The Writing Workshop Note Book: Notes on Creating and Workshopping

by Alan Ziegler

The Writing Workshop Notebook is devoted to making, remaking, and remarking on writing. Ziegler's text is animated by a concern about how we relate to our own and others’ writing and by a desire to have a suitable effect on the reader’s experience with writing and critiquing. The book is supported by the author's experience from decades of leading writing workshops.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2007

Reviews

[Stephanie M. Wytovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply wonderful. One of the best How-To books I've read while being in graduate school.

[LittleBubbleBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well… i had to return it to the library

[Donna Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've never been in a writing workshop before, this book will help you know what to expect and how to get the most out of the experience. If you've already figured out the workshop gig, you'll know a lot of this stuff already. (It gave me plenty of flashbacks to my college days.) Similarly, his advice on writing in particular, while good, is really most useful for the beginner. Experienced writers will probably find it's more of a review. Even so, there are plenty of golden nuggets of advice interspersed throughout the text that make this book a worthwhile read. If nothing else, his section of writing exercises make the book worth the price. Too many writing exercises out there are boring and unimaginative, not likely to make me want to pick up a pen. His exercises got my writing glands salivating. Take note of his dozen recommended books for writers, while you're at it. Here you'll see everything from the obvious (The Elements of Style, by Strunk and Write) to the surprising (The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon).

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish Mr. Ziegler had taught at Hollins when I went through Creative Writing there. This book is awesome! I wrote all over it. It has great exercises and just, in general, very good advice about how to be a better writer and reader. I'm sure that I will go into workshop better prepared to help my fellow writer after having read this book.

[Michael]

We read this in my "Teaching of Popular Fiction and Writing" graduate course at Seton Hill...and it's one of the students' favorites. TONS of good healthy advice! http://fiction.setonhill.edu

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice in this book.

There's the typical anti-genre (popular fiction) bias of a lot of literary creative writing teachers, but that doesn't take away the usefulness of the book.

[Jan Kellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then I need a little writing book fix, and this one did the trick. I'm all inspired again now, so I'll get back to work...

[Sye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent craft and workshop book. I will apply a lot of the tips found in this book to my own writing and it's inspired me to start an "amateur" workshop. Two years after graduating with my creative writing degree, I had almost forgotten the benefits of workshops. Heck, I had almost forgotten the joy of writing. This book reinvigorated my spark and has reminded me that allowing your work to exist outside of the realm of your computer, notebook, etc. enables greater growth of your craft. So excited to start writing and critiquing again!

[Siera London · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book on writing

Ziegler delves into the anatomy and psychology of the writing workshop. I wish I had this knowledge in my toolkit before attending/participating in my first writing workshop. I love the idea of creating my own writing process, yet resisting the urge to transition it into a procedure. Ziegler is a bold advocate of creative freedom, even from our self-imposed constraints.

[Joanne Rixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of practical, basic advice for the beginning workshopper, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is nervous about beginning a writing workshop. It'll give you a solid grounding and prepare you for the experience of giving and receiving critique.

It's less helpful for experienced workshoppers, who may mostly know the content already.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading

This book gave me more insight into not only writing but teaching about writing and l enjoyed it. I highlighted lots of really great parts and plan to reread it in the future.

[S.A. Crow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but was not really what I was looking for at the time.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Ziegler's "The Writing Workshop Note Book" was a very true to writing and personal read for me. I liked both how he focused on the writing process as well as the natural process of critiquing. It's never easy for a writer to have his or her work under the lens, but Ziegler gives some practical tips on how to look at the process of critiquing as a constructive measure, and the importance of having a writing group/panel.

The book is divided into a few parts: one that focuses on the process of writing and letting one's natural creativity take over as well as practical tips to take note from; one that focuses on the critiquing process and how to give and take constructive criticism, and the appendices, which have several of Ziegler's own influences.

I didn't realize what a gem I'd checked out at the library, and now I know. It was a very helpful book.

Overall score: 4/5

[Mike Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeigler gives keen and personal insight on the writing process while articulating perspectives of both the professor and student in a creative writing workshop by sharing his experience in each role. One added bonus is some great writing prompts and digestible methods to think through the revision process.

[Helen Mallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very, very helpful book. Ziegler gave me the courage and orientation I needed to radically change my approach to my writing classes--less formal, while maintaining the orientation toward craft. He is a very experienced and wise teacher.

[Tom Smith]

Found in the public library catalog, I hope to use the practical tips with all of my high school classes next fall. They really need to get more practice writing!

[Josh Stroup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read for anyone who teaches or wants to take a writing workshop.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

good....

[Sylvia Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information. Enjoyed this book greatly as I took plenty of notes.

[megHan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good - informative and easily read. I learned a lot and took tons of notes.

[Abi]

really great ideas and it is written honestly, with passion for writing and students.

[Jennifer Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful way to refresh my writing skills. there's a lot of great info and training techniques that will help every writer.