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Writer with a Day Job: Inspiration & Exercises to Help You Craft a Writing Life Alongside Your Career
by Aine GreaneyDon't let the daily grind drain your creative energy!You can work full time and still have a productive writing life. Many writers waste time waiting for the day they can finally quit their day jobs and live the so-called writing dream. Don't wait. You can do both - and your writing will be the better for it.Balancing a full-time job and a productive writing life is no easy feat! This book offers writers advice, skill-building techniques, prompts, and exercises in every chapter, and strategies on how to get and keep writing while also working the 9 to 5 grind.Readers will discover tips and exercises for:Setting and protecting personal writing goalsCreating a schedule that complements their staminaGetting creative before and after work - and on their lunch hourFinding inspiration in the most unlikely of spots and at the most impromptu of timesWriting proficiently in multiple forms (long and short) so that they don't get bogged down writing one long projectBecoming an active participant in writing communities so they have a solid support system at the readyFiguring out how (if at all) to share their writing life with co-workers, friends, and family membersYou'll also get quick, practical tutorials to help you master scenes, point of view, characters, settings, dialogue, and more.Writer With a Day Job gives you the strategies and motivation you need to work 40 hours a week (or more!) and achieve writing success.
Writers: Their Lives and Works (DK History Changers)
by DKExplore the fascinating lives and loves of the greatest novelists, poets, and playwrights.From William Shakespeare and Jane Austen to Gabriel García Márquez and Toni Morrison, Writers explores more than 100 biographies of the world&’s greatest writers. Each featured novelist, playwright, or poet is introduced by a stunning portrait, followed by photography and illustrations of locations and artifacts important in their lives – along with pages from original manuscripts, first editions, and their correspondence. Trace the friendships, loves, and rivalries that inspired each individual and affected their writing, revealing insights into the larger-than-life characters, plots, and evocative settings that they created. You will also uncover details each writer&’s most famous pieces and understand the times and cultures they lived in – see how the world influenced them and how their works influenced the world.Writers introduces key ideas, themes, and literary techniques of each figure, revealing the imaginations and personalities behind some of the world's greatest novels, short stories, poems, and plays. A diverse variety of authors are covered, from the Middle Ages to present day, providing a compelling glimpse into the lives of the people behind the page.
Writers at Work: The Essay
by Dorothy E. Zemach Lynn Stafford-YilmazThe Writers at Work series takes beginning to high intermediate-level writing students through a process approach to writing. The series is intended primarily for adults whose first language is not English, but it may also prove effective for younger writers or for native speakers of English who are developing their competence as independent writers in English.
A Writer's Coach
by Jack HartMystified over misplaced modifiers? In a trance from intransitive verbs? Paralyzed from using the passive voice? To aid writers, from beginners to professionals, legendary writing coach Jack Hart presents a comprehensive, practical, step-by-step approach to the writing process. He shares his techniques for composing and sustaining powerful writing and demonstrates how to overcome the most common obstacles such as procrastination, writer’s block, and excessive polishing. With instructive examples and excerpts from outstanding writing to provide inspiration,A Writer’s Coachis a boon to writers, editors, teachers, and students.
A Writer's Companion (4th Edition)
by Richard MariusThis brief guide to writing the essay and writing across the curriculum is indeed true to its title. It offers excellent advice on developing and polishing prose, with an emphasis on style and process--all with wit, charm, and intelligence.
The Writer's Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages
by Nancy Ellen DoddMap out your idea and finish your story in 7 stages! This book will show writers how to develop their ideas into a finished novel by working through it in 7 stages, while learning how to mapping out their story's progress and structure so they can evaluate and improve their work. It teaches writers to visualize their story's progress with a story map that helps them see all the different components of their story, where these components are going, and, perhaps most importantly, what's missing. The book simplifies Aristotle's elements of good writing (a. k. a. that each story should have a beginning, a middle and an end) into easily applicable concepts that will help writers improve their craft. The author helps readers strengthen their work by teaching them how to focus on one aspect of their story at a time, including forming stories and developing ideas, building strong structures, creating vibrant characters, and structuring scenes and transitions. Thought-provoking questions help writers more objectively assess their story's strengths and weaknesses so they may write the story they want to tell.
