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NLP For Writers: Techniques to Help You Succeed
In the only creative writing book to use NLP techniques, published writer Bekki Hill helps you to improve your narratives through the power of NLP. The focused, goal-orientated learning in this unique guide outlines step by step the different ways in which NLP can be used to develop a better mastery of character, plot and story by connecting emotionally with the reader.
- GenresWriting
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2013
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51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 8, 2014
Good stuff about this book
All right, I'm gonna fanboy here for a moment and say almost everything was worth the time and money invested in this book. This is also the first time I sat down and really "owned" a book (highlighter and pen in hand, marking important things to me and key points in the book itself).
The sections I really enjoyed were the first four (it really got my brain thinking about my characters and what I can do to make their stories more interesting), The Memory, understanding, and imagination, reflecting back on what I am leaving out and not digging deeper for better immersion, and the Stepping Into Your Character's Shoes, which is awash in a sea of highlighter.
In fact, if you judge by my highlighter itself, you'll see at least 50% of the book is valuable in one way, shape, or form. This is saying something as I am rather picky about what I think is vital and important (not that you would know about what I determine vital and important, but this is also covered in the book).
Bad stuff about this book
There really isn't anything bad about the book, but there are a few things not really solid. The plotting chapters and other elements were a little subpar. I look at the structure as something key in any story, and while the character is vital to the story, the methods were a bit touchy feely for me (again, if you read the book, you'll understand that isn't actually a bad thing. It's more about the individual).
If you are looking for a hardcore NLP book, exploring everything about NLP itself, you're going to be disappointed. It is a great spin on a technique. The intro claims as much when you read it that it isn't going to be a voice for NLP. That's okay, it's good to get your toes wet in the theory.
Book Verdict
I was on the fence about this book on the price alone, but I had a hunch about the value it would add to my technique. I bought it, along with two other books, and blew my budget, but in the end the value I got out of it far exceeded the price I paid for it. It goes into my line of "KPI (Key Progress Indicator) books," ones I will revisit often to make sure my writing progression continues to be robust and offer more to you, the reader.
If you struggle with characters, I cannot stress this enough: Buy this book. Read it, get your highlighter, do the tests, read the text, really get yourself into it. Even if you only come away with a few lines of new information, you'll see an exponential growth in your writing.
All right, I'm gonna fanboy here for a moment and say almost everything was worth the time and money invested in this book. This is also the first time I sat down and really "owned" a book (highlighter and pen in hand, marking important things to me and key points in the book itself).
The sections I really enjoyed were the first four (it really got my brain thinking about my characters and what I can do to make their stories more interesting), The Memory, understanding, and imagination, reflecting back on what I am leaving out and not digging deeper for better immersion, and the Stepping Into Your Character's Shoes, which is awash in a sea of highlighter.
In fact, if you judge by my highlighter itself, you'll see at least 50% of the book is valuable in one way, shape, or form. This is saying something as I am rather picky about what I think is vital and important (not that you would know about what I determine vital and important, but this is also covered in the book).
Bad stuff about this book
There really isn't anything bad about the book, but there are a few things not really solid. The plotting chapters and other elements were a little subpar. I look at the structure as something key in any story, and while the character is vital to the story, the methods were a bit touchy feely for me (again, if you read the book, you'll understand that isn't actually a bad thing. It's more about the individual).
If you are looking for a hardcore NLP book, exploring everything about NLP itself, you're going to be disappointed. It is a great spin on a technique. The intro claims as much when you read it that it isn't going to be a voice for NLP. That's okay, it's good to get your toes wet in the theory.
Book Verdict
I was on the fence about this book on the price alone, but I had a hunch about the value it would add to my technique. I bought it, along with two other books, and blew my budget, but in the end the value I got out of it far exceeded the price I paid for it. It goes into my line of "KPI (Key Progress Indicator) books," ones I will revisit often to make sure my writing progression continues to be robust and offer more to you, the reader.
If you struggle with characters, I cannot stress this enough: Buy this book. Read it, get your highlighter, do the tests, read the text, really get yourself into it. Even if you only come away with a few lines of new information, you'll see an exponential growth in your writing.
July 30, 2016
This is entirely focused on NLP for character creation, applying the NLP principles (aka, "presuppositions") to characters. It's especially useful for people aiming to write a solid, more believable "deep third" POV, creating the subjective reality of a character. The material so far is well organised and suitable even for people who know diddly-squat about NLP.
December 29, 2014
Definitely a book to read over and over again because, although the concepts and clear enough and are well explained, there is a lot to take in over a short period of time.
Often, whilst reading, I had the experience that I was trying to cram for an exam, or was trying to take onboard a whole different way of thinking about the world.
It kinda feels like passing individual jigsaw puzzle pieces through a small gap into a darkened room and then trying to assemble the whole picture, in the dark, from the memory of each individual piece. I'm sure I can do it with more practice, but for now, it just feels like a lot all at once.
Having said that, the advice given is practical, useful, detailed, and well worth the investment. There are many practical exercises, some of which can be done by sitting and thinking them through, and others that need pen to be applied to paper. All are useful in changing the way characters are constructed or viewed.
The other up-side to the book is that NLP embodies a set of techniques that can be applied to life in order to improve the reader's thinking processes and ways of interacting with the world. Taaking this level into account gives the reader twice as much value for their money and time.
Cerebral stuff - I love it.
Often, whilst reading, I had the experience that I was trying to cram for an exam, or was trying to take onboard a whole different way of thinking about the world.
It kinda feels like passing individual jigsaw puzzle pieces through a small gap into a darkened room and then trying to assemble the whole picture, in the dark, from the memory of each individual piece. I'm sure I can do it with more practice, but for now, it just feels like a lot all at once.
Having said that, the advice given is practical, useful, detailed, and well worth the investment. There are many practical exercises, some of which can be done by sitting and thinking them through, and others that need pen to be applied to paper. All are useful in changing the way characters are constructed or viewed.
The other up-side to the book is that NLP embodies a set of techniques that can be applied to life in order to improve the reader's thinking processes and ways of interacting with the world. Taaking this level into account gives the reader twice as much value for their money and time.
Cerebral stuff - I love it.
February 3, 2020
I already love NLP. It can be a lifelong learning adventure. Having a better understanding of how we process information taken in through our senses, and the meaning we give to that information which determines our actions is fascinating and relatable to increasing one's craft of writing. For sure this book can help you with your descriptions and paining a picture for the reader that will resonate regardless of the preferred modality of taking information in. This book is just as good for non writers as it is for writers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews