Creative writing Books
Running Press,U.S. The Writers Oracle Deck Guidebook
Book SynopsisDivine your way through writer's block while adding a little magic into your writing practice with this illustrated oracle deck and guidebook set! Unique Oracle Format: The 50 cards in this oracle deck are split into 25 beautifully designed prompt cards (Cards of Inquiry) and 25 illustrated cards (Cards of Dreaming) with stunning original artwork to light your creative spark in new ways. Let The Lighthouse card illuminate your character's path forward, push the boundaries of plot with The Library card, or recall something in the story that was almost forgotten with the Unsettled Dreams card. Deluxe Creative Set: This set includes 50 cards (3 x 5 inches); an 80-page, full-color illustrated paperback book (3 x 5 inches); and a keepsake magnetic closure box; cards and travel case are embedded in an interior tray Fully Illustrated Oracle Guidebook: This set includes a full-color illustrated companion book with instructions for use and card spreads to try, as well as lined pages to write in Perfect Gift: This one-of-a-kind, beautiful oracle deck and book set is an ideal gift for writers and anyone looking to add a little magic in their creative process
£15.81
Citadel Press Inc.,U.S. The Art of Creative Writing
Book SynopsisMaster the fundamentals of great writing.
£14.39
Nine Arches Press 52 Write a Poem a Week Start Now Keep Going
Book SynopsisThe 52 project started with a simple idea: Write a poem a week. Start now. Keep going. This book brings together the 52 prompts written by poet Jo Bell and by guest poets, so that you can pick up the challenge yourself. With poems to illustrate each prompt, it's an anthology as well as a book of lively and engaging exercises for all poets.
£13.49
Taylor & Francis A Guide to Academic Writing
Book SynopsisA Guide to Academic Writing: How to Tame Your Essay presents a holistic approach to writing in academia. To master academic writing, it is not enough to learn specific rules and conventions. Writers need to break down the process of writing and see how its various components, from researching to drafting, influence the final outcome. They must also understand how their emotions, social interactions, behavioural patterns, and attitudes to their craft impact their writing. A Guide to Academic Writing offers this training.At the heart of the book is a four-week course with each week dedicated to a specific aspect of the writerâs training, and each day dedicated to one of the five components of the writing process. The course is supplemented by additional materials called âweekend readingsâ, featuring personal stories about writing challenges, reflections on conversations with students, and discussions of writing samples.The book aims to empower students throughout their writing journey, offering a solid framework for improving their approach to writing in addition to warm advice and stories born of many years of tutoring, teaching, and writing.
£42.99
Taylor & Francis The Creative Spiral
Book SynopsisThe Creative Spiral provides a comprehensive roadmap for understanding how creativity and identity develop together across the lifespan. Drawing from personal and professional creative experiences as well as contemporary research in creativity psychology, positive psychology, and developmental science, the book presents a unique model that helps readers explore where they are in their own creative journey and how to move forward with greater clarity, purpose, and confidence.Across four stages and twelve interconnected chapters, readers learn how to build strong creative foundations, expand their capacities, develop expertise, and cultivate the wisdom needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the wider world. Each chapter blends research-supported insights with reflective prompts and practical action steps designed to help readers deepen self-awareness, strengthen creative habits, and navigate challenges such as self-doubt, burnout, or creative blocks.This book is written for artists, educators, therapists, coaches, students, entrepreneurs, arts-practitioners, and anyone seeking to understand their creative lives more fully.Readers will gain a powerful framework for making sense of their experiences, reconnecting with their intrinsic motivations, and engaging more intentionally with their creative development. Whether beginning a new chapter or refining a long-standing practice, The Creative Spiral offers guidance for becoming a more grounded, purposeful, and connected creative person.
£33.24
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Creating an Undergraduate Literary Journal
Book SynopsisUniversity literary journals allow students to create their own venue for learning, have a hands-on part of their development in real-world skills, and strive towards professional achievement. But producing an undergraduate literary magazine requires commitment, funding, and knowledge of the industry. This practical guide assists students and faculty in choosing a workable structure for setting up, and then successfully running, their own literary publication. Whether the journal is print or online, in-house or international, Creating an Undergraduate Literary Journal is a step-by-step handbook, walking the reader through the process of literary journal production. Chapters focus on: defining the journal; the financial logistics; editing the journal; distribution; and what could come next for a student writer-editor after graduation. The first book of its kind to offer instruction directly to those running university-based literary magazines, this book includes insights from forTrade ReviewAudrey Colombe’s Creating An Undergraduate Literary Journal provides a wealth of information for faculty advisors, student and faculty editors, and undergraduates and graduate students alike on the business of literary publishing and tips for building, developing, expanding, and marketing a successful literary magazine. * Keya Mitra, Pacific University, USA *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Running a Literary Journal The sorrows, the joys What to expect from this book 1.Defining Your Journal Start Out by Looking Around: What Defines Your School and Your Project? Are you working on an existing journal, or starting from scratch? Considering the Possibilities: In house National/International Online In print 2. Financial and In-kind Support The Budget University: Student Fees, Department, College, Provost Advisory Board Fundraising 101 Faculty Advisor/Graduate Advisor Partner Journals Advertising 3. Editing the Journal Editing tasks: creating a handbook and editorial practices Diversity – Staff and Selections Establishing an Annual Schedule Communication Between yourselves With your writers Production and Design Awards – Or Not 4. Writer-Editor Citizen Reading Series and Other Literary Events Creating Writing Opportunities for Everyone Collaborative Work with Other Student Artists Community Outreach: Getting Writers from the Community Involved University engagement (with Admissions, Alumni Relations, Development) 5. Networking and Professionalization State and Local Writing Groups AWP & FUSE National and International Writing Conferences Internships Graduate School Index Appendix A: List of undergraduate literary magazines, print and online Appendix B: List of helpful literary organizations
£20.89
Bloomsbury Academic Speculative Fiction
Book SynopsisBenjamin Warner is Lecturer in the English Department at Towson University, USA. He is the author of the speculative novels Thirst (2016) and Fearless (2023) and his fiction and nonfiction has appeared in Salon.com, The Washington Post Magazine, and Punchnel's, among others. His website is benjaminwarner.net. Ron Tanner is Professor Emeritus in the Writing Department at Loyola University, Maryland, USA. He is the author of five books, most recently Far West: Stories (2022), which was winner of the 2020 Elixir Press book prize. Other awards for writing include a Faulkner Society gold medal, a Pushcart Prize, a New Letters Award, a Best of the Web Award, and a James Michener/Copernicus Society Fellowship. His website is https://www.ronaldtanner.com/
£22.79
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) Writing the Hard Stuff
Book SynopsisNicole Walker is the author of Processed Meats: Essays on Food, Flesh and Navigating Disaster (2021) Sustainability: A Love Story (2018) and the collaborative collection The After-Normal: Brief, Alphabetical Essays on a Changing Planet. (2019). She has previously published the nonfiction collections Where the Tiny Things Are (2017), Egg (2017), Micrograms (2016), Quench Your Thirst with Salt (2013), and a book of poems, This Noisy Egg (2010). She edited for Bloomsbury the essay collections Science of Story (2019) with Sean Prentiss and Bending Genre: Essays on Creative Nonfiction (2013) with Margot Singer. She is the co-president of NonfictioNOW and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts award and a noted author in Best American Essays. Her work has been most recently published in the New York Times, Longreads, and Ploughshares, among other places. She teaches at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ and serves as the Crux Series Editor.
£18.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Jane Austen Writers Club
Book SynopsisWinning and beguiling ... Smith shares Jane Austen's clarity and gentle irony' IndependentJane Austen is one of the most beloved writers in the literary canon. Her novels changed the landscape of fiction for ever, and her books remain as fresh, entertaining and witty as the day they were first published. Bursting with useful exercises, beautiful illustrations and enlightening quotations from Austen's novels and letters, this book will teach you her tips, tricks and methods, including: * Her foolproof guide to plotting a novel * The best ways to introduce, establish and develop characters * Her secret for building suspense * How to write sparkling dialogue * Using irony, ekphrasis and other clever devices * How best to live the writer's life These techniques have been tried and tested by Rebecca Smith, who is none other than Jane Austen's five-times-great-niece. The author of five books, she teaches creative writing at the University of Southampton and has been Writer in ResidenTrade ReviewWinning and beguiling ... Smith shares Jane Austen’s clarity and gentle irony * Independent *She’s the perfect English miniaturist * Barbara Trapido *She’s wise, sharp, funny and touching ... A class act * Mavis Cheek *Charming, funny, witty and romantic * Esther Freud *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Writers Artists Yearbook 2018 Writers and Artists
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.75
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Right Word
Book SynopsisThis three-in-one guide is the perfect addition to any professional or amateur writer's bookshelf. Aimed at those who use language in their day-to-day lives, it is divided into three parts. The Grammar Guide provides clear, comprehensive guidance on sentence structure, parts of speech and punctuation; the Vocabulary Builder helps you choose the right word by listing commonly confused, misused and cliched words; the dictionary of Literary Terms provides concise definitions of linguistic forms. The budding writer can use this guide to quickly enhance their style and improve their word power. The rules and advice provided are accompanied by usage examples throughout.Trade Review‘an engaging reference book to flip through if you’re interested in the finer points of language and usage . . . it leaves you filled with awe at the nuance and breadth of the English language’ -- Carrie O’Grady * Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: Grammar - The parts of speech - Words working together - Punctuation - Type, format and layout - Spelling rules - Rules you can break - Glossary of grammatical terms Part 2: Vocabulary builder - Choosing the right word - Commonly confused words and word pairs - Commonly misused words - Word families - Just the opposite - Avoiding cliches Part 3 Literary terms
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Connections 500
Book SynopsisDrawing together the work of 12 leading playwrights, this National Theatre Connections anthology celebrates highlights from 21 years of the Connections festival with a retrospective selection of plays. Featuring work by some of the most prolific playwrights of the 20th and 21st centuries, and together in one volume, the anthology offers young performers between the ages of 13 and 19 an engaging selection of plays to perform, read or study.Each play has been specifically commissioned by the National Theatre''s literary department over the years, with the young performer in mind. In 2016, these plays were then performed by approximately 500 schools and youth theatre companies across the UK and Ireland, in partnership with multiple professional partner regional theatres at which the works were showcased. The anthology contains all 12 of the play scripts; notes from the writer and director of each play, addressing the themes and ideas behind the play; and production notes and exTable of ContentsBlackout by Davey Anderson Eclipse by Simon Armitage What Are They Like? by Lucinda Coxon Bassett by James Graham I'm Spilling My Heart Out Here by Stacey Gregg Gargantua by Carl Grose Children of Killers by Katori Hall Take Away by Jackie Kay It Snows by Bryony Lavery, Steven Hoggett & Scott Graham The Musicians by Patrick Marber Citizenship by Mark Ravenhill Bedbug by Snoo Wilson, Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
£20.89
Vintage Publishing Letters to a Writer of Colour
Book SynopsisFilled with empathy and wisdom, personal experiences and creative inspiration, this is a vital collection of essays on the power of literature and the craft of writing from an international array of writers of colour.'Electric essays that speak to the experience of writing from the periphery . . . a guide, a comfort, and a call all at once' Laila Lalami, author of Conditional Citizens'A whip-smart collection' Kamila Shamsie, author of Best of FriendsWhat if we reconsidered our assumptions about how fiction should be written? And can we then apply our discoveries to both what we read and how we read? This book explores these questions and encourages us into a more inclusive conversation about storytelling, featuring:• Taymour Soomro on resisting rigid stories about who you are• Madeleine Thien on how writing builds the room in which it can exist• Amitava Kumar on why authenticity isn't a license we carry in our wallets• Tahmima Anam on giving herself permission to be funny• Ingrid Rojas Contreras on the bodily challenge of writing about trauma• Zeyn Joukhadar on queering English and the power of refusing to translate ourselves• Kiese Laymon on hearing that no one wants to read the story that you want to write• Deepa Anappara on writing even through conditions that impede the creation of artPlus essays from Tiphanie Yanique, Xiaolu Guo, Jamil Jan Kochai, Vida Cruz-Borja, Femi Kayode, Nadifa Mohamed in conversation with Leila Aboulela, Myriam Gurba, Mohammed Hanif and Sharlene Teo.'This book is essential' Nikesh Shukla'Bracing and moving . . . No one interested in how we read and should read fiction can afford to miss this' Pankaj Mishra, author of Run And HideTrade ReviewA whip-smart collection of essays. I read parts of it with the joy of recognition and other parts with the astonishment of revelation -- Kamila ShamsieElectric essays that speak to the experience of writing from the periphery . . . a guide, a comfort, and a call all at once -- Laila Lalami, author of Conditional CitizensLetters to a Writer of Colour is full of wisdom, nuance and elegance. It stretches discourses around "colour" and invites us to think more deeply and broadly about these questions. It is essential reading in a world full of soundbites and furious noise -- Tash AwThe problem of the color line, as WEB Du Bois called it, has existed in literature and literary criticism as much as social and geopolitical realms, and systematic neglect by publishers, critics and readers has only exacerbated it. Excavating long-buried experiences of rejection, incomprehension and misunderstanding, Letters to a Writer of Colour defines the problem with precision and passion, and also outlines ways to transcend it. No one interested in how we read and should read fiction can afford to miss this bracing and moving anthology -- Pankaj MishraI knew I would love this book as soon as I laid eyes on the title and the list of contributors, and it didn't disappoint - far from it. These essays provide so much wisdom and warmth, giving us a sense of restoration, of community. They take a refreshingly holistic view of the craft and balance real technical insight with deeply gentle humanity. I cannot wait for my students to read this book! -- Okechukwu Nzelu, author of Here Again Now
£14.24
John Murray Press Write a Novel in 10 Minutes a Day: Acquire the habit of writing fiction every day
LEARN HOW TO WRITE FICTION BY WRITING EVERY DAYWould you like to write but have no spare time?Do you not know where to begin?Write A Novel In 10 Minutes A Day will help you sculpt a full-length piece of creative writing in just ten minutes a day. Starting with a daily practical exercise, it will help you manage your writing schedule within this time frame and help you bring your novel to life. You will be able to clarify your vision and review your time commitments, as well as understand your own abilities. Learning to observe the world around you, write quickly and tap into your unique voice will help you to create all the elements of your story and, by the time you've finished all the exercises, you'll have created something beautiful.ABOUT THE SERIESThe Teach Yourself Creative Writing series helps aspiring authors tell their story. Covering a range of genres from science fiction and romantic novels, to illustrated children's books and comedy, this series is packed with advice, exercises and tips for unlocking creativity and improving your writing. And because we know how daunting the blank page can be, we set up the Just Write online community at tyjustwrite, for budding authors and successful writers to connect and share.