The Writer's Diet: A Guide to Fit Prose (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
by Helen SwordDo your sentences sag? Could your paragraphs use a pick-me-up? If so, The Writer's Diet is for you! It's a short, sharp introduction to great writing that will help you energize your prose and boost your verbal fitness. Helen Sword dispenses with excessive explanations and overwrought analysis. Instead, she offers an easy-to-follow set of writing principles: use active verbs whenever possible; favor concrete language over vague abstractions; avoid long strings of prepositional phrases; employ adjectives and adverbs only when they contribute something new to the meaning of a sentence; and reduce your dependence on four pernicious "waste words": it, this, that, and there. Sword then shows the rules in action through examples from William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Martin Luther King Jr. , John McPhee, A. S. Byatt, Richard Dawkins, Alison Gopnik, and many more. A writing fitness test encourages you to assess your own writing and get immediate advice on addressing problem areas. While The Writer's Diet is as sleek and concise as the writing ideals contained within, this slim volume packs a powerful punch. With Sword's coaching writers of all levels can strengthen and tone their sentences with the stroke of a pen or the click of a mouse. As with any fitness routine, adhering to the rules requires energy and vigilance. The results, however, will speak for themselves.
The Writer's Digest: Guide to Query Letters
by Wendy Burt-ThomasMake That Crucial, Positive First Impression Anyone who's researched the marketplace knows: The path to publication begins with your query letter. If your query is weak, unfocused, or uninspired, an editor or agent won't even bother to request your article, novel manuscript, or nonfiction book proposal. But a well-crafted, compelling query sent to the right editor or agent is an essential sales tool for fiction writers and the most effective way for nonfiction writers to pre-sell your idea. In this book, professional freelance writer and magazine editor Wendy Burt-Thomas shares practical advice on how to craft persuasive letters that connect with editors and agents and ultimately generate sales for you. You'll learn how to: Conduct targeted research to find suitable editors and agents Hook an editor with a tantalizing lead and shape a summary that compels editors to buy Select the strongest slant for your book or article Use research and interview shortcuts that keep your query prep profitable Make your query rejection-proof by weeding out subtle mistakes that can sabotage your project Communicate your author platform and sell yourself as the best writer for the subject Complete with dozens of sample queries–some that landed article assignments, agents, or book deals, and others that never stood a chance–this book offers you a comprehensive strategy for presenting your writing ideas in a way that will increase your chances of publication. Though the title may lead some to believe it's strictly to be shelved as a reference manual,The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Lettersis a smooth read from cover to cover.
The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook
by Sherrilyn KenyonThis reference for writers provides meanings for some 25,000 names and surnames from 45 countries, listed by origin. An explanation of naming practices and historical context is provided for each origin section, and there is a reverse lookup of names by meaning, as well as an alphabetical index of names. An introduction gives practical advice on naming characters and places plus tips on naming for specific genres, and sidebars within the entry sections tell how published authors solved their naming dilemmas. Kenyon (whose name means Blond from the White Meadow) is a fantasy author. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing: A Practical Guide to Selling Your Pitches, Crafting Strong Articles, & Earning More Bylines
by Kerrie Flanagan Angela MackintoshYour Essential Reference for Writing for Magazines! In The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing, accomplished freelance writer, author, and instructor Kerrie Flanagan demystifies the idea that writing for magazines is a difficult process meant only for those with journalism degrees. Drawing from her 20 years as a freelance writer and instructor, Flanagan takes you step-by-step through the entire process, sharing her knowledge and experiences in a friendly, conversational way. With more than a dozen sample articles, expert advice from magazine editors and successful freelance writers, practical tips on researching potential publications and instructions on crafting compelling query letters, you'll find the tools needed to write and publish magazine articles. In this book you'll learn how to:Find and target ideas for the right magazine.Develop effective query letters to catch the attention of editors and land more assignments.Organize your writing life using the checklists and tools throughout the book.Understand and negotiate contracts.Write and sell personal essays to consumer, niche and trade magazines.Whether your goal is to get your first byline or make the switch from part-time freelancer to full-time writer, The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is your go-to resource for writing success.
The Writer's Essential Tackle Box
by Lynn PriceThe Writer's Essential Tackle Box offers an insider's view that informs and educates writers to key occupations that comprise the publishing industry--how they work, why they work, and pitfalls to avoid. A must-read for the new author seeking guidance through every aspect of the murky waters of publishing.
