Write Hard: Prompts, Prods, and Pep-Talks for Writers

by Aaron Polson

Nobody said writing fiction was going to be easy. Take chances, make the courageous, daring choice. Write hard. No one wants to read another version of what's come before. No one wants the same thing, warmed over, and served cold. This is a time to be bold and foolish with your writing; you just might like the outcome.

Truths about Write Hard:

This is not your English professor’s book.

This will not be the last book you ever purchase about writing.

If you’re a seasoned writer looking for a kick in the pants, head directly to Pep Talks and Ass Kickings.

What Write Hard is: bold, sassy, slightly irreverent, inspiring, and different.

I hope you can find something useful.

The Table of Contents:

Start Here: Stealing Ideas, or How to Lie Like a Pro
Essential Element 1: Conflict is Plot, or I Just Want a Damn Drink of Water
Essential Element 2: Characters are People Too
Essential Element 3: Setting, or Where the Hell are We?
Dipping Your Toes in the Editing Pool
Sleight of Hand: Two Techniques for Writing
Writing Prompts for the Idea Poor
The Internet is Your Friend
The Tool Kit*
A Master List of Characters for Improvised Stories
Master List of Situations for Improvised Stories
Master List of Settings for Improvised Stories
Possible Products for RAFTS
Pep Talks and Ass Kickings

*Includes over 500 characters, situations, settings, and writing prompts because who really needs writer's block?

Genres: Writing

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2011

About the author

Aaron Polson currently lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife, two sons, and a tattooed rabbit. His stories have featured magic goldfish, monstrous beetles, and a book of lullabies for baby vampires. His work has seen print in Shock Totem, Blood Lite II, and Monstrous with several new stories forthcoming in Shimmer, Space and Time, and other publications. The Saints are Dead, a collection of weird fiction, magical realism, and the kitchen sink, is due from Aqueous Press in 2011. "

Reviews

[Aeryn Blackstar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very helpful

This book has no new information just the usual advice, there weren't e Pugh prompts, would not recommend, glad this was free not worth paying

[Steven Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

This was a very quick read. It appeared to be a series of blog posts put into a book format. I didn't find a whole lot of new information, but I have been researching the subject now for over a year.

[Frederick Patterson]

A must read book for anyone wanting to learn to write better