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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The world's best cure for writer's block, February 27, 2002
My career depends on meeting deadlines and writing every single day. I can't afford an attach of writer's block. That's why Fear of Writing caught my attention when I stumbled across it a year or so ago. I have studied hundreds of books on writing, graduated from a university creative writing program, completed a diploma in journalism and presented writing workshops for several years in addition to working full time as a business writer. None of these has helped me to get down and write as much as the material in this book. No matter how well you are trained or how profoundly talented you might be as a writer it is of no value until you actually write. Talking and reading about writing is fine but it doesn't make you a writer. Only writing does that and this book gets you writing. It's not your average book. It's deceptively relaxed and makes you feel as though you're chatting with an old friend. Don't be fooled by how much fun you're having as you play with the 'Fertile Material'. This is solid stuff that trips the switch in your brain to turn on your writing generator. You'll actually feel a rush of energy within minutes of getting started. Whenever I'm blocked and just can't seem to get started on a writing project I now pick up Fear of Writing, randomly choose an exercise and plunge into it. Fifteen minutes later I have a couple of pages of spontaneous writing. Usually it has nothing to do with my current project yet my mind is clear, I'm now focused on the project and so full of energy that the work is done in record time. Buying Fear of Writing has proven to be the best investment I've ever made in my writing career. It has helped me through many blank hours at the keyboard.
You'll find yourself having so much fun and producing such great writing that you'll never want to part with Fear of Writing. I won't even lend my copy to anyone. It's my security blanket and I won't part with it.
The author, Milli Thornton, has a website... which has a raft of free stuff for writers. Go have a look and discover why this book is so good that you just have to have your own copy...
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
She Has Spies In My House! I Just Know It!, January 12, 2006
This review is from: Fear of Writing: For Writers & Closet Writers (Paperback)
What I want to know is how Milli Thornton knew exactly where I was when I began reading Fear Of Writing: I was curled up in bed. She knew that, and she told me that I was not allowed to read her book in bed:
"To begin with, this is not a bedtime book. Just as you would never dream of exercising aerobically right before you go to sleep, this book should be strictly a daytime pursuit. . . . so don't read this book in bed (Thornton, 10)."
When I read this, I put the book down. But I was afraid to pick it up again. What else would Thornton know about me? Would she know that I hate everything I write as soon as I write it? Would she know that I often don't write because I know I'll end up hating my work-that I make myself fail before I even try?
I did finally conquer my fear of reading Fear Of Writing, though, and I am glad I did. Thornton's insights, anecdotes, and short stories are not only helpful, but are also fun to read. And her Fertile Material exercises stretch the imagination! I've written from the point of view of a mutt-hating Siamese cat, a cockroach-loving activist, and a jazz musician.
I love that Thornton gives her readers no pressure to write the perfect piece. She gives a prompt, and you can write whatever you want, be it a poem, a dialogue, a short story, or a stream-of-consciousness piece. You don't even have to finish the story! Just write something, anything, to get those creative juices flowing. You can choose to share your writings with others (I have found that sharing them with the Fertile Material group on Yahoo! is quite rewarding.) or keep them to yourself. You simply write for yourself-an audience of one. No fear there!
This is an absolutely wonderful book! Anyone plagued by the fear-of-writing bug should read it and use the Fertile Material exercises. You won't be sorry!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
No Fear!, December 15, 2005
This review is from: Fear of Writing: For Writers & Closet Writers (Paperback)
My first contact with Milli was when my teenaged daughter and I attended a "Fear of Writing" workshop. As both an ex-English teacher and "wannabe" writer, I was very interested in how Milli was going to present the topic of writing. We were both a little apprehensive and uptight about having to write and then actually read our ramblings out loud to people! NOT TO WORRY! Milli's techniques are so friendly and non-frightening that we both had a wonderful time. Her book is an absolute must for anybody that wants to write, even if it's just for fun! The book is very laid-back, conversational, and downright funny! Even the cover picture of the dog holding a match to his manuscript makes me laugh everytime I look at it. The Fertile Material exercises are fantastic--they wind up your imagination and let it go and then wonderful things happen. One of the best parts of my week is our "Fear of Writing" meetings every Tuesday morning. The Fertile Material exercises are such fun to write about, and it is amazing how many totally different stories spin off from each exercise. Most of the time we laugh and sometimes we cry, but the best part is that everyone is so supportive--no one tells you what you've written isn't good enough. That's the basic idea of the book--just write, write, write. We're all learning to let our creativity overtake our rigidity and to develop and appreciate our own style, even if it's different from everybody else's. You shouldn't be reading this review. You should be reading the book. Buy it! Read it! Let the fun and creativity begin!
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