In "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays," nationally acclaimed writing teacher Sheila Bender shares the tips and secrets that have given so many of her students the skills and confidence to become writers. Her clear and powerful instruction will benefit experienced writers as much as it benefits beginner. "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays" includes: * Powerful encouragement to begin writing today * Instructions for writing 8 different kinds of personal essays * Special techniques for receiving and using critical feedback * Proven tips for getting your writing published * An extensive listing of additional resources Read "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays" and discover why Brenda Miller, author of "Tell It Slant: Writing and Shaping Creative Nonfiction," calls Sheila Bender an "extra-ordinary teacher in person and on the page."
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
I jumped on the opportunity to publish this new edition of Sheila's previous "Writing Personal Essays." This is one of the few books available that truly examines the art of writing this popular form of essay. I was--and am--enormously impressed by the clarity and power of Sheila's instruction. I am biased, of course, but I believe this book belongs on the shelf of every writer, beginner and veteran alike.
About the Author
Sheila Bender is a poet, essayist, book author and publisher of "Writing It Real" (writingitreal.com), an online instructional magazine for those who write from personal experience. She holds a Masters of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Washington and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Keane College in New Jersey. She has helped hundreds of students begin to write, continue to write, and publish. In her books, online workshops, and texts on writing, she combines over two decades of teaching and writing experience with cutting edge exercises and encouraging step-by-step discussions. She has written for "The Seattle Times," "The World," and "Poet Lore," among other publications and has served as a columnist and feature writer on writing personal essays, journaling, and writing poetry for "Writer's Digest." Her many books on writing include "Keeping a Journal You Love," "Writing Personal Essays: How to Shape Your Life Experiences for the Page," "A Year in the Life: Journaling for Self-Discovery," and "Writing Personal Poetry: Creating Poems from Life Experience." She co-authored "Writing in a New Convertible with the Top Down." In addition to her instructional writing, Sheila teaches at writers conferences and workshops around the country and online.
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More About the Author
After publishing many books on writing for a variety of publishers, I decided to launch Writing It Real, an online magazine for those who write from personal experience.
I have been publishing the magazine weekly since October, 2001, as well as facilitating others' writing in online classes, phone and email consults, and manuscript evaluations through WritingItReal.com. I also offer help through alliances with IAJW.org and Writers.com and through in-person seminars across the US. Most recently, I've enjoyed teaching for the Whidbey Island Writers' Conference, the Field's End Writer's Conference, the Write on the Sound Conference, Centrum Foundation's Writer's Conference, and the annual Writing It Real conference I do with Meg Files and Jack Heffron. I offer in-person classes regularly at Hugo House in Seattle and The Writers' Workhoppe in Port Townsend, WA as well as at libraries in the area.
In addition to the instructional books I write, I have a memoir out, A New Theology: Turning to Poetry in a Time of Grief. It took seven years to write about the five months following the death of my son in a snow boarding accident. I can think of no better way to heal while grieving than by reading poems and personal essays and stories by others who have suffered similar losses. When we have lost someone dear to us, we must live our lives double, for them and for us, to honor them. Writing toward discovery, as we do in writing poems and memoir, helps us live in this way and brings us energy.
I received my Master's Degree from the University of Washington where I studied with David Wagoner, William Matthews, Stephen Dunn, Stanley Plumly, Colleen McElroy and many other fine poets. I went on to also master the art of prose, and I enjoy each instructional book and article I write as I am constantly learning and sharing that learning with others is a passion. I hope you'll visit my website at www.writingitreal.com as well as my facebook fan pages on which I publish inspirational and informative writing messages as well as publication information: www.facebook.com/writingitreal and www.facebook/anewtheology.
