Fantastic tool for when writer's block is kicking your @$$.
594685
My wife uses this to encourage our son to write stories, and it has worked very well. Plus, it's a fun game when we're not using it for education.
2586108
This book is applicable to more than just writer's block!  Great strategies for reaching your goals and getting things done by developing important skills like positive mindset and time management!!  I loved that I could jump around and didn't necessarily have to read each mind hack in order and I could pick and choose which exercises to do depending on what I was struggling with.  A valuable resource which I plan to refer to over and over :)
2428053
I love this book!  If you write ANY type of fiction, this is a great tool to have for those days slow days infront of a blank screen.
1538502
A friend of mine picked up this book when we were in a book store, knowing that I had come to an almost sudden halt in my poetry writing for the past year or so after having been a poet for four or five years.  I was pretty depressed about my writer's block, so I thought, "What the heck," and I bought the book.  Not long into the book, which is magnificently written, I began to write again.  I haven't stopped since, and my poetry has made massive improvement.  The book helps to inspire and recreate that passion that writers can sometimes lose in the midst of the stresses of our days and our constant state of change and growth.  --And best of all, it's fun, easy reading!
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."
4751714
If you write emails, blogs, reports or only 140-character tweets, this book is for you.

This book is a guide to writing in the new internet/blog/email dominated era.  The writers proclaim that the dry old rules we learned eons ago in grammar school no longer apply.  This book is full of good ideas about modern writing that will instantly make you a better writer.  The section on writing effective emails is especially useful and comprehensive.

This book helped me quickly improve my writing skills - I saw surprising immediate results.  I noticed the difference immediately in the way readers in my office reacted to my emails and reports. I received better feedback, and more attention was paid to my ideas.

I got the most from this book by reading it for about 5 minutes per day over the course of a month.  This allowed me to absorb and practice the ideas with my own writing at work each day.  You may also find this to be effective.

The writers write in the style that they recommend in the book: fast-paced, action-oriented, with basic structure and short words. This slim 200-page paperback has earned a spot on my very full desk, and if you write, it should be on your desk, too!
3382508
I found it useful when writing "pulp" or formula types of stories, especially when they're wanted in a hurry. He has some really great tips and techniques for creating the groundwork in advance for these types of stories, so that if/when you find yourself in need of cracking out a novella or script to a deadline, writer's block won't derail you nearly as much as if you had jumped in unprepared.

Tips such as keeping a file of different types and iterations of McGuffins (almost like a catalog of Mad Libs nouns and adjectives you can mix and match) will save you a lot of time. And, speaking of time, that's one of his biggest tips -- making any story a race against time really dials up the drama.

One of my favorite books on deconstructing the elements of story and then using the pieces to your advantage.
4596697
Reasons to buy/read this book

1. You have writer's block and need help.

2. You feel that you've confused the many rules of writing.

3. Your writing style bores you.

4. It takes you three pages to explain something that's complicated.

I read "Words Fail Me" for motivation while writing my second book. The best way to move past a writer's block is to lift your confidence by sharpening your writing skills. O'Conner delivers writing confidence in about 20 easy-to-digest chapters.

Patricia T. O'Conner's work is neither preachy nor boring. She speaks to the aspiring writer who may have forgotten some grammar rules while queuing you to times when you may not need to adhere to all the rules in the grammar book.

Her writing is witty and makes grammar fun, for once. It's a neat refresher book to add to your writing library.
1598069
I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes, and the timing could not have been better for my current novel rewrite. From strengthening and empowering your story premise and concept to asking the hard questions; Is Your Story Worth Saving? In STORY FIX; TRANSFORM YOUR NOVEL FROM BROKEN TO BRILLIANT you have a veteran guide in the re-write of your manuscript. Larry Brooks spins hope out of rejection and reveals the craft keys needed to transform your novel.
When Larry writes that, Premise is the vision for the story, without which you end up in chaos, hosting a wrestling match between your ideas and inspiration, hes SPOT ON! Keep going back to premise (among other tips) and you will stay on track with your story.
I am currently rewriting my 2nd novel and this guide consistently brings me back to the basics; CONCEPT & PREMISE which are steadfastly illuminated in Larrys book. Writers, novice or seasoned, need story-craft reminders when in the middle of a muddled mess of a manuscript (Broken), those constant craft prompts will keep you on that track to (Hopefully) Brilliant!  Mindy Halleck ~ Award-Winning Author&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Return-to-Sender/dp/1620154390/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Return to Sender</a>
4805011
This is awesome! It does everything I hoped and so much more. It's an indispensable tool for writers. I'm working on my first novel and Scrivener is making the process infinitely easier. It's worth the money. In fact, it's a steal.

Some reviewers expressed their opinion that the software "isn't intuitive." That's because Scrivener is unique and so much more than just another word processing tool with templates. Invest your time and go through the tutorial. It isn't cumbersome or too time-consuming. Also, there is a very detailed manual to answer any questions you.

Bottom line, I'd recommend this to any writer. Give it a try and you'll be glad you did.
187563
This is such a helpful tool for organizing your writing schedule! Totally recommend!
3001797
Along an alley of dark mind you sense the stranger again.

Writers block? he says.

You nod. Hard to admit.

Its okay, kid. I can help.

Youd rather awaken.

Hold on, jitterbug. You first might read K. M. Weilands Conquering Writers Block and Summoning Inspiration. It can change your life.

He lisps. You know, you say, you sound familiar.

Never mind that. Listen.

