo), Liz Meriwether (New Girl), David Chase (The Sopranos), Alan Yang (Master of None), Marta Kauffman (Friends), Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black), and many more. Their insights, behind-the-scenes looks at the creative process, production tales, responses to audiences' reactions, and observations on how both TV narratives and the industry have changed make this book ideal for TV lovers, pop culture fans, students taking screenwriting courses, and filmmakers and writers seeking information and inspiration. |
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