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4th out of 62 books
—
45 voters
The Writer's Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life
by
Priscilla Long (Goodreads Author)
Suitable for both beginning and advanced writers of fiction and nonfiction, The Writer's Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life distills 20 years of teaching and creative thought by the well-published author Priscilla Long. The Writer's Portable Mentor helps writers understand and incorporate the regular practices of virtuoso creators; provides a guid...more
Paperback, 360 pages
Published
February 23rd 2010
by Wallingford Press
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I get the same rush of hands-rubbing-together glee buying a new writing guide as I do a new cookbook (well, almost - if only writing guides had drool-inducing photographs of Truffled Saint-Marcellin or Bucatini all'Amatriciana or Salted Caramel (fill in the blank with anything).
An unread book on the craft of writing is full of possibility, of secrets waiting for revelation, of motivation and inspiration. It may contain the one thing I need to know that will turn my writing life around, the check...more
An unread book on the craft of writing is full of possibility, of secrets waiting for revelation, of motivation and inspiration. It may contain the one thing I need to know that will turn my writing life around, the check...more
If I could get one book and only one book to help me improve as a writer, it would be The Writer's Portable Mentor. I'm a fan of writing books that have me work with my own writing. Using this book, I have developed an ear for sound, a nose for (my) flabby sentences, an awareness of sentence structure, a styem for developing vocabulary to fit a piece, and a real love of metaphors that deepen the work, not distract. The exercises in this book are as helpful the twentieth time as they are the firs...more
I am slowly working my way through this book, part of a ten-week self-improvement plan. I'm doing every single exercise in the book, taking notes about how to apply what I'm learning to my teaching, and murmuring with joy at the new twists I'm finding on ideas and techniques that I've tried in many ways to share with my students. Though I do not agree with everything Priscilla Long says, I must assert (and I do not say this lightly): this is the best writing craft book I have ever read. Thank yo...more
So far I have given this as a gift five times and my friends are all sick of hearing about it.
This is material I review over and over. The book is packed this book with everything from lessons on productivity, grammar discussions, lessons on diction and syntax, and something I haven't seen in many books: instructions on how to observe the world and turn what we experience into words. Unlike many books which simply address craft elements from the author’s perspective, she addresses the topic of...more
This is material I review over and over. The book is packed this book with everything from lessons on productivity, grammar discussions, lessons on diction and syntax, and something I haven't seen in many books: instructions on how to observe the world and turn what we experience into words. Unlike many books which simply address craft elements from the author’s perspective, she addresses the topic of...more
Aug 31, 2011
Kelly
marked it as to-read
I'm on page 51 of 360 of The Writer's Portable Men...: I didn't get into Long's class at Hugo House. I was crushed, because I'd made such a particular point of being at what I thought was the front of the line; I called at the stroke of noon. Alas, several hours earlier, more than a dozen others lined up outside the Hugo House doors. I am 4th on the waiting list. I'm consoling myself w/ this book. Thank goodness she wrote it.
Priscilla Long's new book, The Writer's Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft and the Writing Life, aims toward similar ends but through different means. On the first page, Long states, "This book is for writers who strive for virtuosity." Long begins at the beginning, with words and sound. She urges writers to collect and store words, to develop their own lexicon, and to use a poet's ear to work with rhymes, assonance, and repetition. "Every word, every sentence emits sound," she says. "The qu...more
Great book for me in the sense that I have been looking to improve my grammar and use of language in my writing. I've only just finished it and I already feel like I am carrying something with me into my writing.
One thing I kept getting hung up on however was the author's references to "first-rate writers" which gave off a feeling like these were super-human beings or something. That part made me feel just a little intimidated on occasion, although I think the author was trying to inspire the r...more
One thing I kept getting hung up on however was the author's references to "first-rate writers" which gave off a feeling like these were super-human beings or something. That part made me feel just a little intimidated on occasion, although I think the author was trying to inspire the r...more
Fabulous. A book that I really don't want to let out of arm's reach. While I'll never duplicate all of the journals for all of the exercises, probably to my detriment, the fact that that suggestion is right there...within arm's reach...may well get me out of a corner. The best chapter was Getting the Work into the World. Like a business. Produce, market, distribute, produce, market, distribute. Don't wait 8 months for a response, then go into a funk for 4 months, then omigod, it's been another y...more
This is a great book for anyone revising a novel or writing an essay, especially where prose comes in. The book covers basic structure and selling points, but it's value is in its guide to prose--using metaphor, sounds, imagery to really make your writing better. It really helped me where I was struggling, and even after reading it through, I read it again, because there's so much useful information in there. Long includes a lot of great exercises to strengthen writing as well. I definitely rec...more
If I were reduced to only one craft-of-writing book for the rest of my writing life, this would be it. (And let me admit: I'm a craft addict!)
Priscilla Long's text, The Writer's Portable Mentor, will be a classic. Her prose is image-rich, clear, and original. The book is subtitled, "A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life." Her humor is gentle, but piercing in its revelations; her illustrations from modern works of literature show a depth of knowledge of many writing styles; her "writing pr...more
Priscilla Long's text, The Writer's Portable Mentor, will be a classic. Her prose is image-rich, clear, and original. The book is subtitled, "A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life." Her humor is gentle, but piercing in its revelations; her illustrations from modern works of literature show a depth of knowledge of many writing styles; her "writing pr...more
Highly recommended! especially for writers looking to write in a lovely, literary style.
Priscilla Long carefully crafted this book based on years of teaching writers and seeing what works best. It is filled with specifics and exercises and wonderful detail, as well as encouragement.
Every writer should read this book.
Priscilla Long carefully crafted this book based on years of teaching writers and seeing what works best. It is filled with specifics and exercises and wonderful detail, as well as encouragement.
Every writer should read this book.
I have read The Writer's Portable Mentor more than once and every time I find something new to improve my writing. I especially enjoy Long's advice to use the exercises to further a current piece of writing--efficient and effective.
Sob, pant, and shout in ecstasy! That's what happens when you read the best book written on the substance of writing -- Priscilla Long's "The Writer's Portable Mentor." (This woman will make your quill quake. Seriously).
This book is somewhat focused to creative nonfiction but is quite excellent. I plan on working through most of her exercises. I've read a lot of writing book and this one is different in that most of her exercises are made to be used with the material that I'm ALREADY WRITING!
Great handbook. Love it!
Carol Despeaux recommended
Really good at "different"--that is, organized by writing need with thought-provoking quotes from writers on a topic, a bit of explanation of how-to, and exercises for that writing aspect. In the hands of a skillful writing workshop facilitator, especially effective, since it came out of a Seattle writers' group. Keep it on your desk!
May 12, 2013
Bill Silvia
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2013
Jennifer
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May 01, 2013
Marc
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Apr 30, 2013
Sjmakes
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May 04, 2013
Karen
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Apr 27, 2013
Rose
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Apr 25, 2013
Mick
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Apr 13, 2013
Michael
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Apr 08, 2013
Wendy
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Apr 03, 2013
Jon Timmerman
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Priscilla Long is a Seattle-based writer of poetry, essays, creative nonfictions, fictions, science, and history. Her awards include a National Magazine Award. Her rigorous and extremely popular classes are always full for the good reason that her writers routinely become more skilled and get more published. Author's website: www.PriscillaLong.com. Photo by Tony Ober."
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Aug 09, 2012 04:47am
Aug 09, 2012 04:55am