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Finding Success with Your Dream Writing Projects
Containing secrets usually heard only in the classroom, this book will help you get started and then finish your fiction or nonfiction project, teaching you clear techniques, helping you become creative, and challenging you to write with excellence. You will learn how to write a novel with fascinating dialogue, characters, and settings and write nonfiction with power and clarity. The advice about freelance writing and becoming your own best publicist are like gold. This book is your first place to find answers.
242 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2017
4 people want to read
About the author
Dennis E. Hensley
46 books14 followersDennis E. Hensley, affectionately known as "Doc Hensley," has written more than 100 short stories for various publications. Under the pseudonym Leslie Holden, Hensley and coauthor Holly G. Miller (editor of the Saturday Evening Post) wrote a series of mystery–romance novels with Harvest House publishers. And under their real names, they published the novel The Gift with the same company. Hensley's latest book, Jesus in the 9 to 5 (AMG Publishers, 2013) is what Hensley calls a "fact–fella," in that it is a nonfiction book with a novella embedded within the text. The fictional aspects of the book earned it the designation of "Publisher's Choice" in the November 2013 issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Dr. Hensley is chairman of the Department of Professional Writing at Taylor University and currently resides in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 9, 2018
Whether you are a beginning writer or a seasoned wordsmith, this book could be a professional game changer for you. Having been a newspaper columnist for almost two decades and the author of several books, I am very selective about the writing books that I purchase to enhance my own skills.
To explain, too many authors have had little experience in the real writing world, and although their academic advice might be good, it just isn't practical or motivational to someone who writes for a living, or to someone on the other end of the spectrum who is just starting their journey as a writer. This is what is so unique about this title, because Dr. Dennis Hensley has decades of experience teaching others, and more importantly authoring 60 books and countless articles.
Also, depending on whether you're a journalist, a novelist, a technical writer, or an inspirational storyteller, most writing books are authored with the intent of bettering your abilities in only one genre. Not this one. It is incredibly versatile in its content, and this was a real plus for me personally, because besides being a freelance journalist, I recently broke into the field of inspirational fiction.
This book is written in a very conversational tone. Where many writing books can be boring and an effort to read, this one is a pure delight. The engaging narrative causes the reader to feel almost like being in the classroom with Hensley, who heads up the Professional concentration in the Communication department at Taylor University, and is a sought-after writing conference speaker. I should know, because like thousands of other writers I've driven hundreds of miles to hear this expert speak.
A good writer knows they should never stop learning. That's why I purchased this 241 page book hoping to find some nuggets of truth contained within the pages. This is my new go-to resource, and the book I recommend now, when prospective writers want to know how to go about writing a book. Personally, whether I am experiencing a problem with the lead in a story, writers' block, or simply struggling with the next step in my current dream writing project, I now own an expert tool to assist me in moving forward.
Whatever your level, if you only buy one writing book this year to improve your craft, there isn't one that I can recommend more than Finding Success with your Dream Writing Projects. Excellent job by Diana Savage in compiling Hensley's blog posts, columns, and articles, too. What an amazing resource for those of us who love words!
To explain, too many authors have had little experience in the real writing world, and although their academic advice might be good, it just isn't practical or motivational to someone who writes for a living, or to someone on the other end of the spectrum who is just starting their journey as a writer. This is what is so unique about this title, because Dr. Dennis Hensley has decades of experience teaching others, and more importantly authoring 60 books and countless articles.
Also, depending on whether you're a journalist, a novelist, a technical writer, or an inspirational storyteller, most writing books are authored with the intent of bettering your abilities in only one genre. Not this one. It is incredibly versatile in its content, and this was a real plus for me personally, because besides being a freelance journalist, I recently broke into the field of inspirational fiction.
This book is written in a very conversational tone. Where many writing books can be boring and an effort to read, this one is a pure delight. The engaging narrative causes the reader to feel almost like being in the classroom with Hensley, who heads up the Professional concentration in the Communication department at Taylor University, and is a sought-after writing conference speaker. I should know, because like thousands of other writers I've driven hundreds of miles to hear this expert speak.
A good writer knows they should never stop learning. That's why I purchased this 241 page book hoping to find some nuggets of truth contained within the pages. This is my new go-to resource, and the book I recommend now, when prospective writers want to know how to go about writing a book. Personally, whether I am experiencing a problem with the lead in a story, writers' block, or simply struggling with the next step in my current dream writing project, I now own an expert tool to assist me in moving forward.
Whatever your level, if you only buy one writing book this year to improve your craft, there isn't one that I can recommend more than Finding Success with your Dream Writing Projects. Excellent job by Diana Savage in compiling Hensley's blog posts, columns, and articles, too. What an amazing resource for those of us who love words!
April 13, 2017
****Doc & Diana's new release is "Fast-paced, content-heavy & entertaining!"****
Jerry B. Jenkins introduced Doc Hensley at the 2013 “Writing for the Soul conference with a word of caution: 'fasten your seatbelts!'” He knew Doc's presentation would be "fast-paced, content-heavy, and entertaining" and that's also a perfect description for Doc’s new release.