This gal, Weiland, shes got all these great tips, see? They cover just about every obstacle youll ever face as a writer. Insights! Solutions! To write, she says, nurture a lifestyle of creativity.

A pause.

Hello?

Yeah, kid, Im here.

Sounds like hes talking through clenched teeth. Mad? Disappointed? Who is this guy? Whats he got to do with my writers block anyway?

The stranger chuckles.

Funny?

Im laughing, aint I? Why? Ill tell you why. Cause you're a whiner, see? You want to write, but you skip half what Weiland says:

 You set goals?
 You write daily?
 You nurture inspiration?
 You daydream?
 You ever schedule quiet time for creativity?

Its hard.

Naah. Its all attitude. You think nobody else struggles but you. Say, I bet you cant even tell me what a good writer feels when working?

Ahhh

Figures. Scared, thats what. Weiland tells it like it is. Hands tremble. Heart beat so hard its almost hard to breath. Damp face. Dry mouth.

Yes!

Good. Glad you know. Cause thats the point. Its normal. Everybody pays the piper. You aint scared, you aint pushing yourself.

Maybe I should read it?

Damned straight. Weilands got lots to offer. One smart cookie, that dame. Give her half a chance and youll see writers block aint half the monster you thought.

But I am serious! I think about my work all the time!

Thats your problem. Fact, its a common problem. Weiland says, Arts a deeply subconscious, emotional journey, see? Thinking too hard dries up creativity. It dams the flow of ideas, words, and images.

You mean 

Thats right.

 Instinct, use it!
 Let your subconscious help you.
 Kid: a written story rarely ever matches a writers imagination.
 You and your inner editor got to work in tandem.
 Let your stories write themselves.

I like that.

Course you do. Everybody does. Weiland knows. She aint won all these awards for nothing. She says it straight: Writings a lifestyle. You want inspiration? You want to make writing easier? Theres ways. Discipline. Hard work. Attitude.

You know, you say, it seems Ive heard this before.

A sarcastic, little chuckle. Amusing.

A flame lights the dark. The glow of a cigarette lights the strangers face.

Bogey!

Kid, I can be anyone you want.
1472647
As a writer, I spend a lot of time fiddling with notes and striving to organize countless piles of papers into a researchable mass. Punching holes in those piles of papers and filling notebooks helps me to do this. And this 20-sheet three-hole punch is a wonderful adjunct to that ongoing project.

I've fiddled around with those annoying five-page punchers for years and one day, I finally "invested" a few bucks more in this 20-sheet puncher. First time I used it, I thought I'd died and gone straight to writer's heaven. Because of the handle, you can get better leverage and it's amazingly easy to cut three little holes in those 20 pages. I've used mine to put holes in thousands of pages and it's still going strong (and has remained sharp, too).

The hole catcher (the plastic boot on the bottom) stays put (unlike other punchers I've used) and you don't need to clean it out that often, which is a big plus. You can adjust to different paper sizes with an easy-to-read sliding scale (but the positioning of the three holes is not adjustable).

The short version is, I highly recommend this handy little device. It makes quick work of cutting holes in tall piles of documents.
4268929
I struggled with writing a book in MS Word for a decade, then discovered Scrivener for Windows on its release a few months back. It has transformed the writing experience for me. I wake up every day looking forward to writing with it. No more struggling with formatting. I output my draft to my Kindle, giving me a real sense of progress.
Great support community via the Scrivener forum. Try the program for free, but do go through the tutorial, then you will never look back. It is such good value. The only downside is that my housekeeping has gone to Hell, I am spending so much time writing!.
4802061
As a busy parent who doesn't always have much mental organization but who still wants to write the stories I've been developing for years, I've found this to be the perfect book. It breaks things down step by step so I can think about my next goal during the day and write it all out after the kids go to bed. My plot is becoming clear and when I start writing, I'll know where I'm headed. I feel like I'm getting back the creative energy I had in my teens! I know a more experienced writer probably wouldn't need this much hand-holding, but like I said, it's a great guide for those of us who have lost our focus - but not our determination to write - over the years.
4146379
This was extremely helpful and easy to use. I used it to put together my novel proposal before attending a writer's conference in August. I felt very confident in my proposal after following this guidance.
1056520
As someone who facilitates memoir writing workshops and is also currently writing her third memoir, Im all too familiar with writer's block: I get it and so do those who participate in my workshops. And when writers block makes you throw your pen down and ask yourself why you're even trying to write, thats when you need Denis Ledoux latest book, Dont let Writer's Block Stop you.

This is a quick, easy read but its full of useful advice on how to free yourself and start writing again. I got ideas from this book that i cant wait to share with members of my workshop. As I read about task-oriented writers I recognized members in my workshop who are, as Denis describes, so rational, logical writers who are pursuing their need to be orderly and sequential that their writing lacks spontaneity. Such writing so often fails to do what Denis says here, i.e.  writing should sound as if it had spilled out on the page rather than was painfully labored over for a long time. I find this is especially true when writing memoir. Denis points out that we shouldnt rush the writing; instead we should linger with our stories so we can feel our way through the writing, just as we would linger on and gaze at a beautiful sunset.

But in case you think this book is a list of dos and donts, it isnt. Denis Ledoux not only makes some great suggestions for getting out of the writers block, but ends each chapter with actual exercises. These exercises should be kept handy for those times the dreaded block grabs a hold of your pen. They alone will get the pen moving again.

An excellent, quick, and utterly resourceful book from a highly qualified teacher of memoir writing, "Dont let Writers Block Stop You" should be added to your Must Read list immediately. Wait! Dont just add it to your list: Buy it now!