£13.49
Ebury Publishing The Letters I Will Never Send: poems to read, to
Book Synopsis'these letters thus far have remained unsent, i want you to change that for me.' Embrace honesty and heal beautifully.In the letters i will never send, TikTok poet Isabella Dorta urges you to leave nothing unsaid and take comfort in moving poems on love, heartbreak, mental health and self-discovery.With beautiful line illustrations and over 100 poems written in the form of confessional letters addressed to the most influential figures in your life:Your younger selfYour future selfYour loverYour bodyYour familyand moreTake the ultimate step. Read, rip out, burn or send the letters out into the world. Write your own and share them with the people in your life. Just don't hold back!
£14.24
Ebury Publishing Calm in a Book
Book SynopsisMy Self-Love Supply is the hit Instagram account set up by MSc Psychological Studies with Mental Health student, Sofia Pellaschiar, which provides self-care and wellbeing inspiration to her 3.3 million followers. Her first book, The Morning Journal, was a self-published success and a simple, gentle guide to daily self-care.
£11.69
WW Norton & Co Writing to Persuade: How to Bring People Over to
Book SynopsisTrish Hall’s essential new work on writing well is a sparkling instructional guide to persuading (almost) anyone, on (nearly) anything. Hall has spent years immersed in argument, passion and trend-setting ideas—but also in tangled sentences, migraine-inducing jargon and dull-as-dishwater writing. Drawing on her experience editing everyone from Nobel Prize winners and global strong-men (Putin) to first-time pundits (Angelina Jolie), Hall presents the ultimate guide to writing persuasively for students, job applicants and authors. Setting out the core principles for connecting with readers, Writing to Persuade combines boisterous anecdotes with practical advice, offering an accessible guide to the art of effectively communicating above the digital noise of the twenty-first century.Trade Review"Writing To Persuade is a stealth guide to manners for living in a world where conversations are as likely to take place in 280 characters on a screen as they are at a dinner table." -- Times Literary Supplement
£12.34
Bradt Travel Guides Travel Writer's Way: Turn your travels into
Book SynopsisWhether you want to be the next Bill Bryson, set up a brilliant blog or simply make the best of your travel journal, this book will lead you along the travel writer's way. The Travel Writer's Way takes a ground-breaking approach to the craft of travel writing, with a 12-step programme of 'creative journeys' specially tailored to develop your writing skills. Whether you want to write for pleasure or for publication, for friends or for the wider world, you'll find this book as inspiring as it is useful. It also contains invaluable advice from a galaxy of the finest travel writers, editors and bloggers, the first guide to gather insights from so many acclaimed experts. Paul Theroux, William Dalrymple, Colin Thubron, Geoff Dyer, Pico Iyer, Levison Wood, Dervla Murphy, Chris Stewart, Sara Wheeler and Simon Calder all share their top tips. Furthermore, there is practical information on establishing your blog, writing your book and submitting your articles to travel editors. Jonathan Lorie has more than 20 years' experience as travel writer, travel-magazine editor and travel-writing tutor. His is the ultimate guide for those who want to turn their travels into stories. - Advice from 40 of the world's top travel-writing experts - Practical, 12-step programme to improve your writing - How to publish and market your work as blogs, books or articlesTrade Review'The most complete, accessible and inspiring book of its kind'. Colin Thubron 'Perfect for anyone who seeks to improve their travel writing.' Writers Forum 'A unique and completely invaluable guide to the dark arts of travel writing. Highly recommended.' William Dalrymple 'A complete guide to the art of travel-writing.' National Geographic TravellerTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION In the Jazz Café SECTION 1 | WRITING SKILLS DESCRIBING THE WORLD Chapter 1 Take me with you Chapter 2 Make a friend Chapter 3 Become the hero SHAPING THE STORY Chapter 4 Tell a story Chapter 5 Talk to me Chapter 6 Tell no lies HOOKING THE READER Chapter 7 Get in the mood Chapter 8 Get lost Chapter 9 Get into trouble TAKING THE LEAP Chapter 10 Cross the border Chapter 11 Stay in love Chapter 12 Take that leap SECTION 2 | WRITING ROUTES Chapter 13 What's Your Route? Chapter 14 Writing Blogs Chapter 15 Writing Articles Chapter 16 Writing Books Chapter 17 Professional Practice Index Acknowledgments Credits
£14.24
Orion Publishing Co Read This if You Want to Be a Great Writer
Book SynopsisThis book demystifies the writing process, empowering you to write your own novel or short story. Acclaimed author Ross Raisin explains expert technique in a clear and jargon-free way, with examples from twenty-five masters of prose. For aspiring writers of all ages and abilities, Read This If You Want to Be a Great Writer will motivate and strengthen your writing talent. Read This if You Want to Be A Great Writer is part of the internationally-bestselling ‘Read This’ series, which has sold over half-a-million books worldwide and has been translated into over 20 languages. Coming soon: Read This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing People by Selwyn Leamy (September 2019) More titles in the ‘Read This’ series: Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs by Henry Carroll (9781780673356) Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of People by Henry Carroll (9781780676241) Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of Places by Henry Carroll (9781780679051) Use This if You Want to Take Great Photographs: A Photo Journal by Henry Carroll (9781780678887) Read This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing by Selwyn Leamy (9781786270542) Use This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing by Selwyn Leamy (9781786274052) Read This if You Want to Be Instagram Famous edited by Henry Carroll (9781780679679)
£11.04
Canongate Books The Mathematics of the Breath and the Way: The
Book SynopsisIn The Mathematics of the Breath and the Way, Charles Bukowski considers the art of writing, and the art of living as writer. Bringing together a variety of previously uncollected stories, columns, reviews, introductions, and interviews, this book finds him approaching the dynamics of his chosen profession with cynical aplomb, deflating pretentions and tearing down idols armed with only a typewriter and a bottle of beer.From numerous tales of the author's adventures at poetry readings, parties, film sets, and bars, to an unprecedented gathering of Bukowski's singular literary criticism, the author discusses his writing practices and his influences. The Mathematics of the Breath and the Way is a perfect guide to the man behind the myth and the disciplined artist behind the boozing brawler.Trade ReviewHe brought everyone down to earth, even the angels -- LEONARD COHENA literary immortal * * Time * *He was a man challenging the world, both with fists and words, a provocateur of amazing abilities * * Los Angeles Times * *A master prose writer * * Guardian * *
£9.49
Straightforward Publishing The Crime Writers Casebook Third Edition
£10.79
Renard Press Ltd The Alchemy: A Guide to Gentle Productivity for
