The Creative Writer's Phrase-Finder [Hardcover]

Edward Prestwood (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 364 pages
• Publisher: Etc Pubns (January 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088280104X
• ISBN-13: 978-0882801049
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,130,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource!!, February 27, 2002

By 

Serene (Marina, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Creative Writer's Phrase-Finder (Hardcover)

The Creative Writer's Phrase-Finder is a great resource for writers of all ages and areas of competency.

This unassuming book has over 350 pages of great suggestions on how to spice up your dialog, action, or descriptive scenes.

Includes sections, on people, time of day, illness, and even insects. Examples of great descriptive dialog: "his breath coming in quick, pain-filled gasps" to "she grotesquely misinterpreted his actions," "the foul odor of decay," etc.

This book has it all, even a chapter on common first names and transitional phrases such as 'furthermore' 'in action' and 'after all.'

A must for any writer, seeking inspiration, or spice for their work with something different!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice, March 15, 2006

By 

D. Corritore "writer hobbyist" (SOMERSET, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Creative Writer's Phrase-Finder (Hardcover)

Very nice book full of useful or at least inspiring phrases that can give you the boost you need to start thinking of things in new ways and start generating some interesting descriptive phrases of your own. If you can craft stories, but can't describe them in an interesting and imaginative way, this might very well help. I also recommend 'The Describers Dictionary' for its unique approach to helping along these same lines. One fault I find in most of these books is describing things using the senses.. smell, taste, touch.. these types of descriptions are usually very lacking, and I think adding 'sense' elements to a story is pretty important for a reader to become more immersed in the world. Regardless, this is a great source of inspiration. Keep it next to a thematic thesaurus (Rogets International, Word Menu, etc), to help your writing.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Featured Alternate of the Writer's Digest Book Club, October 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Creative Writer's Phrase-Finder (Hardcover)

A unique compendium of 9,000 descriptive phrases. Helps to overcome "writer's block." Provides fresh ideas"...deserves a place on the desk of every author, creative writing teacher, and editor. Easy to read type. A bargain.