A Writer's Guide to Active Setting: How to Enhance Your Fiction with More Descriptive, Dynamic Settings
by Dianna Love Mary BuckhamEnhance Your Fiction with the Power of an Active Setting!Setting is one of the most underutilized and misunderstood elements of the writing craft. And when writers do focus on setting, they often pull readers out of the narrative and jolt their attention from the action on the page.A Writer's Guide to Active Setting will show you how to create vivid, detailed settings that bring your story to life. You'll learn how to deepen character development, anchor readers to a specific time and place, reveal backstory without slowing things down, elevate action sequences, and more.Drawing upon examples from authors writing across a variety of genres, Mary Buckham will illustrate exactly how the proper use of setting can dramatically improve your story. You'll learn what's effective about each passage and how you can use those techniques to make your story shine."Takes an all too often overlooked technique, and elevates it to a next-level game changer for powerful fiction." --Cathy Yardley, author of Rock Your Plot"A powerful combination of fresh insights, practical examples, and how-to advice on the often overlooked but critical element of setting...written in a quick-to-read and easy-to-understand style, and packed with useful application exercises." --Kelly L. Stone, author of Thinking Write: The Secret to Freeing Your Creative Mind"If you're a writer, then Mary Buckham's book is a must-have tool for your writer's toolkit. Creating settings that are rich and believable is not an easy task, but with this book, I found that each chapter gave me great tips that I could immediately implement in my manuscript." --Laurie G. Adams, author of Finding Atticus
The Writer's Guide to Beginnings: How to Craft Story Openings That Sell
by William Martin Paula MunierGive your story its best start! The best beginnings possess a magical quality that grabs readers from the first word and never lets them go. But beginnings aren't just the door into a fictional world. They are the gateway to the realm of publishing--one that could shut as quickly as it opens. In The Writer's Guide to Beginnings, author and literary agent Paula Munier shows you how to craft flawless beginnings that impress agents, engage editors, and captivate readers. You'll learn how to develop the big idea of your story and introduce it on page one, structure opening scenes that encompass their own story arc, kickstart your writing with effective brainstorming techniques, and introduce a compelling cast of characters that drive the plot. You'll also examine the best-selling novels from different genres to learn the secrets that experienced writers use to dive straight into a story. With thorough examinations of voice, point of view, setting, dialogue and conflict, The Writer's Guide to Beginnings is a must-have tool for luring your readers in with your opening pages--and convincing them to stick around for the ride. "Writing a book? Hard. Writing the beginning of a book? Rocket science! Strap on your spacesuit, because thanks to Munier's nuanced, actionable breakdown of every possible aspect of a gripping opening, authors everywhere can now take their books to the stars." --K.M. Weiland
The Writer's Guide to Good Style: A 21st Century guide to improving your punctuation, pace, grammar and style
by Katherine LapworthLEARN HOW TO LIFT YOUR CREATIVE WRITING BY EMPLOYING A GOOD WRITING STYLE.Do you want to write more effectively, correctly and in a manner which is appropriate for this brave new world of text speak and blogging?Whether you are a professional writer, or writing for your profession, a journalist, non-fiction writer, or simply a would-be blogger, you will find essential guidance and the latest style rules in this book.It contains firstly a detailed breakdown of both the rules of grammar, punctuation and spelling and, secondly, a guide to making your work readable, structured and well-paced. Unlike any other style guide, it also sets out the new and evolving rules for 21st century writing such as blogging, chatrooms, and even PowerPoint presentations.ABOUT THE SERIESThe Teach Yourself Creative Writing series helps aspiring authors tell their story. Covering a range of genres from science fiction and romantic novels, to illustrated children's books and comedy, this series is packed with advice, exercises and tips for unlocking creativity and improving your writing. And because we know how daunting the blank page can be, we set up the Just Write online community at tyjustwrite, for budding authors and successful writers to connect and share.
