Rating: 
Summary: "Writerrific" is fun, but not at cover price...
Review: "Writerrific" is subtitled: "Creativity Training for Writers." The idea is that it gives hints, tips, and exercises that will help you to get past what author Eva Shaw calls "page fright" and turn yourself into a font of creative ideas. There are some topics in here that sound interesting, including "Writeriffic and You: Styling Your Creative Life", "Your Inner Writer", "Your Writer's Voice", "Creative Kick Starts", and "Can You Make It as a Writer?". But don't get excited just yet; these only take up about 14 pages, largish print with very large section headings. On the other hand, the advice here is useful. Ms. Shaw is the author of many (many!) books and magazine articles, and the teacher of an online class, and she has some practical and handy advice to pass on. Ms. Shaw strikes a nice balance between encouraging anyone who wants to try to write, and reminding us that writing takes skill and work. I think the exercises are good. Not stunning. But certainly if you're having trouble getting started, the exercises provided here might get you going. Some of these are fairly traditional (pick a word at random from the dictionary and start writing on it). A few are actually a little different (cut photos from magazines of people and animals and match animal heads to people bodies. Write using your creation as a character). Technically there are 19 exercises. Many of them have plenty of possible variations, however, so if you don't get bored, they can keep you busy for a while.
On the one hand, the single blank page that goes with each exercise might lower the barriers of resistance when you're trying to get yourself to do the first exercise or three. On the other hand, I hardly feel that it was necessary to make the latter two-thirds of the book entirely blank as well. The back of the book lists its price as $14.95--I can get a stack of cheap notebooks or scrap paper for that price (or just pop open a word processor window on my computer for even less)! I would be much happier to pay a third of that (maybe half) for the part of the book that contained text and exercises and buy my own paper. Ms. Shaw could done this without sacrificing the single blank page that goes with each exercise. Ultimately, if you find this one in the bargain bin it's worth getting. It is not, however, worth the full cover price unless you have too much money on your hands.
Rating:
Summary: "Writerrific" is fun, but not at cover price...
Review: "Writerrific" is subtitled: "Creativity Training for Writers." The idea is that it gives hints, tips, and exercises that will help you to get past what author Eva Shaw calls "page fright" and turn yourself into a font of creative ideas. There are some topics in here that sound interesting, including "Writeriffic and You: Styling Your Creative Life", "Your Inner Writer", "Your Writer's Voice", "Creative Kick Starts", and "Can You Make It as a Writer?". But don't get excited just yet; these only take up about 14 pages, largish print with very large section headings. On the other hand, the advice here is useful. Ms. Shaw is the author of many (many!) books and magazine articles, and the teacher of an online class, and she has some practical and handy advice to pass on. Ms. Shaw strikes a nice balance between encouraging anyone who wants to try to write, and reminding us that writing takes skill and work. I think the exercises are good. Not stunning. But certainly if you're having trouble getting started, the exercises provided here might get you going. Some of these are fairly traditional (pick a word at random from the dictionary and start writing on it). A few are actually a little different (cut photos from magazines of people and animals and match animal heads to people bodies. Write using your creation as a character). Technically there are 19 exercises. Many of them have plenty of possible variations, however, so if you don't get bored, they can keep you busy for a while.
On the one hand, the single blank page that goes with each exercise might lower the barriers of resistance when you're trying to get yourself to do the first exercise or three. On the other hand, I hardly feel that it was necessary to make the latter two-thirds of the book entirely blank as well. The back of the book lists its price as $14.95--I can get a stack of cheap notebooks or scrap paper for that price (or just pop open a word processor window on my computer for even less)! I would be much happier to pay a third of that (maybe half) for the part of the book that contained text and exercises and buy my own paper. Ms. Shaw could done this without sacrificing the single blank page that goes with each exercise. Ultimately, if you find this one in the bargain bin it's worth getting. It is not, however, worth the full cover price unless you have too much money on your hands.
Rating: 
Summary: Eva Shaw has a Reality Perspectivel!
Review: After being enrolled in her recent Writeriffic Online Class, there is a new certainty of confidence appearing in my writing! Before being a student of Walter Brueggemann, most of 77 books on OT, (Reviewer) colleagues at Columbia Seminary at least, Sister Kathleen O'Connor, Chuck Campbell, Christine Yoder, Now Ms Eva Shaw, I feared writing essays, anecdotes, Reflections and/or experiences of Reality! Eva Shaw has eyes to see thru a Writer, even an 74 yr-old, writing my Thots of CPE, Prison Chaplaincy, LectionAid Sermons, Pastoral Interprets, etc.
Eva Shaw is New Friend, Humorist, Internist, Inspirer, Nudger and Teacher... anything else would include Anu, Brian, Joanne, Char, Misty, Misty, Sandi and Misty; Plus all other class members from dozens of US, Canada, Italy, Russia, All reply to me and repect Ms Eva! Hooray for Her!
Old Fred, Retired Chaplain & Fun-loving Writer
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry there isn't a rating lower than 1
Review: Although Eva Shaw is a good instructor in her teleclasses. This book is a waste of time. Almost 3/4 of it is lined blank pages. The exercises are also very unimaginative.
Rating:
Summary: Great investment in my creative writing
Review: Don't let the small price of this must-have writing book make you think it's ho-hum. It's has become just the spark I've needed to keep the momentum going in my writing career, after a lengthy bout with writer's block. The exercises are simple, "deceptively simple" according to Dr. Shaw, and have made me stretch more than I thought possible. Now my creative thinking has changed and it seems that everyday I see and understand more of what I'm to do as a writer. Besides the book is fun and the advice is timely, non intimidating and just as encouraging as Dr. Shaw is in person. I've attended some of her online writing classes and that coupled with this incredible investment has propelled me to selling three articles and placing a number of essays. If you're in a period of doubting your creativity, get this book. I did and I'm telling all my writing friends.
Rating:
Summary: Information on Writing with Lots of Exercises!
Review: excellent book, lots of exercises to practice writing and lot of ideas to work for fiction to nonfiction writers.
Rating:
Summary: Kick Start to Great Writing
Review: How can you not love this little gem? First of all you can take it wherever you go. Write in it every day; use it for ideas for articles, essays and short stories; and when you feel like you haven't got a word worth writing left inside of you, go to page 49, and start putting some of the words that are out there together - I'll guarantee you'll be off and writing. It's a lot of writing practice for a little money - a wise investment at any price.
Rating:
Summary: Kick Start to Great Writing
Review: How can you not love this little gem? First of all you can take it wherever you go. Write in it every day; use it for ideas for articles, essays and short stories; and when you feel like you haven't got a word worth writing left inside of you, go to page 49, and start putting some of the words that are out there together - I'll guarantee you'll be off and writing. It's a lot of writing practice for a little money - a wise investment at any price.
Rating:
Summary: Writerrific is Terrific
Review: I just got this book last week, and I love it already. I did the "18" exercise and found myself reliving the dread and fear I felt at age 18. The exercises are simple to do, but not always easy. Still, I'm eager to do more. I used to belong to that quote (I don't know the source), "I hate writing, but I love having written." More and more, with the help & encouragement of this book, I love the writing too!
Rating:
Summary: Writeriffic-Creativity Training for Writers
Review: I took Eva's online course by the same title, not knowing what to do with a blank page. The course was wonderful and got me pointed in the right direction. I even had something published. After the class ended I purchased this workbook and it has proven itself invaluable. I am addicted to the exercises, especially the "wordy fun" and "365 or more". Eva has a real talent for giving you the tools you need to become a writer and grow as a writer.I may have to get another one since mine has become pretty battered over the summer-coffee stains and chlorine, plus I'll need more room!
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