"Finding Success with your Dream Writing Projects" is comparable to taking private lessons from America's “premier teacher of writers,” Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Professor of Indiana's Taylor University Communication Department (Professional Writing). Diana Savage, who penned the riveting suspense "Pseudonym" with Hensley last year "organized and complied three years’ of his blog posts, columns and articles” for this release.
From the smart listings in the "Table of Contents" with titles like "Take Me Out of the Bawl game," "Take the Free Out of Freelance Writing," and "You as an Author-preneur." To Doc's concise, often humorous and targeted tips, techniques and instructions, this meaty resource is chock full of practical advice for any novice, seasoned writer or a writer anywhere on the writing spectrum.
For example, chapter two begins with the topic of rejection letters, book doctors and rewriting. In this instance Hensley uses rejected novels as an example of why a novel needs to be rewritten because he's learned over the years that "all writing is rewriting."
In addition to "Tips for Terrific Technique" this chapter concerns outside readers who offer "specific feedback" on characters, setting and theme; pacing, chapter length, weak verbs and adverbs, narrative drive, characterizations, dialogue and more. Then he offers an engaging example of why writers need to "show, don't tell."
In chapter six, titled “Spot-on Characters Dialogue and Settings” Doc explains "odd person out" thinking, why it's valuable and how he uses it to create "realistic characters" who ask "all the wrong questions" to flesh out his characters.
Every chapter, from procrastination to technique, creativity, brain function and more, teaches the skill of professional writing and there is no better teacher, mentor or guide than Doc Hensley who believes writers can "change lives, captivate minds or alter the course of history."
Although the book's focus is fiction writing, I believe Doc's practical writing advice is applicable to all writing for clarity, readability and writing excellence. If you're in need of inspiration and encouragement and want to improve your wordsmith ability "Finding Success with your Dream Writing Projects" is a must buy!
'Finding Success with Your Dream Writing Projects,' by Dennis E. Hensley, PhD & Diana Savage, Bold Vision Books, 2017, 242 Pages, 978-0997851489, $12.95
“Gail’s Bookshelf” Midwest Book Reviews: March 2017
Google+GailWelborn
Pinterest: GailWelborn
Twitter: @GailWelborn
FaceBook: Gail Welborn
Jerry B. Jenkins introduced Doc Hensley at the 2013 “Writing for the Soul conference with a word of caution: 'fasten your seatbelts!'” He knew Doc's presentation would be "fast-paced, content-heavy, and entertaining" and that's also a perfect description for Doc’s new release.
"Finding Success with your Dream Writing Projects" is comparable to taking private lessons from America's “premier teacher of writers,” Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Professor of Indiana's Taylor University Communication Department (Professional Writing). Diana Savage, who penned the riveting suspense "Pseudonym" with Hensley last year "organized and complied three years’ of his blog posts, columns and articles” for this release.
From the smart listings in the "Table of Contents" with titles like "Take Me Out of the Bawl game," "Take the Free Out of Freelance Writing," and "You as an Author-preneur." To Doc's concise, often humorous and targeted tips, techniques and instructions, this meaty resource is chock full of practical advice for any novice, seasoned writer or a writer anywhere on the writing spectrum.
For example, chapter two begins with the topic of rejection letters, book doctors and rewriting. In this instance Hensley uses rejected novels as an example of why a novel needs to be rewritten because he's learned over the years that "all writing is rewriting."
In addition to "Tips for Terrific Technique" this chapter concerns outside readers who offer "specific feedback" on characters, setting and theme; pacing, chapter length, weak verbs and adverbs, narrative drive, characterizations, dialogue and more. Then he offers an engaging example of why writers need to "show, don't tell."
In chapter six, titled “Spot-on Characters Dialogue and Settings” Doc explains "odd person out" thinking, why it's valuable and how he uses it to create "realistic characters" who ask "all the wrong questions" to flesh out his characters.
Every chapter, from procrastination to technique, creativity, brain function and more, teaches the skill of professional writing and there is no better teacher, mentor or guide than Doc Hensley who believes writers can "change lives, captivate minds or alter the course of history."
Although the book's focus is fiction writing, I believe Doc's practical writing advice is applicable to all writing for clarity, readability and writing excellence. If you're in need of inspiration and encouragement and want to improve your wordsmith ability "Finding Success with your Dream Writing Projects" is a must buy!
'Finding Success with Your Dream Writing Projects,' by Dennis E. Hensley, PhD & Diana Savage, Bold Vision Books, 2017, 242 Pages, 978-0997851489, $12.95
“Gail’s Bookshelf” Midwest Book Reviews: March 2017
Google+GailWelborn
Pinterest: GailWelborn
Twitter: @GailWelborn
FaceBook: Gail Welborn
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