Writer's Guide to Nonfiction
by Elizabeth LyonA WRITER'S COMPASS Direction for your writing career Don't get lost on the publishing path. Just forge ahead with the Writer's Compass. Drawing on decades of professional experience as an author, editor, writing instructor, mentor, and marketing consultant, Elizabeth Lyon helps you navigate the art and craft of writing--with clear, easy-to-follow directions: NORTH Getting Your Bearings Understand your purpose and your audience; learn to refine your ideas, select effective titles, and find the best method of organization for any piece SOUTH Troubleshooting Use checklists and guidelines to spot weaknesses and problems in leads, organization, conclusions, and style--and find out how to correct them EAST Learning to Market Map a successful cover letter, query letter, or proposal, and discover a four-step process to facilitate publication and sales WEST Refining Your Vision Brainstorm to gain perspective on your writing--and how it fits with your values, goals, and dreams
A Writer's Guide to Persistence: How to Create a Lasting and Productive Writing Practice
by Jordan RosenfeldPractice. Polish. Persist. Your writing journey can take you many places: hiking through steep mountains, traversing unknown territory, hurdling both roadblocks and rejections. Even the siren song of fame and fortune can distract you from your true purpose: to express yourself in an authentic and meaningful way, and to share your words with others. A Writer's Guide to Persistence is your road map through the rugged terrain of the writer's path. You'll discover advice and techniques for cultivating a fruitful, deeply meaningful writing life by practicing your craft, polishing your work, and persisting through even the toughest challenges. Inside you'll find: Practical ways to balance writing with the rest of your life: taming your busy schedule, increasing your productivity, and committing to a writing practice Advice for developing authentic work: finding your voice, writing bravely, and breaking the blocks to creative flow Methods for stretching your skills through craft and revision Thoughts on pushing through rejection and doubt, submitting strong, nourishing yourself to avoid burnout, and keeping your mind and body fit Filled with journaling exercises and much-needed motivation, as well as insights from best-selling writers in a variety of genres, A Writer's Guide to Persistence will help you find the joy and purpose inherent in a writer's life. Your journey to publication and success may take a lifetime, but you can sow the rewards of writing with every step. "A compassionate and intelligent guide for any writer who's just starting out or one who needs the understanding and encouragement of a great writing coach. Rosenfeld offers practical solutions for every concern, from how to find the time to write to getting through writer's block." --Patricia V. Davis, best-selling author
The Writer's Guide to the Courtroom
by Donna BallmanOne-stop shopping for researching the complexities of all aspects of civil law. Whether one writes mysteries, romance, mainstream, or nonfiction, if the facts are wrong, the book is ruined. Adding some element of the law is also a valuable asset for adding further dimension or a plot twist to a story.
The Writer's Guide to Wattpad: The Comprehensive Guide to Building and Sustaining a Successful Career
by Benjamin Sobieck Wattpad WattpadEngage with the Next Generation of Writers! Wattpad is an online storytelling community where users can post their writing, such as articles, stories, novels, fan fiction, and poems. This platform offers writers the chance to connect directly with readers, fans, and story enthusiasts. With the ability to release stories and chapters one at a time, authors can receive continual encouragement and real-time feedback on their work. The Wattpad staff supports successful writers through their Stars program, which provides them opportunities to work with successful brands, publish to print, connect to film and television industries, and more. The potential of Wattpad for writers is limitless, and, for the first-time ever, the staff, writers, and stars of Wattpad have created the guide to help you launch and sustain a successful writing career through this platform. In The Writer's Guide to Wattpad, you'll learn how to:Get started using Wattpad, prepare your writing to be published, and develop a unique cover design.Interact with readers, use multimedia to enhance and tell stories, and leverage social media to create a stronger platform.Attract the attention of an agent or publisher and sell copies of your work elsewhere.Tap into the brand of Wattpad to understand their Stars Program, brand campaigns, and what success looks like.Written to be accessible to beginners and veterans alike, The Writer's Guide to Wattpad is your essential companion to navigating the Wattpad platform and brand, and leveraging your writing to millions of users worldwide.
The Writer's Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference for Using Firearms and Knives in Fiction
by Benjamin SobieckWhen it comes to writing weapons, most authors shoot from the hip--and miss. The Writer's Guide to Weapons will help you hit your target every time. Firearms and knives have starring roles in a wide range of genres--crime, thriller, war, mystery, Western, and more. Unfortunately, many depictions of weapons in novels and film are pure fiction. Knowing the difference between a shotshell and a slug, a pistol and a revolver, or a switchblade and a butterfly knife is essential for imbuing your story with authenticity--and gaining popularity with discerning readers. Inside you'll find: An in-depth look at the basics of firearms and knives: how they work, why they work, what they look like, and how to depict them accurately in your stories. The biggest weapons myths in fiction, TV, and film. A surefire guide for choosing the correct weapon for your characters, no matter their skill level, strength, or background. A review of major gun and knife laws, weapons safety tips,and common police tactics. "The Hit List," showcasing the most popular weapons for spies, detectives, gunslingers, gangsters, military characters, and more. Examples highlighting inaccurate vs. accurate weapons depictions. An insightful foreword by David Morrell, the award-winning creator of Rambo. Equal parts accessible, humorous, and practical, The Writer's Guide to Weapons is the one resource you need to incorporate firearms and knives into your fiction like a seasoned professional.
The Writer's Handbook: A Guide For Social Workers
by Dona Young Andrea Tamburro Marshelia HarrisThe Writer's Handbook: A Guide for Social Workers is a writing reference for social work majors and graduate students. Specific to social work, the text contains chapters on documenting in the field, research, and APA style citation and formatting. In addition, learners have access to full chapters on principles of grammar (such as verbs, pronouns, and parallel structure), punctuation (commas, semicolons, colons, quotation marks, and so on), and writing style (active voice, conciseness).The text is designed to help writers at all levels bring the quality of their work to higher levels by reviewing principles followed by practice.Since APA style is required for social work study, a special effort has been make to present a full chapter on APA style as well as integrate APA requirements in formatting and style throughout the text.The text is reader friendly, contains keys to all exercises at the back of the book, and gives learners access to interactive activities at the book's website.
The Writer's Harbrace Handbook
by Cheryl Glenn Loretta GrayTHE WRITER'S HARBRACE HANDBOOK, 4th Edition, is grounded in the belief that an understanding of the rhetorical situation--the writer, reader, message, context, and exigence (reason for writing)--provides the best starting point for effective writing and reading. This comprehensive handbook guides student writers in employing that rhetorical understanding as they choose the most effective information to include, the best arrangement of that information, and the most appropriate language to use. The text moves students through the steps that constitute successful writing--from finding appropriate topics and writing clear thesis statements to arranging ideas and developing initial drafts. THE WRITER'S HARBRACE HANDBOOK also provides several sample student papers and excerpts of papers in various disciplines, along with instruction for successfully completing similar assignments.
The Writer's Harbrace Handbook (2nd Edition)
by Robert Keith Miller Cheryl Glenn Loretta Gray Suzanne Strobeck WebbThe second edition of this handbook for college students maintains its focus on the rhetorical demands of writing and its emphasis on writing in the disciplines.
The Writer's Harbrace Handbook (Brief 2nd Edition)
by Cheryl Glenn Loretta Gray Robert K. Miller Suzanne Strobeck WebbProviding a reliable standard for writing students and teachers, this text is based on the Harbrace Handbook of English (1941), the perennial college grammar and writing guide that grew from a systematic analysis of errors in some 20,000 college papers. In addition to a cleaner and clearer design, the second edition offers new emphasis on the rhetorical situation; revamped chapters on drafting and revising essays, e-designing, and writing arguments; new chapters on e-writing and evaluating online and print sources; coverage of writing for academic discourse, social and natural sciences, and business; and expanded style guides for researched writing. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The Writer's Idea Thesaurus: An Interactive Guide for Developing Ideas for Novels and Short Stories
by Fred WhiteEndless ideas at your fingertips, and at the turn of a page... Need an idea for a short story or novel? Look no further than The Writer's Idea Thesaurus. It's far more than a collection of simple writing prompts. You'll find a vast treasury of story ideas inside, organized by subject, theme, and situation categories, and listed alphabetically for easy reference. Author and award-winning writing instructor Fred White shows you how to build out and customize these ideas to create unique plots that reflect your personal storytelling sensibilities, making The Writer's Idea Thesaurus an invaluable tool for generating creative ideas and vanquishing writer's block--for good. Inside you'll find: 2,000 unique and dynamic story ideas perfect for novels and short stories of any genre or writing style Twenty major idea categories, such as The Invasion of X, The Transformation of X into Y, Escape from X, The Curse of X, and more Multiple situations that further refine the major categories, such as The Creation of Artificial Life, The Descent Into Madness, Love in the Workplace, The Journey to a Forgotten Realm, and more Invaluable advice on how to customize each idea. The Writer's Idea Thesaurus is an interactive story generator that opens the door to thousands of new story arcs and plotlines.
Writers Inc: Student Handbook For College-and-Career Readiness
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt StaffWriters INC Student Handbook is thoughtfully designed with college-and-career readiness in mind, starting with all facets of writing—from constructing sentences and paragraphs to developing academic essays. Explanatory essays and essays of argumentation are included, as are responses to literature and many narrative forms. There are also special sections on writing across the curriculum, social media, updated MLA and APA guidelines, and test taking skills to help students’ master new performance-based assessments.