A Writer's Workbook: Daily Exercises For the Writing Life

Product Details

Author : Elizabeth Gilbert, Caroline Sharp
Binding : Paperback
EAN : 9780312286217
Edition : 1st edition
Number of Pages : 176
Product Group : Book
Publication Date : 2002-05-14
Publisher : Griffin

ASIN : 031228621X

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

After nine months of not writing--nine months of morning sickness--Caroline Sharp had a new baby and an urge to write again. Trouble was, she was out of practice. So she devised a series of 32, mostly half-hour exercises to get her writing muscle back in shape. Thus was born A Writer's Workbook. In it, Sharp embraces warming up with a journal. She is personable and humorous, often returning to the subject of her addiction to coffee. Although her book is recommended in Elizabeth Gilbert's (Pilgrims) introduction for any reluctant writer in need of a jump-start, it seems best suited to fictioneers. "Write a character description of yourself," an early exercise suggests. "Write down as many food memories as you can recall," urges another. "Take yourself through 24 hours in your character's day," and "See if you can come up with a true list of bad behavior." While the exercises cumulatively don't help you create a greater whole, if they get you writing, they've done their job. And as you write, keep in mind: "You've got to get in the habit of harvesting all the acreage," says Sharp. "The pretty flowers are great, but the bent and twisted and screwy ones are more interesting." --Jane Steinberg

Customer Reviews

A Real Workout! (2004-06-23)

This book is a perfect solution for those writers in need of something to write about.

Caroline Sharp wrote this book after not writing for a significant period of time. She was searching for inspiration and invented her own. With this book she gives suggestions for various exercises and writing techniques. The book is meant to be done one chapter after another growing as you progress but some of the chapters are tedious and actually stopped me from writing, like the chapter on outlines (you have to write something in order to have something to outline!). I have found that skipping around works better for me only because some days are less patient than others.

For those of you serious writers looking for new techniques and new ideas this is a wonderful book to absorb. Sometimes the best ideas come from out of the blue and this book just gives you the blue a little bit faster.

Author takes the fear out of writing (2000-09-28)

Caroline Sharp has written an approachable, easy to understand "hand-up" for aspiring writers.

Breaking down the fear so many face at the thought of approaching a vast blank page, Sharp guides novices and experienced writers alike through a series of steps and exercises to get the writing going.

Kudos to Ms. Sharp for sharing her hard won knowledge and experience with the rest of us.

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