Book SynopsisThe Alchemy is a robust, frank and loving guide to an often opaque industry. As well as offering tips on working in gentle increments and re-imagining what productivity and the work of writing look like, there is advice on sending out work and navigating the industry, looking after your mental health as you go. Full of practical advice, strategies, comfort and the occasional entertaining essay, The Alchemyy is about writing a book when you thought you could not. It is for all writers, but with a particular eye on those who are tired and lacking in confidence, and those who face significant challenges – perhaps you are chronically ill or care for a loved one. It is a book for beginners, but it is also for those of you who are stuck in your habits and practice – perhaps you just need a pal to guide you through the day to day with the book you wanted to write. That’s what The Alchemy is. Let’s do this together.Trade Review'I was completely blown away by The Alchemy. Anna Vaught will liberate you from the trappings of perfection and teach you how to create incredible things from every single piece of you, including all those bits you believed were always holding you back. This is not just for writers: I think everyone should read this book.' (Kat Ashton, Head of Courses, Jericho Writers) '‘The Alchemy is the writing guide we all need: wise, funny, deeply compassionate, it meets us where we are and gently suggests that’s a place where wonderful things can happen. Do not despair – read this instead.' (Shelley Harris, author, lecturer in English Literature and Director of MA Creative Writing Programme, University of Reading) 'This beautiful and empathetic book seeks to recover for writers the immense value of what Wordsworth calls ‘wise passiveness’ that ‘can feed this mind of ours’. It reminds us that not-writing is sometimes a kind of writing, and of the importance of downtime, productive failure and bubble baths. Anna Vaught’s unique writing guide is, above all, an act of kindness to authors everywhere.' (Jonathon Taylor, author and Professor of Creative Writing, University of Leicester) 'LOVED The Alchemy: it’s what every writer and would-be writer needs; a friend who is at the same time knowledgeable, but also kind, funny, compassionate and wise; who knows what it’s like to feel insecure, but who has been through every kind of fire, and has come out indestructible.' (Joanne Harris)
£9.50
Nick Hern Books Making Your Solo Show: The Compact Guide
Book SynopsisThis clear, accessible guide to creating and putting on a solo show is packed with inspiring, practical advice for writers, actors, directors, and anyone who wants to know how solo shows are actually made. Written by two theatremakers with a wealth of experience in the field, it leads you through the whole process – from finding a subject you're passionate about, to developing your ideas and getting the script written, through to rewrites, rehearsals and getting your show on stage. It tackles key questions such as: What makes a 'good' solo show? How do I engage the audience? How should directors and writer-performers work together? And what's the best way of approaching a producer? There's also invaluable advice on looking after yourself, coping with anxieties, dealing with reviews, and taking your show to the Edinburgh Fringe. With practical exercises throughout to help you put everything into action, this book is an indispensable toolkit for making your solo show a reality. Lisa Carroll is a playwright, screenwriter and comedian, whose plays have been staged at Soho Theatre, the Arcola Theatre, and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Milly Thomas is an actor and writer whose plays have been staged at Theatre503, the Edinburgh Fringe, Soho Theatre, the West End's Trafalgar Studios and New York Theatre Workshop. Together, Lisa and Milly have taught regular solo-show workshops, including for training and creative organisation The Mono Box. The Compact Guides are pocket-sized introductions for actors and theatremakers, each tackling a key topic in a clear and comprehensive way. Written by industry professionals with extensive hands-on experience of their subject, they provide you with maximum information in minimum time.
£9.49
Nick Hern Books Screenwriting
Book SynopsisThe authoritative, practical guide to screenwriting, laying out everything you need to be a successful screenwriter for film and television. Written by one of the UK's leading script editors, consultants and producers.
£15.29
Little, Brown Book Group How To Write Comedy: Discover the building blocks
Book SynopsisFirst you have to come out with a flow of ideas and decide which ones will work. Then you must give them a tight structure, and then write crisp dialogue which builds in constant laughs. This practical but inspirational book guides new and more experienced writers step by step through the process of each comedy genre. It gives space for your creativity to shine as you gradually build your skills.Beginning with sketches, the basic building blocks of comedy, you’ll find how you can quickly create great premises, and then structure them into two-minute slices of hilarity. The same techniques will help you write a string of jokes and one-liners.· A practical guide to comedy as you write it, from creating mindmaps from which to glean your new material, to techniques of structure, characterisation and dialogue which work.· Covers the distinct techniques and mindsets needed by each genre in turn, in the usual progression of a writer’s career - from jokes and sketches to sitcoms.You’ll also learn how to find outlets for your work, from submitting to the BBC to staging your own show or filming comedy for the internet.
£10.44
Nick Hern Books Playwriting: Structure, Character, How and What
Book SynopsisFor two decades, Stephen Jeffreys's remarkable series of workshops attracted writers from all over the world and shaped the ideas of many of today's leading playwrights and theatre-makers. Now, with this inspiring, highly practical book, you too can learn from these acclaimed Masterclasses. Playwriting reveals the various invisible frameworks and mechanisms that are at the heart of each and every successful play. Drawing on a huge range of sources, it deconstructs playwriting into its constituent parts, and offers illuminating insights into: Structure – an in-depth exploration of the fundamental elements of drama, enabling you to choose instinctively the most effective structure for your play Character – advice on how to generate and write credible characters by exploring their three essential dimensions: story, breadth and depth How to Write – techniques for writing great dialogue, dynamic scenes and compelling subtext, including how to improve your writing by approaching it from unfamiliar directions What to Write – how to adopt different approaches to finding your material, how to explore the fundamental 'Nine Stories', and how to evaluate the potential of your ideas Written by a true master of the craft, this authoritative guide will provide playwrights at every level of experience with a rich array of tools to apply to their own work. This edition, edited by Maeve McKeown, includes a Foreword by April De Angelis.Trade ReviewOne of the UK's most respected teachers of writing for stage and screen… this book will undoubtedly benefit playwriting hopefuls for generations, with its plain speaking, common sense and accessibility' The Stage; 'An absolute treat, no matter where you consider yourself to be as a writer… a book to return to time and time again, to use as inspiration, to cherish and to gift to other lovers of plays' BritishTheatre.com; 'A masterfully adept and complete guide to not only finding what you want to write about, but also how to do it… each page has at least one piece of invaluable advice that can be taken away and built on... a love letter to theatre and the craft of writing for the stage' Broadway World; 'A detailed, valuable resource for aspiring playwrights and a fascinating read for anyone who loves drama and the theatre' Word Matters - Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama; 'Breaks the art of writing a play into accessible, digestible components without ever patronising the reader or dumbing down… very practical and immensely informative' Ink Pellet magazine; 'A gripping page-turner that will prove the perfect manual for anyone wishing to improve their playwriting skills… this highly readable and very entertaining book will enhance the enjoyment of general readers whenever they visit the theatre or even read playscripts at home. However, its target audience will be aspiring playwrights, who will learn a vast amount' British Theatre Guide
£15.29
Comma Press Morphologies: Short Story Writers on Short Story
Book SynopsisWhat makes for a good short story? Being short, you might think the storys structure would yield an answer to this question more readily than, say, the novel. But for as long as the short story has been around, arguments have raged as to what it should and shouldnt be made up of, what it should and shouldnt do. Here,15 leading contemporary practitioners offer structural appreciations of past masters of the form as well as their own perspectives on what the short story does so well. The best short stories dont have closure, argues one contributor, because life doesnt have closure; plot must be written with the denouement constantly in view, quotes another. Covering a century of writing that arguably saw all the major short forms emerge, from Hawthornes Twice Told Tales to Kafkas modernist nightmares, these essays offer new and unique inroads into classic texts, both for the literature student and aspiring writer.