I have been publishing the magazine weekly since October, 2001, as well as facilitating others' writing in online classes, phone and email consults, and manuscript evaluations through WritingItReal.com. I also offer help through alliances with IAJW.org and Writers.com and through in-person seminars across the US. Most recently, I've enjoyed teaching for the Whidbey Island Writers' Conference, the Field's End Writer's Conference, the Write on the Sound Conference, Centrum Foundation's Writer's Conference, and the annual Writing It Real conference I do with Meg Files and Jack Heffron. I offer in-person classes regularly at Hugo House in Seattle and The Writers' Workhoppe in Port Townsend, WA as well as at libraries in the area.
In addition to the instructional books I write, I have a memoir out, A New Theology: Turning to Poetry in a Time of Grief. It took seven years to write about the five months following the death of my son in a snow boarding accident. I can think of no better way to heal while grieving than by reading poems and personal essays and stories by others who have suffered similar losses. When we have lost someone dear to us, we must live our lives double, for them and for us, to honor them. Writing toward discovery, as we do in writing poems and memoir, helps us live in this way and brings us energy.
I received my Master's Degree from the University of Washington where I studied with David Wagoner, William Matthews, Stephen Dunn, Stanley Plumly, Colleen McElroy and many other fine poets. I went on to also master the art of prose, and I enjoy each instructional book and article I write as I am constantly learning and sharing that learning with others is a passion. I hope you'll visit my website at www.writingitreal.com as well as my facebook fan pages on which I publish inspirational and informative writing messages as well as publication information: www.facebook.com/writingitreal and www.facebook/anewtheology.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Writing Personal Essays,
By
This review is from: Writing and Publishing Personal Essays (Paperback)
I'll confess right up front that Sheila Bender's latest book, "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays," contains my essay "Dreams of Going." But even if that hadn't been the case, I would still highly recommend it. In addition to being an excellent poet and essay writer, Sheila is also a wonderful teacher - I know because I've attended a number of her classes. Written in her kind yet informative style, this book is a printed version of what you would learn in one of her workshops.Did you ever have a writing or English teacher who demolished your writing, leading you to give up any dreams you had of becoming a published writer or of ever writing creatively at all? Sheila is the antithesis of that teacher. She doesn't believe in criticism, even the "constructive" kind. Instead, she offers a three-step method of review (Velcro words, feelings, and curiosity) that gently leads the writer to new discoveries. In "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays," Sheila devotes a chapter apiece to eight different kinds of personal essays, provides examples from a number of writers, and then comments about what makes each essay good and perhaps how it could be made better, using her three steps. She also explains how to find material from your own life to write about, how to most effectively shape it into an essay, and even how to look for someone to publish it, if that's your aim. If you've ever yearned to shape your life experiences for the page and to find the deeper meaning in them, get this book. Follow its suggestions, and you'll learn the craft of writing personal essays. You won't find a better teacher than Sheila.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Writing & Publishing Personal Essays,
By
This review is from: Writing and Publishing Personal Essays (Paperback)
Sheila Bender's updated and extended edition of Writing and Publishing Personal Essays includes solid instructional information and writing exercises for the beginning writer and the published writer. Chapters start with a "write question." For example, The Description Essay chapter begins with "Write Question #1: For what, person, place, event, or object do I have strong feelings of love or of hate?" She explains the elements of good description essays, provides examples, notes why an essay works well, and guides the reader through effective exercises to discover material for their essays. Her positive tone and nurturing approach helped me develop drafts and then polish them into publishable essays by following her three-step response and revision method. Work your way through this book and you'll be ready for Chapters XI and XII, Prepare the Fruit for Market, and Trucking the Fruit to Market.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best on personal essay writing,
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This review is from: Writing and Publishing Personal Essays (Paperback)
Sheila Bender's wise and patient voice inspires and educates the new essayist but also jumpstarts those who've been writing essays for a while (and might feel stalled). Bender's real affection for the essay saturates every page of this helpful book. She clearly respects the genre and has made significant contributions to it. As a memoir and personal essay workshop instructor, I am pleased to add this book to my list of recommended titles.
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