How to be a writer : building your creative skills through practice and play /
Baig, Barbara.
Cincinnati, Ohio : Writer's Digest Books,
c2010.
Athletes practice. Musicians pratice. As a writer you need to do the same. Whether you have dreams of writing a novel or a memoir or a collection of poems, or you simply want to improve your everyday writing, this innovative book will show you how to build your skills by way of practice. Through playful and purposeful exercises, you'll develop your natural aptitude for communication, strengthening your ability to come up with things to say, and your ability to get those things into the minds (and the hearts) of readers. You'll learn to: train and develop your writer's powers--creativity, memory, observation, imagination, curiosity, and the subconscious; understand the true nature of the relationship between you and your readers; find your writer's voice; get required writing projects done so you have more time for the writing you want to do.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Beginnings. What is writing practice (and how do I do it)? -- Starting the journey -- Waking up the content-mind : the basic practices -- A writer's powers. Creativity -- Memory and expertise -- Observation -- Imagination -- The subconscious -- Curiosity -- The Sherlock Holmes school of writing -- Moving towards readers. Tools for developing your material -- Your relationship with readers -- Telling stories -- Voice -- A few words on words -- Required writing. Do I have to write that? -- Getting it written -- Staying on the path. Walking the writer's way -- A writer's bookshelf.
Athletes practice. Musicians pratice. As a writer you need to do the same. Whether you have dreams of writing a novel or a memoir or a collection of poems, or you simply want to improve your everyday writing, this innovative book will show you how to build your skills by way of practice. Through playful and purposeful exercises, you'll develop your natural aptitude for communication, strengthening your ability to come up with things to say, and your ability to get those things into the minds (and the hearts) of readers. You'll learn to: train and develop your writer's powers--creativity, memory, observation, imagination, curiosity, and the subconscious; understand the true nature of the relationship between you and your readers; find your writer's voice; get required writing projects done so you have more time for the writing you want to do.
Authorship