£9.49
Nine Arches Press How to be a Poet
Book SynopsisHow to be a Poet is the brainchild of poet Jo Bell and editor Jane Commane. As a natural follow-on to the 52 Project of 2014, this book aims to help poets taking the next step in developing, working and participating in the wider creative community as a writer.How to be a Poet combines practical advice and topical mini-essays that examine both the technical and creative dimensions of being a poet. It’s a no-nonsense manual where we’ve replaced the spanners with lots of ink, elbow grease and edits. At each step, we ask plenty of questions: what makes a poem tick over perfectly, how do we get it started when it stalls, and which warning lights should you never ignore?
£13.49
September Publishing Ten Things About Writing: Build Your Story, One
Book SynopsisOne-time teacher and bestselling novelist Joanne Harris has been advising and corresponding with aspirational writers for over six years. This collection of pithy and funny lists of advice provides both hard-won wisdom and insider industry help. All aspects of the writing process and story development are covered - as is the thorny issue of how and where to find readers. From Workspaces and Habits to Plot and Dialogue, these are motivating, problem-solving lists from an experienced and widely respected writer. Uniquely, Ten Things About Writing also takes the reader beyond the stage of finished manuscripts and editorial changes - into the territories of rights, publicity and marketing. Whether you have the urge to write crime fiction or a fantasy novel, literary short stories or blockbuster thrillers Joanne's lists will speak to you.Trade Review'Joanne is not only master of her craft but has the rare gift of being able to explain that craft and offer peerless advice in the clearest, no-nonsense, practical and entertaining of ways.' Matt Haig '[Joanne Harris's] pithy, often very funny advice demystifies writing and the publishing industry for new and aspiring writers.' Cressida Cowell 'Joanne Harris's Ten Tweets have been tiny islands of sensibleness and wisdom. [...] I'm delighted they are going to be collected in one place.' Neil Gaiman 'Joanne Harris's Ten Tweets are a constant source of pleasure, equally welcome to writers and readers. [...] Frankly, they are marvels in miniature.' Ian Rankin
£13.49
Eyewear Publishing A Very Short Book About Writing
Book SynopsisA very short book about writingis about how joining a small writing group and writing every day helped the author cope with the anxiety and fear he felt as the pandemic worsened and his world fell in and out of lockdowns. But it is also about friendship and family, mental health, understanding and love. Deeply personal and real, inside you will find a small collection of short pieces taken from moments in his life, including Jonathan's touching coming out story, as well as notes on the activities and writing games that inspired them in the hope that by being open and honest about his experiences, it may help others to do the same.
£15.29
Triarchy Press walk write (repeat)
Book SynopsisThis is a manual for creative writers, but the approaches and exercises can readily be adapted by practitioners working in other media. All of the exercises included here have been foot-tested. Use the book to walk and work alone or in groups, together or separately. Use it to generate ideas, create text and read differently. Walking outside, in varied environments, will offer you novel experiences to draw upon. Many of the exercises here can be carried out in your immediate environment, or if mobility or opportunity are an issue, in your own home. Rescale and adapt at will. Inside the book: Creative walking: ambulant writing exercises: * Sparks. (Use a spark to get started on a walk or to switch things up during a longer walk. ) * Experiments. (Use an experiment to probe deeper.) * Projects. (Use a project to develop a creative piece.) Walking-reading practices: * Walk Like (HG) Wells * Wide Sargasso Walk (Jean Rhys) * Walking with Riddley (Walker) Creative walking-writing: DIY toolkit * Catapults (Use them to help you drift, moving away from familiar routes) * Writing prompts (Use them to see your environment through a particular lens). * Distance Drifts (Use them to explore new spaces or freshen up the familiar).
£11.88
Orion Publishing Co The Happy Writing Book: Discover the Positive
Book Synopsis'There are many guides to good writing but none as valuable as this.' Oliver Kamm, author and columnist for The TimesCreative writing can enhance wellbeing, which can enhance creative writing, which can enhance wellbeing ... Become a better writer with over 100 inspiring prompts, insights and exercises specially devised by an award-winning author and creative writing teacher. Discover how the practice of creative writing - being expressive, exploring ideas, crafting words, shaping stories - can also deepen your appreciation of life.Trade ReviewFew writers can share what they know like Elise Valmorbida, and even fewer teachers can write like her. But her greatest talent is her belief in other people's creative potential, and in the potential for creativity to bring happiness. Relevant to both seasoned writers and newbies alike. * John-Paul Flintoff, author of How To Change the World *Beautiful, clear, wide-reaching and hugely generous to readers. * Bryony Lavery, award-winning playwright, author of Frozen *There are many guides to good writing but none as valuable as this. In The Happy Writing Book, Elise Valmorbida... explains with acute insight how to convey your thoughts and ideas to the distant reader, while wearing very lightly her expertise in literary criticism. The result is both a stylistic revelation and a pleasure to read. * Oliver Kamm, author and columnist *Insightful, inspiring and brimming with useful tips, it's the friendliest guide you'll find to being a writer. Elise Valmorbida shows that the writing process, like the reading process, has all sorts of desirable side effects. * Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin, authors of The Novel Cure: An A-Z of Literary Remedies *Elise Valmorbida's teaching is life-affirming. She imparts information in a way that is accessible and vibrant. She takes the fear out of writing, and inspires students to discover their own voice. I was already writing when I did a course with Elise, yet I discovered new tones of voice that surprised and delighted me. The Happy Writing Book makes Elise's gifts as a teacher available to all. * Daniela F. Sieff, anthropologist and author of Understanding and Healing Emotional Trauma *Most provocative and insightful. A keen distillation of years' worth of experience, imagination and wisdom - and a delight to read - which will stay with me and keep provoking me. * Warren Coleman, co-writer and co-director of Happy Feet *Elise has been a wonderful writing tutor for Arvon for many years. We know we can rely on her to give our writers the right balance of thoughtful insight and supportive encouragement. This book encapsulates that teaching experience and wisdom. Sure to leave you a Happy Writer. * George Palmer, Director of Communications, Arvon *
£13.49
Wave Books ECODEVIANCE: (Soma)tics for the Future Wilderness
