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Complete Creative Writing: A Teach Yourself Program
The complete package -- all you need to develop your writing towards publication The only comprehensive Creative Writing title on the market that goes beyond introducing the basic genres to offering a complete journey along the writing path, including material on editing, redrafting and polishing a piece of work. Featuring the unique Workshop exercises to encourage readers to hone their work rather than just progressing through a number of exercises. Takes you from complete beginner or committed amateur to the point where you've completed, edited and redrafted your work and are ready for publication.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 25, 2019
I had already read "The Complete Screenwriting Course" by Charles Harris and from the same editor; a book which I really liked. So when I bought this one, I was expecting the same quality. But it was quite a disappointment.
Let me give you a few examples.
* The 14 pages of introduction are a complete waste of time. Which at first I didn´t mind, until on page 58, after reading an explanation about similes and metaphors, I read this:
"You can extend metaphors; make them longer and more complicated. This can become hyperbole. We cannot go into that here, but you might like to look it up yourself. Personification is another figure of speech which you might like to look up, along with animism, paradox, allegory, analogy and symbols and symbolism."
You can´t call a book a COMPLETE guide and then tell the reader to go look up some stuff because you "can´t go into that here", especially not if you have just wasted 14 pages on tellling what the words "creative writing" mean to others students and concluding that it basically means more or less (though not completely) the same to everyone.
*Some paragraphs are long and tedious and sound like the writer was just writing down whatever came to his mind.
*There are spelling mistakes in this book.
Let me repeat: this is a book about writing, with spelling mistakes. It is hard to express how wrong this feels to me.
For example:
"The physical side is as importance as dance or sport." (sic) (p17)
"A man has his distinctive personal scent which is wife, his children and his dog can recognise." (sic) (p89)
* Some of the exercises are interesting, but way too much time is spent on some of them, the writer (again) just writing away what he´s thinking, without making the effort of doing some necessary editing afterwards.
* A job the editor himself has obviously not done either. There´s a whole paragraph that you can find almost word for word on page 11 as well as on page 12. Clearly a sign of copying and pasting while building the text, and then forgetting to edit it afterwards.
Written and published in a hurry, what a shame.
Let me give you a few examples.
* The 14 pages of introduction are a complete waste of time. Which at first I didn´t mind, until on page 58, after reading an explanation about similes and metaphors, I read this:
"You can extend metaphors; make them longer and more complicated. This can become hyperbole. We cannot go into that here, but you might like to look it up yourself. Personification is another figure of speech which you might like to look up, along with animism, paradox, allegory, analogy and symbols and symbolism."
You can´t call a book a COMPLETE guide and then tell the reader to go look up some stuff because you "can´t go into that here", especially not if you have just wasted 14 pages on tellling what the words "creative writing" mean to others students and concluding that it basically means more or less (though not completely) the same to everyone.
*Some paragraphs are long and tedious and sound like the writer was just writing down whatever came to his mind.
*There are spelling mistakes in this book.
Let me repeat: this is a book about writing, with spelling mistakes. It is hard to express how wrong this feels to me.
For example:
"The physical side is as importance as dance or sport." (sic) (p17)
"A man has his distinctive personal scent which is wife, his children and his dog can recognise." (sic) (p89)
* Some of the exercises are interesting, but way too much time is spent on some of them, the writer (again) just writing away what he´s thinking, without making the effort of doing some necessary editing afterwards.
* A job the editor himself has obviously not done either. There´s a whole paragraph that you can find almost word for word on page 11 as well as on page 12. Clearly a sign of copying and pasting while building the text, and then forgetting to edit it afterwards.
Written and published in a hurry, what a shame.
September 10, 2018
It was too painful to finish and a complete waste of time. One of my few audible returns
July 16, 2017
Brilliant workshop style book great for beginners and people who want to get back into writing. I use it when I get stumped. Highly recommended. Uses tried and trusted methods.
August 4, 2021
It's a decent workbook, some of the exercises are interesting and inventive - although those that involve going outside or to public places/cafes etc are a bit awkward during a pandemic. The author assumes that you are able to travel at least locally for some exercises, that you live with/can socialise with at least one other person to help with others - and trust the weather enough to sit outside observing trees, people and so on.
The other aspect is simply having time to complete everything. Having the limit of a library loan period (even with renewals) makes it difficult to work through the various exercises - ideally, you need your own copy of the book that you can dip into whenever you want.
Some of the sensory exercises also assume that you already have a detailed vocabulary for things like precise textures, precise smells etc which may not be the case, unless you're the sort of person who spends hours pondering perfumes or work in a textiles company and can actually tell the difference between twenty different kinds of fabric. If you don't have that kind of knowledge, you will struggle (as I did) with some of the exercises involving those senses.
Equally, there is plenty of sensible advice and some interesting examples - as well as specific chapters on writing scripts for radio, theatre and film. Those chapters may not be relevant for everyone, but I like that he includes them for those looking to work in those areas.
I'm glad I borrowed the book - some of the exercises were helpful (and fun), but as I said, I need more time to work through a book like this, so will look to try and find my own copy.
The other aspect is simply having time to complete everything. Having the limit of a library loan period (even with renewals) makes it difficult to work through the various exercises - ideally, you need your own copy of the book that you can dip into whenever you want.
Some of the sensory exercises also assume that you already have a detailed vocabulary for things like precise textures, precise smells etc which may not be the case, unless you're the sort of person who spends hours pondering perfumes or work in a textiles company and can actually tell the difference between twenty different kinds of fabric. If you don't have that kind of knowledge, you will struggle (as I did) with some of the exercises involving those senses.
Equally, there is plenty of sensible advice and some interesting examples - as well as specific chapters on writing scripts for radio, theatre and film. Those chapters may not be relevant for everyone, but I like that he includes them for those looking to work in those areas.
I'm glad I borrowed the book - some of the exercises were helpful (and fun), but as I said, I need more time to work through a book like this, so will look to try and find my own copy.
September 23, 2017
I really liked this book, obviously I borrowed it from the library in order to improve my creative writing. I'd seen lots of courses but if I can't learnt it from a book, what chance have I got long distance learning?
I did like this book and I am tempted to buy my own copy in which I can refer to. I would recommend this to people who wish to improve their writing and creativity. It's definitely been helpful for me. I would even recommend you buy your own copy if you really get on well with, I feel my creativity has improved and that's a must for me, personally, so all in all, I'm super pleased.
I did like this book and I am tempted to buy my own copy in which I can refer to. I would recommend this to people who wish to improve their writing and creativity. It's definitely been helpful for me. I would even recommend you buy your own copy if you really get on well with, I feel my creativity has improved and that's a must for me, personally, so all in all, I'm super pleased.
August 10, 2017
A comprehensive guide for those who want to write, this book seems a little daunting in its sheer volume of information. However, if you use it as if you are really attending a course, that is, breaking it up into manageable sections and taking your time to complete all the tasks, then it is I think a worthwhile exercise. I have set aside a time slot each week, and following the course, doing the tasks and exercises, and it has been very helpful in stimulating creative writing so far.
Review of an advance digital copy from the publisher.
Review of an advance digital copy from the publisher.
February 8, 2025
A must read...
for no matter your style or genre of writing. VERY informative, written in an easy manner for the reader and wonderful insights!
for no matter your style or genre of writing. VERY informative, written in an easy manner for the reader and wonderful insights!
July 14, 2025
Very useful guide if your starting out. Especially good section on “ showing and telling”. Good exercises to practise as well. Recommend
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews