Shut Up & Write! [Perfect Paperback]

Judy Bridges (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

You've wanted to write for years, but something always gets in the way. "There's not enough time." "My family comes first." "I don't have anything important to say."

Well, Judy Bridges, who runs the Redbird Studio writing center in Milwaukee, has some advice: Shut Up & Write! That's the title of her new book, a combination of tough-love coaching and humor that inspires and shows you how to become the writer you want to be. And, though it sounds like boot camp, the book is as encouraging as it is practical.

In her workshops, Bridges has helped a brigade of writers--6,000, she says--to follow their dreams, and many have gone on to publication. Now, she's put her years of experience as a teacher into this concise, helpful handbook.

The first chapters gently push readers to get started. Forget all the reasons you can't write and dive in. The most valuable lessons are how to get ideas and develop them into some kind of writing--fiction, memoir, essays or magazine articles. The take-aways are writing without editing and writing from inside. Don't try to sound important--just write from "deep in your belly." This concept is a key element in her approach. She later shows you how to take what's inside yourself and turn it into a story.

Bridges devotes several chapters to writing fiction, and she has devised effective exercises for developing characters, narrative drive, scenes and tone.

I applaud her for tackling--in her section on nonfiction--what is probably the most common mistake editors face: unorganized material. You do the research, get all this great information, but how do you organize it? Bridges suggests an "alligator outline," which looks like a sentence diagram but includes key information such as your readers, message and main points.

She likes charts and relies heavily on them in her exercises, which become ever more complex with each page. If you're like me and not into that kind of thing, just focus on the points she's making and devise your own way of incorporating them into your work.

Bridges also includes the preliminaries of forming a writing group, revising and getting published. In the category of what every writer needs to hear at one time or another is her chapter "A Hatful of Rabbits: When the Going Gets Tough," a down-to-earth, honest look at incorporating writing into daily life.

Can anyone be a writer? Maybe not. But you won't know if you can be one if you don't try. As Bridges says, "You want to write? What's stopping you?"

--Elfrieda Abbe, publisher of The Writer - September 2011 issue

Encouraging, humorous, straight-talking. Shut Up & Write! is one of the best books I've read on writing. Judy Bridges' no-nonsense voice becomes your portable mentor. Own it, read it, mark it up, laugh with it, and reread it throughout your writing career. --Shauna Singh Baldwin, author of English Lessons, What the Body Remembers, The Tiger Claw, and We Are Not in Pakistan

Shut Up & Write! is filled with such practical information and sincere understanding that it's about to become every writer's best friend. The author's narrative style is itself a model for all writers. --Chris Roerden, author of Don't Murder Your Mystery and Don't Sabotage Your Submission

Judy Bridges is a driving force behind the many writers she has helped. I wondered if a book could capture that, but I need not have worried. If you want to write, do yourself a favor buy this book and follow her advice. You will not only write, you will succeed. --John Lehman, founder of Rosebud Magazine and literary editor of Wisconsin People & Ideas

Judy Bridges is a driving force behind the many writers she has helped. I wondered if a book could capture --John Lehman, founder of Rosebud Magazine and literary editor of Wisconsin People & Ideas

The short story writing class I took way back when I was a college English major was a dud. The importance of maintaining point of view was the only thing I learned. Well, I also learned that I did not and will not ever try and write like Earnest Hemmingway. It was strictly by serendipity that I met Judy Bridges. She was the teacher at a week long writing retreat I attended at The Clearing a folk school inWisconsin. During that class I learned the importance of writing from inside the scene and the magnitude of knowing my audience. At first I was somewhat put-off by Judy s honest teaching style but by the end of the week I knew that her no nonsense approach was exactly what I needed. For everyone who is not able to experience Judy s teaching in person her book Shut Up & Write! will show you the way to success and you ll hear Judy s plain speaking voice on every page. Shut Up & Write! contains tools which can be used by writers of all level of experience. The chapter on characters describes the use of a character wheel to assist you in developing fully rounded characters. Do you need a brush up on show versus telling? Then study the chapter titled Show and Tell . Along with all the method stuff, through-out Shut Up & Write! you ll find many references to Judy s motivational methodology. Judy encourages the writer but she s heard all the excuses for not writing and will quickly squelch them. Judy says, The important thing is to make a habit of writing as much as you say you will. It doesn t have to be wonderful, it just has to be writing. A couple of months ago, I attended a weekend writing retreat lead by Judy. At breakfast the first morning I was moaning and groaning about having to write something to read at that evening s round table when Judy said to me, You re still a princess. Zing, she got me. I went back to room and wrote fast and furiously. That evening I had a personal essay to share at round table proving once again how important it is to Shut Up & Write! --The Chronicle Cat- chroniclecatbooks.wordpress.com

