Writing from the Heart: Inspirations and Exercises for Women Who Want to Write [Paperback]

Leslea Newman (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 198 pages
• Publisher: Crossing Press (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895946416
• ISBN-13: 978-0895946416
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,471,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lesléa Newman is the author of 64 books for readers of all ages including the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS, the poetry collection, STILL LIFE WITH BUDDY, the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK, and the children's books A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, THE BEST CAT IN THE WORLD, DONOVAN'S BIG DAY, and HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful creative exercises for beginning writers!, October 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing from the Heart: Inspirations and Exercises for Women Who Want to Write (Paperback)

For the past three months I have read every book out there on how to write. I wish I'd had this book at the beginning! You want to be a writer but you don't know how. You don't know what to write about since nothing exciting happens to you. Wrong! Leslea Newman encourages you that you have something important to say and she gives you fun exercises to complete. Pretty soon you realize Leslea has you working on techniques of plot, character, dialogue, action, and much more and it was entirely painless. It's like a one-on-one creative writing workshop. Some of the exercises may seem silly but it's an easy way to get started writing every day. There is a good bibliography listing actual stories or books that have been published using each technique Leslea describes. I checked this book out from the library but now I have to buy it because there is too much good stuff in here.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Writing From the Heart, November 5, 2001

By 

Cassandra Barnes "Cassandra" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing from the Heart: Inspirations and Exercises for Women Who Want to Write (Paperback)

Leslea Newman says her book, Writing From the Heart: Inspiration and Exercises for Women Who Want to Write, "is a book for women who want to write but think they have nothing to say." Newman, who has more than twenty books to her credit, offers encouragement and optimism to all women interested in writing.
She says that it is a myth that people have to know what they want to write about before starting. She adds that the writing will never happen if we wait for the fear to vanish--that we just have to take a deep breath and start writing. She advises letting the writing lead you where it wants to go rather than trying to control it.
The exercises are simple, with lots of suggestions to help get you started. Newman provides examples with each one. She suggests starting with twenty minutes of free writing (writing whatever is on your mind, without judging it) every day. Other exercises involve describing common household objects or completing the sentence "I remember. . .." She then gets into describing imaginary places, people, and secrets.
The exercises end with the technical basics, like plotting and point of view. Newman tells writers to "start at the top of the page and work their way to the bottom. Just start writing. Don't think. Don't worry about the end product." That same advice applies to the exercises in her book. Start with the first one and continue with the next one, until they're all done. The results will surprise you!
Writing From The Heart is for every woman, regardless of what she thinks of her writing ability. As Newman says, "writing should be fun. There is a deep pleasure in exploring your own heart and mind, pushing your limits, challenging your skills and mastering a craft." She adds that "every woman has important stories to tell and the ability to tell them." Her book will help women develop that ability.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars -- I don't think you have to be a woman to benefit from this, August 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing from the Heart: Inspirations and Exercises for Women Who Want to Write (Paperback)

I enjoyed the down to earth exercises that made me want to get right to it. Oodles of first lines, sensible advice, and a unique approach to the intuitive writing skills of women in particular.