Book SynopsisListed in The Boston Globe's Best Poetry Books of 2014 Finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in Gay Poetry Winner of The Believer Poetry Award "The (Soma)tic Exercises are innovative and crucial to our art form...Conrad must be one of the most original practitioners of poetry forging new territory."--The Rumpus "There was a time some of us believed poetry and poets could save the world; CAConrad never stopped believing it."--The Huffington Post From "M.I.A. ESCALATOR": The ultrasound machine gives the parents the ability to talk to the unborn by their gender, taking the intersexed nine-month conversation away from the child. The opportunities limit us in our new world. Encourage parents to not know, encourage parents to allow anticipation on either end. Escalators are a nice ride, slowly rising and falling, writing while riding, notes for the poem, meeting new people at either end, "Excuse me, EXCUSE ME..." My escalator notes became a poem. CAConrad's ECODEVIANCE contains twenty-three new (Soma)tic writing exercises and their resulting poems, in which he pushes his political and ecological efforts even further. These exercises, unorthodox steps in the writing process, work to break the reader and writer out of the quotidian and into a more politically and physically aware present. In performing these rituals, CAConrad looks through a sharper lens and confirms the necessity of poetry and politics. CAConrad is the author of A Beautiful Marsupial Afternoon (Wave Books, 2012) and The Book of Frank (Wave Books, 2010/Chax Press, 2009), as well as several other books of poetry and essays. A 2014 Lannan Fellow, a 2013 MacDowell Fellow, and a 2011 Pew Fellow, he also conducts workshops on (Soma)tic poetry and Ecopoetics.Trade ReviewAgain and again, CAConrad's poetry demonstrates that self-exposure--the braver and more apparently audacious, the better--has the capacity not only to create some of the rawest, most intensely intimate and original poetry being written today, but also to act as a powerful force for overcoming the communicative barriers all around us. --Excerpted from the announcement for The Fifth Annual Believer Poetry Award to ECODEVIANCE From these rituals come notes; from those notes come poems; and from those poems comes not just a view into his process, but an entrance into another present, which a reader could as easily follow on her own -- across the page as a poem, or across time as a performance of the same ritual. --Michael Andor Brodeur, The Boston Globe We need this so bad right now: an alternative to all the shoulds, the obligations we take on ourselves to be productive, do more, know more, and care harder so we can fix things; a counter to the stultifying and earnest gloom, self-flagellation, and resignation that is just crushing nature poetry. ECODEVIANCE is a subversive syllabus for a queer ecopoetics, ... exercises, all at once, in magic, telepathy, transgression, confrontation, fantasy, wish-fulfillment, interspecies communications, self-healing, and writing. --Charles Legere, Boston Review The constant reverberations of collective and individual injury and suffering are openly registered in Conrad's work to memorable effect. Dedicated to his friends, ECODEVIANCE is kept from imploding on itself by love, camaraderie, and determination--a time capsule for the future wilderness and anyone who's being here now. --Charity Coleman, BOMB These poems are extreme, it's true. There's no way to, there's no reason to, deny this. When Conrad explains that he wants to "create" an extreme present, he doesn't mean that the present which he creates is one that is extreme by virtue of the fact that he has bloodied his foot or inserted a plastic tube into his penis, it is extreme by virtue of the fact that we have all made it extreme--"I blame everyone when I blame / myself I'm that good a shot," he says. --Drew Webster, Colorado Review Much of Conrad's work directly illuminates his politics, attacking the separation that he believes American culture creates between humans and the natural world. He presents at once a project of radical existential protest, a back-to-nature agenda, and a goal of queer liberation. --Publishers Weekly I'm crazy about how this project combines a dead-serious activist mission (connecting with other humans despite and in full acknowledgment of war, violence and environmental degradation) with wacky procedural methods ripe for inspiration. I love that it lays the whole process and intention bare for all of us to see with a kind of transparency all too rare for poets...and yet the resulting poems are still mysterious and wholly unexpected. --Arielle Greenberg, The American Poetry Review The language in Conrad's poems is surprising in its rawness. While grounded in the specific and the material, the poems touch on Big, Important Issues. The poems themselves, however, stay firmly grounded in this world, in language that actual people use. --H. V. Cramond, New PagesTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION M.I.A. ESCALATOR PRETERNATURAL CONVERSATIONS EQUINOX EVE: Silent Meeting Group UNKNOWN DURATION OF FEAR SUSPENSION FLUID MAGNIFICENCE SECURITY CAMERAS AND FLOWERS DREAMING THE ELEVATION ALLEGIANCE SCRYER’S INVITATION QUARTZ CRYSTAL SHAKESPEARE SONNET TRANSLATION ARBOREAL CRYSTAL ARIA FULL MOON HAWK APPLICATION PAINTED PIGEON PROJECT CORMORANT STAGECRAFT 9 ADZUKI THOUGHTS TRANSLUCENT SALAMANDER TIME TRAVEL APPLICATION MINDING THIRST RESTORATION FIBER SONG HEALING FOR A PEDOPHILE I LOVED EARTH YEARS AGO GENDER CONTINUUM RADAR REVERIES: Kingdom of the Coatimundi CATHETER ENJAMBEMENT GRAVE A HOLE AS DREAM A HOLE
£15.19
Catapult Craft In The Real World: Rethinking Fiction
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Jim Dandy Publishing Change the World One Book at a Time
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£15.68
Bloomsbury Academic Writing Reimagined
Book SynopsisDr. Grace Kang is Professor of Elementary Education and Literacy at Illinois State University. Both her teaching and research focus on critical and humanizing perspectives and culturally sustaining pedagogies and practices around literacy. Specifically, her research centers on and elevates critical orientations in teaching writing in the elementary grades, as well as in teacher education. Dr. Kang is the co-founder of the Diversity and Equity cohort, where she has developed a partnership with Champaign Unit 4 schools and Illinois State University. She serves on the Language and Litearcies for All Board. Additionally, she has written over 20 peer- reviewed articles and book chapters, and has over 20 presentations at professional conferences and professional development sessions. Currently, she is one of the co-editors of the Literacy Research Association Journal, Literacy Methods Research Teaching and Practice.Dr. Sonia Kline is Professor of Elementary Education and Literacy at Illinois State University. She advocates for approaches to teaching that involve valuing students' social, cultural, and linguistic resources and highlighting issues of power, equity, and social justice. She engages learners in critical inquiry, deep reflection, and collaborative learning, making visible the complex processes of literacy teaching and learning. The overarching purpose of Dr. Kline's research is to illuminate broad and disrupt narrow understanding of literacy. Her scholarship centers on literacy in teacher education and writing as a sociocultural and sociopolitical activity. Dr. Kline has published articles and book chapters in many venues, including Language Arts, the Reading Teacher, and the Teacher Education Quarterly. She is currently a co-editor of the Literacy Research Association Journal, Literacy Methods Research Teaching and Practice.
£25.08
Nick Hern Books How Plays Work
Book SynopsisIn How Plays Work, distinguished playwright David Edgar examines the mechanisms and techniques which dramatists throughout the ages have employed to structure their plays and to express their meaning. Written for playwrights and playgoers alike, Edgar's analysis starts with the building blocks of whole plays – plot, character-creation, genre and structure – and moves on to scenes and devices. He shows how plays share a common architecture without which the uniqueness of their authors' vision would be invisible. How Plays Work is both a masterclass for playwrights and playmakers and a fascinating guide to the anatomy of drama. In this revised edition, Edgar brings the book right up to date with analyses of many recent plays, as well as explorations of emerging genres and new innovations in playwriting practice. 'A brilliantly illuminating, bang-up-to-date, unmissable read' April De Angelis 'A book of real theoretical heft written by a major working playwright' Steve Waters 'An essential accompaniment for anyone fascinated by the craft of dramatic storytelling' John Yorke 'Every theatremaker should read this book' Pippa Hill, Literary Manager, Royal Shakespeare Company 'Even if you've read the book before, it demands to be reread' Simon Callow 'Combines theoretical acumen with the assured know-how of a working dramatist' Terry Eagleton, Times Literary SupplementTrade Review'Fascinating... read it. You will learn a lot' * The Stage *'Lucid, deeply intelligent... combines theoretical acumen with the assured know-how of a working dramatist' * Terry Eagleton, TLS *
£13.49
Cornerstone Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide
Book Synopsis____________________________We can all be more creative. John Cleese shows us how.Creativity is usually regarded as a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess. John Cleese begs to differ, and in this short, immensely practical and often very amusing guide he shows it's a skill that anyone can acquire. Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, he shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing.____________________________'Humorous and practical ... Whether you're hoping to write a novel or paint a masterpiece, you're sure to feel inspired' OK Magazine'His candor is endearing ... An upbeat guide to the creative process' Kirkus'A jovial romp ... Cleese fans will enjoy, and writers and other artists will breeze through, picking up a few nuggets of wisdom along the way' The Festival Review'A sincere and thoughtful guide to creativity, and a very useful book' Graham Norton'Wise words on the serious business of being silly' Sunday Business PostTrade ReviewA sincere and thoughtful guide to creativity, and a very useful book! -- Graham Norton * BBC Radio 2 *'[A] humorous and practical guide . . . Whether you're hoping to write a novel or paint a masterpiece, you're sure to feel inspired' * OK Magazine *A versatile entertainer shares encouraging advice. . . his candour is endearing. An upbeat guide to the creative process. * Kirkus *Wise words on the serious business of being silly. * Sunday Business Post (Ireland) *Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, John Cleese shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing in this humorous and practical guide. -- Daily Eastern Press
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd Verb Your Enthusiasm
£17.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Childrens Writers Artists Yearbook 2026
Book SynopsisThis is not a book, it is a sky filled with possibility, so let its wisdom lift you and soar!' Joseph Coelho, Children's LaureateCelebrating its 22nd edition, this indispensable Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook provides everything you need to know to get your work noticed. With thousands of up-to-date contacts and inspiring articles from dozens of successful writers, illustrators and industry insiders, it is the ultimate resource on writing and publishing for children of all ages. Packed with insights and practical tips, it provides expert advice on: - submitting to agents and publishers - writing non-fiction and fiction across genres and formats - poetry, plays, broadcast media and illustration - self-publishing - copyright, finances and contracts - marketing, prizes and festivals - and much, much more ... This edition includes advice from writers such as Beth Reekles, author of The Kissing Booth, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink & Stars, and bestselling
£23.40
F&W Publications Inc Story Engineering
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Wooden Books Literary Devices
Book SynopsisWhat is the difference between literal and figurative writing? Is there really a secret set of tricks used by top authors to make their writing even better? Why not use these tricks all the time? This excellent little book, by English literature and creative writing tutor Amy Jones, provides a vital introduction to the essential literary devices used by writers for thousands of years to engage and charm their readers, and better describe their worlds in words. WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.
£8.18
Little, Brown Book Group The Way of the Fearless Writer
Book SynopsisA revolutionary approach to writing inspired by ancient Eastern wisdom, from the bestselling author of Wabi SabiJoin author and Japanologist Beth Kempton on a sacred journey to uncover the secrets of fearless writing which have lain buried in Eastern philosophy for two thousand years.In a radical departure from standard advice and widely-held assumptions about the effort and suffering required for creative success, The Way of the Fearless Writer will show you there is another way to thrive - a path of trust, ease, freedom and joy.Learn how to free your mind so your body can create, transform your relationship with fear, dissolve self-doubt, shift writer''s block, access your true voice and bravely share your words with the world.This profound book reveals the deep connections between mind, body, spirit, breath and words. Offering a rare insight into the writing life and a host of fresh and original exercises, it will open your eyeTrade ReviewThe Way of the Fearless Writer is WONDERFUL. This book is a tonic for the soul. All writers should take time to read this. There are many books about writing, but Beth's approach is practical, honest and yet deeply spiritual and caring. We're keeping this book by our bedside. This is more than just a book, it's a way of life. -- Parul Bavishi & Matt Trinetti * co-founders of the London Writers’ Salon *In The Way of the Fearless Writer, Beth Kempton uses a Buddhist sensitivity to create a path at the intersection of our inner life, our daily life, and the lifelong practices of opening and listening; all in the service of the deeper expressive journey which, if true to, gives us access to the life below. Walk with Beth on this path and the vow to write will bring your depth to the surface and your voice into the world. -- Mark Nepo * author of Surviving Storms and The Book of Awakening *
£14.24
Random House USA Inc Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go
Book Synopsis
£12.59
The Do Book Co Do Story: How to Tell Your Story so the World
Book SynopsisThe universe is made of stories, not atoms.' - Muriel Rukeyser. Today s world wants to know you and the real story behind why you do what you do. Whether you have a product to sell, a company mission to share or an audience to entertain, people are far more likely to engage and connect if you deliver a well-crafted story with an emotional core. Bobette Buster is a story consultant to major studios including Pixar, Disney and Sony Animation. In Do Story she teaches the art of telling powerful and engaging stories. With profiles of activists, leaders and visionaries, she shares a variety of styles and subjects to demonstrate her Ten Principles of Storytelling. Find out -How to source, structure and shape your story -The power of the 'gleaming detail' -Why an emotional connection is key. Newly updated and expanded with two new chapters, beautiful artwork by Millie Marotta and plenty of practical tips and exercises, you will discover how to take your own storytelling from good...to great. So, what s your story?Trade ReviewBobette is a truly fantastic teacher, a main stay in the USC Peter Stark Program where she has made such a tremendous impact on students. No one understands story better than her. Larry Turman, - Director, USC Peter Stark Program and Producer of The Graduate
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd Into The Woods
