Customer Reviews

The Writer's Toolbox: Creative Games and Exercises for Inspiring the 'Write' Side of Your Brain

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What I like most about Jamie Cat Callan's The Writer's Toolbox is her non-linear approach to narrative. Premised on chance, writers of all ages literally can choose story elements -- their "tools" -- from this thoughtfully designed toolbox. There's a wealth of material and options from which to choose. For example, if you (or your students) are having trouble starting your story, play, or poem, choose a "First Sentence" stick and write for 3 minutes. Or, perhaps a character is giving you trouble. Spin the "Protagonist Wheel." Maybe you'll end up with "Laurie the famous actress," whose goal is, "she wants to see the world." The only problem is "she's afraid of heights," so she takes action and "learns how to drive." Now you have a protagonist, a plot, and no excuse to procrastinate.

I had a great time surrendering to and exploring Jamie's prompts. While I was writing, my mind was racing, alert, and eager for the next challenge. After experimenting with more than a dozen of her exercises, I started generating my own whimsical, free-wheeling ideas. At the same time, it was comforting to know that if I got stuck, I could always reach for a "Last Straw" stick or a "Sixth Sense Card" to rescue me. The student examples were fun to read, and there's a not-to-be-missed bibliography on writing.

The Writer's Toolbox is for young and old, teacher and student, experienced and inexperienced novelists, short story writers, playwrights, screenwriters, and poets. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a writing course. All you need is a little encouragement and a toolbox, The Writer's Toolbox, by Jamie Cat Callan.

I'm an English teacher and a part-time, professional non-fiction writer. I walked past "The Writer's Toolbox" in a bookstore this past weekend, sniffed at the creative packaging, and muttered, "All fluff, but no substance, I'll bet!" And yet, I found myself going back to it. Finally, I bought the damned thing, hoping to scratch the itch.

At home, I opened it, expecting buyer's remorse. No way!!! This kit is amazing. I plan to use it in the classroom next year, both during school hours with my writing students and after hours with my Writers Guild. I especially like the sample story -- in the directions -- that is essentially the result of the toolbox games.

My favorite device? The non sequiter sticks. I plan on using them to help keep some of my non-fiction writing dynamic. Of course, I'll have to modify the items to my own research and reality, but that strikes me as half the fun.

A very clever little box full of games, ideas, and methods for creative writing. Thanks!

Scott Snair

How do you become a writer? By writing something of course. As any writer knows, coming up with fresh ideas is oftentimes the hardest part. This toolbox helps jumpstart the writing process by focusing on three different useful and unique approaches to building a story: sentence sticks, sixth-sense cards, and story wheel palettes.

With each set of tools, you are provided tidbits of information--story details--that need to be connected. It will be hard for you NOT to write whatever story starts flowing from your imagination.

To get yourself started, randomly pluck a first "sentence stick." Choose a second stick to reveal a transition. Pick your last stick to nail your climactic moment. It's as simple as that, but this cleverly packaged kit makes it addictively fun.

Still feeling a little intimidated by the writing process? Then shuffle up the sixth-sense deck of cards and then choose a few images to elicit sensory detail (smell, sight, sound, taste, touch, and memory) to create your story. The sixth-sense cards stimulate your ability to write specific imagery that will engage your reader.

For a full-blown diagnosis of writer's block, try using the palette wheels to structure your story. Spin the protagonist palette wheel and your character is instantly on the page. Expand that character with back-story. Rotate the goal palette to further develop your character as you uncover underlying desires and motivations. Twirl the obstacle palette to introduce tension or conflict in your story and ultimately push the plot forward. And finally, spin the action palette to clinch your story's climactic moment.

The packaging on this toolbox is so well done that I leave the writer's toolbox on my coffee table. Its clever design invites tactile responses from everyone. The hinged hardcover box neatly stores all the writing tools--a book, sentence sticks, a timer, a deck of sixth-sense cards, and four story wheels. Even friends of mine who aren't writers get a kick out of playing with the toolbox and making up impromptu stories.

I highly recommend this to creative types and those who long to be more creative!
The Writer's Toolbox: Creative Games and Exercises for Inspiring the 'Write' Side of Your Brain

Wow, I bought this product a couple of months ago and it's already listed for less than what I paid for it. I recommend new buyers catch this deal before it ends. I was a little skeptical when I read the other reviews because it was so highly rated. I bought this product to get myself warmed up for NaNoWriMo. It turned out to be just the thing to get my mind going. The booklet is concise and the exercises can be used in so many different ways. I especially find it helpful to mix the sticks and time my writing exercises. I've seen myself take great leaps in my writing that is a direct result of how the exercises are organized. Lastly, it's just a lot of fun! Even if you're not a writer, you can use this kit during family gatherings or when you just want to have a game night with friends. The only drawback is keeping everything organized in the box. The sticks sort of slide all over the place. I would recommend using rubber bands to hold them in place until you're ready to pull them out again.

As a teacher of writing, I am always trying to think of new ways to inspire students---but never in a million years would I have come up with anything this inventive, this brilliant, this creative, this imaginative, this clever!!! Everyone trying to write, every student, every teacher, should have this toolbox---it is an ingenius piece of genius!

Jamie Callan was my long-time writer teaching and mentor. Her excersizes have been so helpful to my writing that years after taking her classes I have contacted her to find out the assignments she has given her class so I can do them too. That being said, the writer's toobox is an amazing resource for any writer who simply needs a prompt or someone hoping to get published. With the help of Jamie Callan, my work has been published in Best Lesbian Erotica 2007 (cleis Press) edited by Tristan Taormino witha foward by Emma Donaghue. I love Jamie and I love the writer's toolbox!

What a great and valuable idea this combination of game and inspiration is for students and solitary writers alike. I love the sense of fun that encourages us to run and jump into stories we never thought we had in us! Great for both the "inspirer" and the "inspire-ee"! The Toolbox should definitely be part of all those things that prod us into bringing to light the wonderful worlds held within. Good for all ages and days of the week.

The Writer's Toolbox is fun and engaging-- not only for me, but for our weekly writers' group! The group of six to eight of us come to the table with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The Writer's Toolbox inspirational and fun exercises are relational and help us to jump 'write' in with our warm-ups! Thanks for sharing your fabulous ideas and instruction, Jamie!
Tanja Moriarty, "Encouraging Words", Haddam, Connecticut.

This is truly a wonderful product! Simply put, the Writer's Toolbox is a necessity for every writer. Who among us has not been faced with a blank page at one point or another during our writing careers? The writing exercises in this package are perfect for moving beyond "I want to write" to "I am writing." In fact, it was a writing exercise from Jamie Cat Callan that inspired me to write my novel, due for completion in August 2008. Kudos to Ms. Callan for a brilliant creation!

Wrtiers' block is common to all writers and is often a frustration that can hang you up. Inspiration is not done at the push of a button and writing creatively is not a matter of throwing a switch. How often I wish that such means did exist.
Fortunately for me I had the opportunity to meet Jamie and attend two of her workshops for creative writing. Jamie is a real 'pro.' She has exceptional skills in teaching the craft of writing and for nurturing the passion for writing. She achieves this with expertise by giving feedback, support and a share of her own enthusiasm for writing. Having participated in her exercises, I can vouche for the amazing results one can gain by using The Writers' Toolbox. I have shared Jamie's work with my adult writers group and find that sharing our five minute exercises really helps and affirms our desire for writing.
I would highly recommend The Writers' Toolbox to any writer at any age or for any writers' group. When you're stuck, this is the switch that you're looking for.
Joe LaCroix, Norwell, Ma.