Freeing Your Creativity: A Writer's Guide [Hardcover]

Marshall Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 1992

When you were a child, your mind was a wild garden of creativity. But as you grew up, that joyful fountain of ideas became blocked by rules and doubts. Author Marshall Cook helps you free your creativity and take your writing to new heights. Cook teaches you how to banish old fears, habits, and excuses and free your muse from its hiding place inside you.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- A down-to-earth discussion that includes a plethora of ways to stimulate self-expression. Concrete examples of creativity from Cook's life are shared in an understandable and enthusiastic style. He provides a variety of tips, ideas, and clues to deal with writer's block. His pep talk and the actual exercises, such as free writing and doodling (mapping), will encourage readers to pick up a pen and begin writing. This exciting book will be helpful to both teachers designing writing exercises and students working on their own. The bibliography is current and will be helpful in expanding a collection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 1st edition (February 27, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898795060
• ISBN-13: 978-0898795066
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,656,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marshall J. Cook,
Professor emeritus, Division of Continuing Studies,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
email: [e-mail]
www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/writing/extrainnings
www.odyssey.wisc.edu
I've published 30 books. I edit Extra Innings, an online newsletter for writers, having for 20 years edited a print publication for writers called Creativity Connection. I've published articles and short stories in hundreds of regional and national magazines, and I'm a columnist for The Writer's Magazette, an online magazine for writers. I teach in the Odyssey Project for the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
I hold a BA in creative writing and an MA in communications from Stanford University. I've been married to the former Ellen Malloy since 1968, and we have one son, Jeremiah, who is married to the former Kimberly Zunker. When not writing or teaching, I like to read, exercise, play the piano, draw cartoons, listen to old time radio shows, and talk back to the television (not all at the same time). I'm a passionate baseball fan, drive the back roads (often taking the longest distance between two points, and eat in small town cafes.
My published books include:
Freeing Your Creativity: a writer's guide, Writer's Digest Books, 1991.
(Pb 1995),
How to Write with the Skill of a Master and the Genius of a Child, WD,
1992,
Slow Down and Get More Done, Betterway Books, 1993,
Leads and Conclusions, Writer's Digest Books, 1995,
The Year of the Buffalo: a novel of love and minor league baseball,
Savage Press, '97.
Time Management: proven techniques for making the most of your valuable time,
Adams Media Corporation, 1998
Pack Your Bags: baseball's trade secrets, with Jack Walsh, Masters Press, 1998
Effective Coaching, McGraw Hill Briefcase Books series, 1999
Your Novel Proposal: from creation to contract, with Blythe Camenson, WD, 1999
Handling Worry: a Catholic approach, St. Paul's Books and Media, 2000
Off Season: a novel of love, faith, and minor league baseball, Savage Press, '02
Murder Over Easy: a Mo Quinn Mystery, Bleak House Press, '03
Baseball's Good Guys (with Jack Walsh), Sports Publications, 2004
The Great Wisconsin Manhunt of 1961, Badger Books, 2004
Twin Killing, a Mo Quinn Mystery, Bleak House Books, 2007
Murder at Midnight, a Mo Quinn Mystery, Bleak House Press, 2005
Obsessions, a Mo Quinn Mystery, Bleak House Books, 2008
Give 'em what they want: the right way to pitch your novel to editors and agents, with Blythe
Camenson, Writer's Digest Books, 2005
My books are available through Amazon.com and the other usual suspects.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Freeing Your Creativity : A Writer's Guide, February 16, 2000

By 

Janice S. Kaat - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freeing Your Creativity: A Writer's Guide (PAPERBACK PRINTING) (Paperback)

This book is terrific for freeing your creativity. It gives you tips to use to stop the writers block, or better yet, helps you never to encouter one. It helps you to write better then you ever thought you could. It's great!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He knows, and he does, what he writes about...., July 19, 2002

By 

Julia Doubravszky (Fayetteville, Arkansas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freeing Your Creativity: A Writer's Guide (Hardcover)

Cook knows exactly, what he writes about, and with his smart humor and sensitive, vivid style, he can inspire almost anyone to write. I always loved writing, and from my own experience, I already use a lot of his advices. I also enjoyed to read about the typical misconceptions concerning creativity. He reveals, that not ALL the creative people keep a terrible mess around themselves, and dream with open eyes 24 hours a day. Writing is not only about talent and the 'magical inspiration' - but also about sweat, effort and commitment, as well as changing some of our everyday habits, in order to learn the "skill of creativity."
Cook's book is smart, eye-opening, enjoyable, and very-very inspirational. In the meantime it reveals the reality behind so many myths that we, non-professionals tend to believe when it comes to writing.
I think, this book is a MUST for anyone who ever considered writing even as a hobby in his or her life. I would even go further: unless you DEFINITELY hate writing, please, read this book. You may make up your mind, and start writing....

4.0 out of 5 stars Reality Check., November 29, 1999

By 

Eldonna Bouton "http://www.whole-heart.com" (author of, "Journaling from the Heart.") - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freeing Your Creativity: A Writer's Guide (PAPERBACK PRINTING) (Paperback)

By the time you finish this book you will know if you have what is required to take your writing to the next level. Do you long to publish? Are you ready to start submitting your writing? Find out and get lots of helpful tips along the way.