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Writing in a Nutshell #4
Writing in a Nutshell: Writing Workshops to Improve Your Craft
*Includes fifteen BONUS! writing exercises that you will not find in the original series.
In Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott says a writer needs to focus on short assignments to avoid feeling overwhelmed. She refers to the one-inch picture frame on her desk and how it reminds her to focus on bite-sized pieces of the whole story. If you focus on one small thing at a time, the story will eventually come together to create a whole. The same applies to learning writing craft. If writers focus on one aspect of the craft at a time, the process will seem less daunting, and piece by piece, it will come together.
With more than ten years’ experience as an editor and writer of English Language Teaching (ELT) materials for various ELT publishers worldwide, I know that “breaking down” language into smaller focus areas is an effective learning method. After much experimentation on myself, and volunteer aspiring writers, I discovered it is extremely effective with creative writing too. And so the Writing in a Nutshell Series was born.
This book is the all-in-one edition of the three Writing in a Nutshell workbooks: Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing; Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery; and The Six Senses in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Bleak to Bold Narrative.
In each book, I guide you through a variety of “before” and “after” writing examples demonstrating the transition from weak to strong writing, and encourage you to follow my example through clear and simple self-teaching steps.
Not only is this all-in-one workbook an excellent addition to any creative writing course, but also a great primary learning tool for aspiring writers. Even if you’re an established writer, the exercises in this book will keep you at the top of your game.
What are you waiting for? Get cracking on improving your writing craft!
In Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott says a writer needs to focus on short assignments to avoid feeling overwhelmed. She refers to the one-inch picture frame on her desk and how it reminds her to focus on bite-sized pieces of the whole story. If you focus on one small thing at a time, the story will eventually come together to create a whole. The same applies to learning writing craft. If writers focus on one aspect of the craft at a time, the process will seem less daunting, and piece by piece, it will come together.
With more than ten years’ experience as an editor and writer of English Language Teaching (ELT) materials for various ELT publishers worldwide, I know that “breaking down” language into smaller focus areas is an effective learning method. After much experimentation on myself, and volunteer aspiring writers, I discovered it is extremely effective with creative writing too. And so the Writing in a Nutshell Series was born.
This book is the all-in-one edition of the three Writing in a Nutshell workbooks: Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing; Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery; and The Six Senses in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Bleak to Bold Narrative.
In each book, I guide you through a variety of “before” and “after” writing examples demonstrating the transition from weak to strong writing, and encourage you to follow my example through clear and simple self-teaching steps.
Not only is this all-in-one workbook an excellent addition to any creative writing course, but also a great primary learning tool for aspiring writers. Even if you’re an established writer, the exercises in this book will keep you at the top of your game.
What are you waiting for? Get cracking on improving your writing craft!
- GenresWritingNonfiction
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2014
13 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Bell
75 books482 followersJessica Bell is a multi-award-winning author/poet and singer-songwriter who was born in Melbourne, Australia.
In addition to having published a memoir, five novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and radio shows such as Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica.
She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, and a highly sought-after book cover designer. She currently resides in Athens, Greece, with her partner and son, and a pile of dishes that still don’t know how to wash themselves despite her consistently teaching by example.
For more information visit: iamjessicabell.com
In addition to having published a memoir, five novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and radio shows such as Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica.
She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, and a highly sought-after book cover designer. She currently resides in Athens, Greece, with her partner and son, and a pile of dishes that still don’t know how to wash themselves despite her consistently teaching by example.
For more information visit: iamjessicabell.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 8, 2015
A triple treat.
This is a great resource. One that I find myself browsing again and again.
It's simple and concise, filled with wonderful examples and images.
I just wish that I had the paperback...
This is a great resource. One that I find myself browsing again and again.
It's simple and concise, filled with wonderful examples and images.
I just wish that I had the paperback...
October 19, 2023
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
18th October 2023
TITLE: Writing in a Nutshell, Writing Workshops to Improve Your Craft
AUTHOR: Jessica Bell
Star Rating: 5
‘Cleverly constructed and simple to follow, this is a top-notch resource for budding authors.’ Edward Trayer, organiser and founder of The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
REVIEW
My name is Edward Trayer and, as well as running the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, I've also written 21 novels for children, young adults and adults under the pseudonyms Billy Bob Buttons and Hickory Crowl. I spent the afternoon working through this self-help book, Writing in a Nutshell, by Jessica Bell, Simply written, the author smartly focusing on a skill at a time, the book looks at a vast array of writing skills, from showing and not telling, to adverbs and clichés.
Now, I honestly don't know if you can learn how to write from a self-help book, but what I can tell you is that Writing in a Nutshell is far better than most books on the subject. I personally know Jessica Bell to be an accomplished writer, and I was very impressed by how well she put over her thoughts on the subject. Take, for example, show and don't tell. A lot of new writers simply don't get it; they don't understand the concept. A book of this nature will help them immensely.
So, if you happen to be contemplating writing a novel - or a book of any sort - and you feel your writing skills might be a little, er, rusty, I can highly recommend this book to you. It's never overwhelming and, with a little effort on your part, you might be surprised by the end result and how improved your writing will be, particularly in terms of tone and in understanding what it is readers enjoy reading.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
18th October 2023
TITLE: Writing in a Nutshell, Writing Workshops to Improve Your Craft
AUTHOR: Jessica Bell
Star Rating: 5
‘Cleverly constructed and simple to follow, this is a top-notch resource for budding authors.’ Edward Trayer, organiser and founder of The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
REVIEW
My name is Edward Trayer and, as well as running the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, I've also written 21 novels for children, young adults and adults under the pseudonyms Billy Bob Buttons and Hickory Crowl. I spent the afternoon working through this self-help book, Writing in a Nutshell, by Jessica Bell, Simply written, the author smartly focusing on a skill at a time, the book looks at a vast array of writing skills, from showing and not telling, to adverbs and clichés.
Now, I honestly don't know if you can learn how to write from a self-help book, but what I can tell you is that Writing in a Nutshell is far better than most books on the subject. I personally know Jessica Bell to be an accomplished writer, and I was very impressed by how well she put over her thoughts on the subject. Take, for example, show and don't tell. A lot of new writers simply don't get it; they don't understand the concept. A book of this nature will help them immensely.
So, if you happen to be contemplating writing a novel - or a book of any sort - and you feel your writing skills might be a little, er, rusty, I can highly recommend this book to you. It's never overwhelming and, with a little effort on your part, you might be surprised by the end result and how improved your writing will be, particularly in terms of tone and in understanding what it is readers enjoy reading.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
November 4, 2023
The author repeats many clear examples of each tool to improve your craft with humor and years of hands on knowledge. A must read for all writers.
December 19, 2014
I had read three other books on writing the week I read this title, so maybe I was burnt out. The book is just okay... I didn't really learn anything and found the large list of examples to be too much. I ended up skipping most of them.
Don't get me wrong, there is good information here; I'm sure I'll be referring back to this book--I did make notes. There's wisdom in the pages.
Don't get me wrong, there is good information here; I'm sure I'll be referring back to this book--I did make notes. There's wisdom in the pages.
October 10, 2014
Very detailed book on forming character, plot, theme, setting, etc. all necessary components for good writing with activities.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews