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Summary: You want to write but think you can't? Then read this book.
Review: This is a motivating book for anyone who's heart leads them to writing - professionally or as a personal challenge - yet they are confronted by either their own negative internal voices or by their critical, so called friends. Along with inspirational quotes from famous writers, the book guides you with achievable steps to help you overcome your fears of writing, procrastination, writer's block, waiting for inspiration etc. An easy to read and follow book, because the author "Joel Saltzman" intended it that way. His philosophy for writing is simple: he says "if you can talk, you can write." And he's write. (pun intended).
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Summary: Best writing book I've ever read
Review: This is the book that got me really started writing. The principle is simple enough: if you really want to write something, you have to go ahead and start writing it, and keep on writing even though it's nowhere close to perfect. What keeps most people from writing is thinking that it has to be perfect the first time around. Saltzman says "writer's block" is really "perfectionist's block". This may sound like a simple concept, but the way Saltzman presents it is really unique; it's a real kick in the rear. And if you have any doubts as to the effectiveness of his writing method, just read even one chapter of the book. It's _thoroughly_ entertaining all the way through - and very informative. I never thought a book on writing would strike me as a "page-turner", but . . . this one is.
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Summary: Valuable Advice for Writers
Review: This is the one book - after reading countless writing books - that finally helped me put aside my fear and begin to write. No, the sky didn't part, and I didn't instantly write a best seller or anything like that. But it did help me realize that my initial expectations about writing were impossible to reach. Mr. Saltzman's advice is that writing begins with simply "talking on paper." It's the easiest way to find your own voice, or break through writer's block. He adds quotes from various writers, gives helpful suggestions, and assigns fun writing exercises. This book is definitely for anyone who feels he or she has a story to tell, but doesn't quite know how to start. For me, it was the spark I needed to jump in. Once I jumped in, the ideas started flowing. I've been writing like crazy ever since!
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Summary: Penicillin for "writer's block"
Review: Whether you're a fiction writer, or a non-fiction writer, this book is for you. Perfect for those who get stuck in the rut of perfectionism (a.k.a. writer's block). That awful state, oh my! To often, we expect our writing to come out like smooth golden honey, dripping onto the page with every pen stroke. But often, this isn't the case. Instead of gold, we get blah. We get a lot of blah; in fact, we get so much blah that we question our writing ability. We want to give up. But, don't give up -- keep writing instead. If you want to writer, you need to stick your nose into your notebook and write. Learn how to free-write, and you'll be on your way to success. "How I that?" you may ask. Get this book and find out. After you're finished, you can always go back and edit your drafts to your hearts content. But for now, learn to talk on paper first.
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