Customer Reviews

Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Writerrific" is subtitled: "Creativity Training for Writers." The idea is that it gives hints, tips, and exercises that will help you to get past what author Eva Shaw calls "page fright" and turn yourself into a font of creative ideas. There are some topics in here that sound interesting, including "Writeriffic and You: Styling Your Creative Life", "Your Inner Writer", "Your Writer's Voice", "Creative Kick Starts", and "Can You Make It as a Writer?". But don't get excited just yet; these only take up about 14 pages, largish print with very large section headings.

On the other hand, the advice here is useful. Ms. Shaw is the author of many (many!) books and magazine articles, and the teacher of an online class, and she has some practical and handy advice to pass on. Ms. Shaw strikes a nice balance between encouraging anyone who wants to try to write, and reminding us that writing takes skill and work.

I think the exercises are good. Not stunning. But certainly if you're having trouble getting started, the exercises provided here might get you going. Some of these are fairly traditional (pick a word at random from the dictionary and start writing on it). A few are actually a little different (cut photos from magazines of people and animals and match animal heads to people bodies. Write using your creation as a character). Technically there are 19 exercises. Many of them have plenty of possible variations, however, so if you don't get bored, they can keep you busy for a while.

On the one hand, the single blank page that goes with each exercise might lower the barriers of resistance when you're trying to get yourself to do the first exercise or three. On the other hand, I hardly feel that it was necessary to make the latter two-thirds of the book entirely blank as well. The back of the book lists its price as $14.95--I can get a stack of cheap notebooks or scrap paper for that price (or just pop open a word processor window on my computer for even less)! I would be much happier to pay a third of that (maybe half) for the part of the book that contained text and exercises and buy my own paper. Ms. Shaw could done this without sacrificing the single blank page that goes with each exercise.

Ultimately, if you find this one in the bargain bin it's worth getting. It is not, however, worth the full cover price unless you have too much money on your hands.

Don't let the small price of this must-have writing book make you think it's ho-hum. It's has become just the spark I've needed to keep the momentum going in my writing career, after a lengthy bout with writer's block. The exercises are simple, "deceptively simple" according to Dr. Shaw, and have made me stretch more than I thought possible. Now my creative thinking has changed and it seems that everyday I see and understand more of what I'm to do as a writer. Besides the book is fun and the advice is timely, non intimidating and just as encouraging as Dr. Shaw is in person. I've attended some of her online writing classes and that coupled with this incredible investment has propelled me to selling three articles and placing a number of essays. If you're in a period of doubting your creativity, get this book. I did and I'm telling all my writing friends.

How can you not love this little gem? First of all you can take it wherever you go. Write in it every day; use it for ideas for articles, essays and short stories; and when you feel like you haven't got a word worth writing left inside of you, go to page 49, and start putting some of the words that are out there together - I'll guarantee you'll be off and writing. It's a lot of writing practice for a little money - a wise investment at any price.

Eva Shaw knows of what she speaks. Her gifts to us are extraordinary, not only because she is a working writer and an active mentor, but perhaps more importantly, because she shares unselfishly from the heart and her very own school of hard knocks. "Writeriffic," the book, reflects the Eva I have come to know and respect through three of her on-line classes, including "Writeriffic" and "Advanced Writeriffic." She is concise, practical, poignant, positive, and inspirational ~ and gives great "nudges" to boot.

For those of you who express concern about so many "blank pages," be reminded that writing is all about practice, practice, practice. Also be on guard: Eva's exercises in the book, as with her on-line classes, are deceptively simple. My copy is now dog-eared, coffee-stained, stuffed with post-it notes, and smothered in exercise scribble (some of which constitutes first, very rough drafts of works to come). This is a great reference book, practice journal, and guide for the emerging writer ~ in any genre. It will unleash your creative right brain ~ guaranteed. I say buy it, use it, and savor the rewards!

I just got this book last week, and I love it already. I did the "18" exercise and found myself reliving the dread and fear I felt at age 18. The exercises are simple to do, but not always easy. Still, I'm eager to do more. I used to belong to that quote (I don't know the source), "I hate writing, but I love having written." More and more, with the help & encouragement of this book, I love the writing too!

"Writeriffic" is a must have for any budding writer or for anyone who wants to expand their creativity. This book is full of ideas to banish writer's block and to get creativity flowing. Eva gives you the tools to become the writer you want to be. I love this book and recommend it to writers of all ages. So, what are you waiting for? Hurry and order your copy now. You will never regret it.

My initial opinion of this writers guide was empty pages??
After opening it up I realized this book was written by someone who cares about the craft and she willingly flows with a open heart.Its somewhat of a rare gift when someone mentors with compassion. Eva Shaw's online course works well with this companion book,and the positive support there is outstanding.
This books gives the writer the ability to be expressive and overcome the anxiety of the word.
The empty pages are there for a reason,Mrs. Shaw answered the phone leaned over and hands us the phone.Its for you she said.
So off we go filling those blank pages.

Antonio Cavaluzzo
Randolph N.J.

I had to respond to the earlier reviewer's comment that it had blank pages in the book.

It's supposed to. It is a work-book where one reads the lessons and writes their responses in the book. This is not a book to be read through and then put on a shelf for decoration. This is a very creative work-book and well designed including pages to write on, how clever and how creative.

I will use it and enjoy the challenges doing the lessons as the book was intended for. From one writer to another I fully recommend it.

You can find the exercises in many other writing books, nothing very new or special here. And, hey, I already have a journal (many of them for that matter) and 3/4 of the book is empty writingspace! So my advice would be: buy another book with writing exercises and look for a blank journal.....many of those out there!!

excellent book, lots of exercises to practice writing and lot of ideas to work for fiction to nonfiction writers.