7 Essential Writing Tools: That Will Absolutely Make Your Writing Better

by Marni Freedman

Marni Freedman invites you to fall in love with the magic that is writing with writer-tested-and-approved tools on story structure, scene creation, plot, voice and character. You need this kind of kick in the pants. The master coach whose credits include writing a play that was turned into a Disney movie offers fresh and practical ideas on writing, The 15 Essential Plot Spots-a plotting tool for everything from novels to memoirs to screenplays The big list of 55 Character Archetypes Insights into figuring out how you (yes, you) work as a writer The 5 elements that will ensure you have a compelling story idea A clear explanation of anti-heroes, anti-villains and everything in between The 9 elements of crafting a dynamic character 3 steps to finding and boldly using your unique writer's voice "Can a book be practical and inspirational at the same time? Offer both structure and soul? Oh, yes it can. Master writing coach and teacher, Marni Freedman, does it all with good humor, a little bit of sass, and a great deal of heart, in her book, 7 Essential Writing Tools . Get it and get to work!" - Judy Reeves, author of Wild Women , Wild Voices and A Writer's Book of Days

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

368 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2016

Reviews

[Sherrie Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has given me the essentials that all stories should have. This is not about following some formula. It's about making a story that follows the age-old arc of storytelling. If the story is missing more than one of these essentials, it will not get recognized.
Of course, you can always hope that a famous Hollywood screenwriter turns your story into a better one. But, good luck with that!
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch...

[fruitbatwoman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more writing books I read, the more repetitive they get - which is unavoidable, as there are only so many "recipes" for a good story.

The practical tips in this book were useful, especially the part about how to set up a scene and link scenes together to improve tension. I also took a lot of good advice from character creation. Where the author lost me were the more "spiritual" aspects of writing, as I don't consider them practical nor a tool to improve my writing.

Overall some good tips on writing, nothing groundbreaking that hasn't been said in other books already, but concise and dynamic, with good examples.

[Cherie Kephart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does embracing your inner pirate have to do with being a better writer? Everything. Marni Freedman’s 7 Essential Writing Tools is a treasure map with a big red “X” on it that will lead you on a life-changing voyage to a mystical place where your buried treasure awaits. What is the treasure? It’s discovering the most authentic, valued, motivated, and skilled writer within you.

Freedman transports us to another level of understanding the mechanics, pitfalls and joys of writing. What sparkles most is how she weaves the soul and how to of writing in a seamless progression of lessons that are clear, concise, and easy-to-use. After reading this book, you will be empowered with the precise (and I do mean precise) tools to transform your writing dreams into a reality. But more than tools, Freedman offers a fun, interactive, and relatable dotted line to follow to finding your treasure.

Grab your eye patch, sword, and peg leg, and maybe some Dramamine for the rough seas, and be ready for an adventure that will change the way you think and feel about being a writer.

[Azra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a student of Marni's for the last year, I can only say that she has so much knowledge for the art of writing but more than anything, so much compassion and love for the author. In her class, I feel inspired and guided. Her book though is what I keep coming back to. I find ways to get "unstuck," to gain courage for that extra vulnerability one has to have in their writing, and just to understand the basic formats of a story. Marni does it all.

[Wendy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Marni‘s 15 Plot Spots! It’s giving me a way to look at my manuscript through the eyes of proven structure.

[Mariah McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marni's book is a sheer delight. Not only does it instruct with practical guidelines to hone my writing, it also entertains. Marni's writing encourages me to stay light-hearted as I tackle the work of writing. Marni shares not only her wealth of experience and advice, but her whole self. I love it!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, inspiring writing advice. I've already started integrating some of these tools in with my existing processes, and can see them working out in the long term.

[Lisa Franek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. A flexible plan with loads of encouragement to get you writing and understand what makes you write and want to write. Totally worth it.