You DO have time to write...!
923441
Let's face it - most of us who are toiling away at our laptops writing the next great screenplay aren't paid writers...yet. So writing is as much a matter of finding time around our day jobs, families and picking up the dry cleaning as it is about great ideas. Well, in this book, Pilar gives you both - how to work out your great idea...in ten-minute exercises. Most of us dream of having that 'whole day' to sit down and write, but admit it - it's not going to happen! But you do have ten minutes somewhere in your day, right? Pilar takes you from your initial premise, through expanding your idea, to structuring your story beats, to characters & dialogue and finally, writing the first draft. All in manageable bite-sized chunks. So get this book - and get to it!
4381898
I am a strong advocate of free writing. I've written 11 books, all non-fiction. The first few were torture, and took 2 years each; since learning to harness the power of free writing, I've written books in three months, two months, and even one month. (I'm here on Amazon, if you're curious.)

I loved Thomas Boyde's exposition of free writing in this very brief booklet. As other reviewers have noted, it is short and motivational. But it may be all you need to get yourself moving. I find that one way my inner saboteur keeps me from writing is to get me to read books about writing--the longer, the better. And by all means, read Natalie Goldberg, Anne Lamott, William Zinser, and especially, Gabrielle Rico. But recognize that reading about writing is not writing.

If you want to get moving, read Thomas Boyde's short piece and follow its cheerful instructions. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say: As a time investment, "Free Writing Made Simple" may have a greater ROI (return on investment) than any writing book you've ever read.

(I received a free copy of this book via StoryCartel in exchange for promising to write an honest review.)
2383500
I've read most of JSB's books on writing craft (several times over) and found myself doing more reading than writing.  The Mental Game of Writing pushed me into action.  Now writing more and reading less.  Thanks JSB.
112689
Writing is known to be a solitary effort, and in general those who strive to succeed at it must rely on their own inspiration and discipline as they sit in front of the keyboard every day. But with Write Starts on your desk, you won't feel like you're completely on your own. That's because author Hal Zina Bennett is uniquely gifted at showing up at a writer's elbow, like an old friend dropping by for a cup of coffee. He has the warm, wise, and familiar voice of someone who knows you well--and in a way, he does. With his decades of experience as an author himself (he's published more than thirty books), and also as a writing coach and editor (he's been behind the scenes on hundreds of books, many by authors you know well), he knows what it's like when inspiration and discipline waver. He also has plenty of techniques, tools, and tricks that get the words flowing once again, and renew your confidence in your ability to put something of value on the page.

Write Starts is an invaluable aid for any writer who cares about producing good work, even on those days when it's tough to get started. The short chapters--most are only a few pages long--are just enough to help you shift gears and spark your creativity, without providing yet another opportunity to procrastinate. They cover a broad range of subjects, such as "the importance of good opening lines," "seven ways to steal from real life," and "hooking up with the power that drives your writing," as well as a variety of intriguing writing prompts. The Table of Contents includes a description of each chapter, so you can browse for the subject that suits your purpose of the moment or just open the book to any page and let chance be your guide.

Whether you write nonfiction, fiction, or poetry, Write Starts will itself become a friend you'll keep on your desk and turn to again and again and again. It's packed with solid information that will make you a better writer--and certainly a more productive one. As Dr. Bennett says, "It's all part of awakening the best in  yourself."
4838628
Woo whooop, I believe that says it all.  But it says I need 12 more days words to submit. So again read above.
4606536
How do you write 20 words on a book that will take years to master?  I like it... it was highly recommended by those much more experienced than I.  Check back with me in 5 years.
259749
great idea for those of us who consider ourselves  ''writers' to be able to jot notes or messages when we need to!
1123936
Recently, I made a personal goal to read one book a month. I know it doesnt sound like much, but its been a long time since Ive read for pleasure. Why? Blame it on being traumatized studying literature in grad school or trying to stay inspired in business, or even in my small self-help phase.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King sort of jump-started my new initiative to read more when he reminded me in the very first pages the only way to get better at what you want to do is to continue to submerge yourself in it. King is an intense, insanely smart mind that will forever be in my heart because he was one of my late step-dads favorite writers. So King published a book on writing. So I was living under a rock. So I made it my June book to tackle, which I did, on my way back from EDC in Vegas.

One of my favorite things to do, still, is mark up my books, underline things, write in the margins  My inner professor comes out. Heres what I highlighted from On Writing:

 Life isn't a support-system for art. Its the other way around. First of all, Im super happy King doesnt favor semi-colons. And second of all, true dat.

 Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page. I think one of the hardest things for me to do is focus. Ive come up with a lot of little actions to trick myself into focusing or rewarding my efforts, but this is good advice.

 This next nugget not only taps into my focus weakness, but my laziness too: Its best to have your tools with you. If you dont, you're apt to find something you didn't expect and get discouraged. Its a pretty basic concept to come prepared, but for some reason I need to constantly remind myself of this.

 Simple sentences provide a path you can follow when you fear getting lost in the tangles of rhetoric. I want to take a moment right now and tell you about one of my biggest pet peeves. It goes along the same lines as semi-colons. I cant stand fluffy, super hyped-up vocabulary, extra bits of words that only fulfill word count requirements and massive sentences. I don't speak like this, so why should I write like this? Writing is seduction, King says. Good talk is part of seduction. And to drive it home, he says, If not so, why do so many couples who start the evening at dinner wind up in bed? Good question. I am certainly turned off by overtly pretentiousness, and in turn, I always steer clear in my writing. Transparency, people!

 If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway. Thats a hard one if you want to play it safe in the world. King agrees: some people don't want to hear the truth, of course, but thats not your problem. Oh OK, thanks Steve  Ill blame my new attitude on you when I piss everyone off at the office.

 Being a writer is not an enigma. Do you need someone to make you a paper badge with the word WRITER on it before you can believe you are one? No. So shut up.

 And the last little bit I latched onto is how you should feel when you complete something  Writer or not: I feel that buzz of happiness, that sense of having found the right words and put them in a line.

If you haven't had a chance to read On Writing, I suggest you do.

Thanks for reading! If you want more of this kind of stuff, come find me on Instagram: @lunarismoon
1830993
I'm sick of having to write something everytime... can't i just leave 5 stars and move on?
3458202
...and it really isn't! John states he will give you the tools to start writing sitcoms right away and he does so in a clear, concise and entertaining manner. Like his previous book, The Comic Toolbox, John gives a GPS of how to navigate through the craft of comedy writing. Although short, it's actually the perfect length as to not become a reason for procrastination. Breeze through it and then go back through as you progress through your own script and like good directions you'll quickly find yourself at your destination: a great sitcom by "your name here."
2918207
First get your papers together and your life will come together.

I will stop reviewing things because you are asking for 14 words more than I originally wrote and life is too busy.
495384
Do not like to be forced to write a meaningless, lengthy review when a brief one will suffice! This is ridiculous!
88437
... but  unless  you're willing to vomit on a  page, and I can't see  that being  productive in the long run just for the badge of  saying that you write 10k words/day,  I don't see  this is at all viable in  every way she claims it is.  I've  been a  writer  for a  living since the late 80s, and  granted,  Rachel Aaron may  have  discovered her own Deathly Hallows, and  I applaud her if  that's the case, but  I've  read  this book and  have  tried to implement her  methods for the intended  results of upping daily word count.  And  safely can conclude this: It  ain't  happening here. In  fact,  I got so angry and  down on  myself  while reading this that my  husband admonished me to put the book  down  because it  was dangling hopes of  achieving a pie-in-the-sky false goal. So now I confidently say  that 2k words/day if  they're quality words, not  just  writing for  writing's sake, is a noble goal.

I've picked up  good tips  from  this book, such as  doing a  written outline of  what  I  want to say  in the day's  writing,  but  that doesn't take 'just 5  minutes.' Takes me at least a half-hour if  I'm doing it  thoroughly to  where it's a  valuable guiding  resource. Often it  takes  longer  because the dialogue  needs to be  thought out, the motives, the conflict, the  action, etc etc. Now,  however, thanks to this book, I do  write  down my starting wordcount and time and my  finished wordcount and time. That's how I've discovered  I'm more  productive  in the afternoon. And as per  Aaron's lack of enthusiasm for certain  chapters/scenes,  I don't see any way  around such in a  rough draft. Write the scene and polish later.  Make it shine then. You  can't make  every scene shine, and  just  because it  doesn't shine  now  doesn't  mean you  can't  clean it up later. Rough drafts are  not finished drafts.  I  won't  get down on myself  because  I  can't  write that  fast,  that my plots are  complex,  that  I  don't wish to  have a  rough draft look like a  mental enema  but  rather  prefer to form it into  something  from the get-go.  I'm an  excellent  editor but much  prefer to start  with a  strong first-draft manuscript.

All  that to say, it's worth 99 cents, and  you may benefit.  I did gain a  couple pointers. But leave  this alone if  you  struggle  with  perfectionism. DO NOT LET THIS BOOK CAUSE  YOU TO PUT FALSE STANDARDS ON YOURSELF!!!
3219429
Use thin marker to write. Regular, fine pens/pencils take longer because it's not very smooth.
86926
Great focused writing activities that keep my 3rd grader engaged and not feeling too put upon time wise. ;)
4875271
This is a good book about writing in a hurry. There are some good techniques here. Honestly, I think that some of these tips are very simple ones which just never occurred to me, and I am happy to see this book and to learn these techniques.
268892
Definitely has a good point but the writing is not as succinct. It is very short so you can quickly read or skim it.