Judy Bridges is a driving force behind the many writers she has helped. I wondered if a book could capture that, but I need not have worried. If you want to write, do yourself a favor buy this book and follow her advice. You will not only write, you will succeed. --John Lehman, founder of Rosebud Magazine and literary editor of Wisconsin People & Ideas

About the Author

Judy Bridges has helped thousands of writers live their dream. She founded Redbird Studio writing center in Milwaukee in 1993, after earning her living as a writer of short stories, magazine articles, plays, and corporate communications. That's when she found out that you can love two careers at once writing and teaching. Students of all ages attest to her gifts as a wise, helpful, no-nonsense mentor and guide.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Redbird Studio Press; 1st edition (January 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976474271
• ISBN-13: 978-0976474272
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book: Do as it instructs: Become a better writer January 19, 2011

By Amy L. Jenkins

Format:Perfect Paperback

Judy Bridges ability to offer pointed advice and specific frameworks that rev up a writers' momentum is in perfect balance with her take-no-excuses warm encouragement. Shut-Up & Write! absolutely reflects the voice that has mentored and supported thousands of successful writers and authors. Any writer ready to take their writing seriously will find tools, instruction, examples, and inspiration that will demystify the process growing as a writer. For fiction and nonfiction writers.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best writing book on the market January 6, 2011

By T. F. Hanratty

Format:Perfect Paperback

This book, "Shut Up and Write", is the best book of its kind I've come across, Before I read this book, Stephen King's "On Writing", was my favorite, but this book is better crafted and the most inspirational book on writing I've read. I love the quotes at the top of each chapter, and the real meat of the book, the building of confidence, drove me to the keyboard to finish the three stories I had started.

Tom Hanratty
Author of "The Art and Science of Tracking Man and Beast"

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just What You Need December 17, 2010

By carol

Format:Perfect Paperback

If you want to write,this is the book you need to either get started or keep going. Judy teaches you what you need to know with expertise,inspiration and good doses of humor.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to write it, do yourself a favor and get this book June 15, 2011

By Kent Stolt

Format:Perfect Paperback

I can't think of a better book about writing that gives it to you like it really is. It's more than a textbook - much more. It's more than a personal memoir. What Judy Bridges has done here is provide a hands-on guide and motivator that takes the reader through all the facets of writing in a way that seems accessible, not daunting. With a humorous and common sense approach Judy makes you believe it really can be done. That's step one. Step two - take another look at the book's title.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal May 15, 2011

By Kirk Farber

Format:Perfect Paperback

Excellent book! Judy Bridges has an amazing talent for helping writers find what they're looking for. And all too often, what we're looking for is motivation of a very specific kind. It needs to be honest, meaningful, encouraging, straight-forward, wise, and truly useful, all at once. Luckily for us, she delivers the whole shebang and more in Shut Up & Write! If you want to get to writing, start by reading Judy's book. She's the real deal.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A no nonsense motivator mixing criticism, encouragement and humor December 17, 2010

By Jon Olson

Format:Perfect Paperback

Judy Bridges has inspired countless writers and pulled great work out of those who never thought they could. Her Shut Up & Write method is just what the title promises -- a primer on discipline, basics tenets and letting yourself do this thing that may not seem necessary. Judy is funny, real, and finds a way to criticize while encouraging, never destroying. Buy the book! Let her teach you to follow your heart!

Jon Olson, author of The Petoskey Stone

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully informative! August 6, 2012

By Annie

Format:Perfect Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Judy Bridges captures the best of "how to write" with a style of writing that models the information. The book is practical, contains all the basics and could easily be used as a text for a writing class or a guide book for the person seeking to begin or improve their writing. I have read many "how to" writing books. This one goes to the head of the class.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Writers and Writers-to-Be July 15, 2012

By Tracy Riva

Format:Kindle Edition

I had the opportunity to read Shut Up and Write as a judge for the Global eBook Awards. I was a little intimidated by the title, I expected to open the book and find a Drill Sargent waiting inside roughly demanding I write, right now.

I was pleasantly surprised. Judy Bridges comes across on paper as extremely knowledgeable and personable. Her advice is based on years of experience and the exercises she gives are great.

I found the book to be interesting and not the least bit pedantic, which was another concern I had going into the reading. As a writer herself Ms. Bridges knows her audience and writes in a way that I feel will appeal to most writers. Her style is direct, but not pushy, she shares examples of results she has gained using the very techniques in the books at classes she teaches, and the exercises she asks the reader to do are easy and result in productive writing.

Bridges style is approachable and her way of teaching is extremely helpful. I would recommend this book not only to beginning writers but also to experienced writers. You can learn to hone your craft through this book and develop your skills. I found this to be one of the more helpful books on writing that I have read.