Writing in a Nutshell: Writing Workshops to Improve Your Craft

Writing in a Nutshell #4

by Jessica Bell

Revised 2019 Edition In Writing in a Writing Workshops to Improve Your Craft , writer, editor, and publisher, Jessica Bell, guides writers through a variety of "before" and "after" writing examples demonstrating the transition from weak to strong writing, and encourages them to follow her example through clear and simple self-teaching steps. 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 how to write. 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. Not only is Writing in a Writing Workshops to Improve Your Craft an excellent addition to any creative writing course, but it's also a great primary learning tool for aspiring writers, and a great booster for more experienced writers to use to hone their craft. This book is also broken down into three separate workbooks (available to purchase separately) should writers not need practice in all Show & Tell in a Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing ; Adverbs & Clichés in a Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery ; and The Six Senses in a Demonstrated Transitions from Bleak to Bold Narrative .

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2014

About the author

Jessica 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

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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...

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Alycia Vreeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Daph · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Amcii Cullum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed book on forming character, plot, theme, setting, etc. all necessary components for good writing with activities.