Book Synopsis''The best book on the subject I''ve read. Quite brilliant'' Tony Jordan, creator/writer, Life on Mars, HustleWe all love stories. But why do we tell them? And why do all stories function in an eerily similar way? John Yorke, creator of the BBC Writers'' Academy, has brought a vast array of drama to British screens. Here he takes us on a journey to the heart of storytelling, revealing that there truly is a unifying shape to narrative forms - one that echoes the fairytale journey into the woods and, like any great art, comes from deep within. From ancient myths to big-budget blockbusters, he gets to the root of the stories that are all around us, every day.''Marvellous'' Julian Fellowes ''Terrifyingly clever ... Packed with intelligent argument'' Evening Standard ''The most important book about scriptwriting since William Goldman''s Adventures in the Screen Trade'' Peter Bowker, writer, Blackpool, Occupation, Eric Trade ReviewBrimmingly insightful ... fresh, enlightening and accessible ... a gripping read from beginning to end -- Robert Collins * Sunday Times *Terrifyingly clever ... Packed with intelligent argument * Evening Standard *So detailed and engaging is his methodology that any consumer of books, plays, TV or films will find the experience enhanced; and scriptwriters themselves will find useful guidance - because when you know the why, the how is natural -- Robert Epstein * Independent on Sunday *This is a marvellous analysis of screenwriting and, with any luck, should help a great many people achieve their dreams -- Julian Fellowes, writer/creator of Downton AbbeyAnother book on screenwriting! Oh, how I wanted to hate it! I didn't. I loved it. Much of it was fresh to me. And always interesting, always intelligent and, for a writer, always rewarding -- Jimmy McGovern, screenwriter, The Street and The AccusedIn an industry full of so called script gurus and snake oil salesmen, at last there's a book about story that treats writers like grown ups. This isn't about providing us with an ABC of story or telling us how to write a script by numbers. It's an intelligent evaluation into the very nature of storytelling and is the best book on the subject I've read. Quite brilliant -- Tony Jordan, screenwriter, Life on Mars and HustleEven for a convinced sceptic, John Yorke's book, with its massive field of reference from Aristotle to Glee, and from Shakespeare to Spooks, is a highly persuasive and hugely enjoyable read. It would be hard to beat for information and wisdom about how and why stories are told -- Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director, The Globe TheatreThis book is intelligent, well written, incisive and, most of all, exciting. It is the most important book about scriptwriting since William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade -- Peter Bowker, screenwriter, Blackpool, Occupation and Eric & ErniePart 'How-to' manual, part 'why-to' celebration, Into The Woods is a wide-reaching and infectiously passionate exploration of storytelling in all its guises ... exciting and thought-provoking -- Emma Frost, screenwriter, The White Queen and ShamelessInto The Woods is an amazing achievement. It has a real depth and understanding about story, a fantastically broad frame of reference and it's interesting and absorbing throughout. Full of incredibly useful insights, every TV writer should read the first chapter alone -- Simon Ashdown, series consultant, EastEndersTesting the adage that "in theory there's no difference between theory and practice but in practice there is", this is a love story to story -- erudite, witty and full of practical magic. It's by far the best book of its kind I've ever read. I struggle to think of the writer who wouldn't benefit from reading it -- even if they don't notice because they're too busy enjoying every page -- Neil Cross, creator/writer of Luther, Crossbones and writer of Dr Who, MI5Books on story structure are ten a penny but Mistah Yorke's is the real deal -- Kathryn FlettAll script-writers will want to read Into The Woods. All plots and archetypes BUSTED -- Caitlin MoranGot to say Into The Woods by John Yorke is marvellous. The prospect of another screenwriting book made me yawn, but its terrific ... It's a great read, wise and cogent, and a must for all screenwriters -- David EldridgeA mind-blower ... an incredibly dense but very readable tome about the art of storytelling ... Really worth a read -- Lenny Henry * The Independent *I don't always enjoy books on writing, but Into the Woods by John Yorke is brilliant on story structure. -- Ken Follett, author of 'The Pillars of the Earth'In his brimmingly insightful, stimulating study of how stories work, Yorke compellingly unpicks how a whole range of films, plays, novels and fairy tales all display the same archetypal structures . . . His book, in telling scores of stories in such a fresh, enlightening and accessible manner, is a gripping read from beginning to end * Sunday Times *The best book on the subject [of storytelling] I've read, tells us everything we need to know about it. Yorke's analysis is superb * London Evening Standard *A mightily impressive opus, both hugely informative and highly educational. I love the way it's populated with so many examples - the many combinations of both mass market and the slightly more esoteric giving a something-for-everyone feeling. A brilliant work -- Peter James, best-selling author of NOT DEAD ENOUGH and LOOKING GOOD DEADYorke sets out to analyse the patterns behind storytelling, explaining why the fundamentals of narrative have remained the same from Aristotle to Aaron Sorkin. A great starting point for anyone wanting to create a story * Stuff Magazine *I've just read a book about professional writing which has genuinely helped me. It's for those who are serious about avoiding bad 'How To' books and want to raise their game, and it's more intelligent than most of the others. John Yorke's Into The Woods: How Stories Work And Why We Tell Them is a genuine game-changer and has helped me put past bad habits to rest -- Christopher Fowler, Author of Bryant and MayInto The Woods is utterly brilliant -- Ed Cumming * Daily Telegraph *Love storytelling? You need this inspiring book. John Yorke dissects the structure of stories with a joyous enthusiasm allied to precise, encyclopaedic knowledge. Guaranteed to send you back to your writing desk with newfound excitement and drive -- Chris Chibnall, creator and writer of Broadchurch and The Great Train RobberyInto The Woods is brilliant. One of the best books on script writing out there . . . I loved the book. Inspiring -- Dominic Mitchell, creator and writer of In The FleshThere is no end of books that instruct us on how to write the perfect screenplay, but few that delve more deeply into the art of storytelling than this erudite volume * Financial Times *Its strength is Yorke's acute perception of the wellsprings of universal narrative structures relevant to all artistic activities * The Times *Terrific . . . It's a great read, wise and cogent, and a must for all screenwriters -- David Eldridge, writer of Festen and In BasildonIt's a great read. It makes me smile and say 'Yes!' aloud. Only this and PG Wodehouse do that -- Lucy Gannon, writer/creator of Soldier Soldier, Peak Practice, Frankie, The Best Of MenNot How 2 Write them but how stories work. John Yorke's Into the Woods: A 5 Act Journey into Story is brilliant, illuminates & explains -- Susan Hill, Author, The Woman In Black, I’m The King Of The CastleI'm only 70 pages into John Yorke's Into the Woods but it's already helped me crack two stories -- Andy Diggle, former editor of 2000AD, comic book writer for Marvel, DCHighly recommended reading * Huffington Post *Yorke is aware that the world is not suffering for lack of prescriptive screenwriting manuals. Instead, with Into the Woods, he takes a scalpel to narrative structure - dissecting protagonist, antagonist, inciting incident, crisis and so on - before asking how and why this underlying shape still holds audiences spellbound like a fairytale witch. "A story is like a magnet dragged through randomness," Yorke writes, but while he elegantly untangles the deepest roots of storytelling, he also honours the human need for truth and sense with some more superficial questions: why do series tend to "jump the shark" round about season three, for example, or why is clunky exposition - particularly in medical dramas - so appallingly comical? Sit comfortably, then begin * Guardian *I absolutely love this book. It's incredible and so well written. I keep trying to find fault but so far no joy - It's so good -- Matt Charman, writer Bridge of Spies (dir Stephen Spielberg); Black Work (ITV)[John Yorke's] writing book is arguably possibly almost as good as mine, all right it's loads better shut up -- David Quantick, Author of HOW TO WRITE EVERYTHINGProbably, in the hackneyed phrase, "the last book on screenwriting you'll ever need." He is very good at debunking the claims of some screenwriting gurus, all of whom are busy trying to sell you their own particular brand of snake oil. It's truly excellent -- Tim Adler * Daily Telegraph *Of all the books I've read about story construction and the art of fiction, this one is the most comprehensive and concise -- John Collee, writer on 'Master And Commander', 'Happy Feet', 'Creation', 'Walking With Dinosaurs'
£10.44
Profile The Artists Way Toolkit
Book Synopsis'Cameron's morning pages have shaped the lives of millions' Guardian'Without The Artist's Way, there would have been no Eat, Pray, Love' Elizabeth Gilbert'Morning pages has become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential' VogueTHE ESSENTIAL HANDBOOK TO THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERHailed as the Queen of Creativity, Julia Cameron is the authority on artistic wisdom and has transformed the lives of millions around the world. Guiding readers to the heart of their practice, here she presents her indispensable Artist's Way toolkit of Morning Pages, Artist Dates, Walks and Guidance, along with never-before-seen insights and affirmations designed to spark purpose.Laying out the Artist's Way philosophy into a precise and accessible collection of ready-to-use steps, readers will access their inner voice, experience deeper intuition and ultimately meet themselves - and others - on the pathway to self-discovery. Used together as part of a spiritual practice, these tools form the bedrock of artistic expression and illuminate the way for any creative journey.
£11.69
Columbia University Press The Preparation of the Novel
Book SynopsisTrade Review(I)ntriguingly eclectic. It is fascinating to see this formidable, malleable intellect applied to such a wide range of topics, and with more spontaneity than is evident in most of Barthes' publications. The Prague Post The Prague Post The Preparation of the Novel will generate some jouissance indeed. -- Spencer Dew Rain Taxi The reader is afforded a genuine look behind the enigmatic curtain of Barthes' writings; here the physical, spacial, vocal Roland Barthes is arrested - captured - for all to experience. -- Nicholas P. Greco, Providence University College, Otterburne Philosophy In Review
£28.50
