Writing from Start to Finish: A Six-Step Guide

by Kate Grenville

Ideal for writing a short story, essay, review, or report, this guide provides beginning writers with the hands-on direction they need to improve their writing techniques and ability. Using a six-step approach to writing, this resource covers brainstorming ideas, choosing a topic, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing. The tone is casual, the advice is straightforward, and the whole approach makes writing a skill that anyone can learn. Illustrations reinforce the ideas visually and help to break up the text into bite-sized chunks. An example section with worked examples of two kinds of writing—a creative writing piece and an essay—takes readers through the six steps, so they can watch writing develop from a blank page to a finished piece. Ideal for high school students but also appropriate for writers of all ages, this book also includes tips on user-friendly grammar, a table of different types of text, and a quick night-before-the-exam summary.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Kate Grenville is one of Australia's most celebrated writers. Her international bestseller The Secret River was awarded local and overseas prizes and is now a much-loved classic. Grenville's other novels include The Lieutenant, Lilian's Story, the Orange Prize–winner The Idea of Perfection and A Room Made of Leaves. Her works of non-fiction include One Life: My Mother's Story, Elizabeth Macarthur's Letters and Unsettled: A Journey Through Time and Place.

Reviews

[Gearóid O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the writing craft.
Perhaps a bit basic for someone who wants to write full time. That said it does give a good initial guide for writing a novel and is full of useful tips for those starting out.

[Vonti Viorentika · Rating 5 out of 5]

recommended

[T.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful book, with some good ideas.

[Aditya Ahirwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

For people who wants to know the complete ‘HOW’ to write. Note that this book is targeted for a complete beginner.

[Anne Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish

[Briony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the layout and style of this book. It is very easy to read and can be clearly understood.