What do you think?
Rate this book
3 Am Epiphany
Discover Just How Good Your Writing Can Be If you write, you know what it's like. Insight and creativity - the desire to push the boundaries of your writing - strike when you least expect it. And you're often in no position to in the shower, driving the kids to school...in the middle of the night.The 3 A.M. Epiphany offers more than 200 intriguing writing exercises designed to help you think, write, and revise like never before - without having to wait for creative inspiration. Brian Kiteley, noted author and director of the University of Denver's creative writing program, has crafted and refined these exercises through 15 years of teaching experience.You'll learn how staid and stale writing patterns into exciting experiments in fiction Shed the anxieties that keep you from reaching your full potential as a writer Craft unique ideas by combining personal experience with unrestricted imagination Examine and overcome all of your fiction writing concerns, from getting started to writer's blockOpen the book, select an exercise, and give it a try. It's just what you need to craft refreshing new fiction, discover bold new insights, and explore what it means to be a writer. It's never too early to start--not even 3 A.M.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
273 people are currently reading
3012 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 8, 2021
Fantastic writing exercises. I didn't understand all of them but they all made me grow and think about writing in new ways. Really great if you want to improve your writing bit by bit.
September 7, 2011
Hey, who said erotic stories had to be predictable?
With titles like FUNHOUSE MIRROR, NUDES, LISTFUL, RUSSIAN DOLL IN REVERSE, CAUGHT ON TAPE and many more, these writing exercises really shake up your style and get your creative juices juicing.
I have bought and read just about every book ever published on creative writing and this is one of four I kept.
What I like about it is that many of the exercises can be applied to whatever you are are writing at the moment. You don't have to stop what you are doing. It's like adding a turbo charger to your Volkswagen.
WHEEEEEEE!!!!
Hey, so I can't drive all right? Don't mess with my metaphor.
With titles like FUNHOUSE MIRROR, NUDES, LISTFUL, RUSSIAN DOLL IN REVERSE, CAUGHT ON TAPE and many more, these writing exercises really shake up your style and get your creative juices juicing.
I have bought and read just about every book ever published on creative writing and this is one of four I kept.
What I like about it is that many of the exercises can be applied to whatever you are are writing at the moment. You don't have to stop what you are doing. It's like adding a turbo charger to your Volkswagen.
WHEEEEEEE!!!!
Hey, so I can't drive all right? Don't mess with my metaphor.
April 9, 2013
Succeeds where a lot of writing exercise books fail. Kitely is kind enough to not treat his reader like an idiot, and there's a lovely mix of insight and playfulness to the exercises. I had a lot of fun with these. Remember that? When writing was FUN??? I know! Only wish I'd had it as a reference when I was teaching intro to creative writing a million years ago.
October 7, 2008
A different take on the usual writing-exercise book. I've been going through it and marking things I like and might use. A lot of them are interesting to read about but would probably be incredibly frustrating to attempt. They aren't simple and obvious, though, and I like that.
June 7, 2018
No sé como calificarlo porque son una serie de ejercicios narrativos que debes efectuar paralelamente a la lectura. Desafortunadamente no hay nadie para corregirlos y comentarlos. Viene acompañados de consejos y advertencias del autor que te muestran cierto camino, el de la diversidad narrativa principalmemte.
Un libro de muy largo recorrido.
Un libro de muy largo recorrido.
July 19, 2018
I struggled with this one. I wanted to like it. I like the idea of the book. But the writing style and the exercises included just didn't work for me. Kiteley is a literary fiction writer and reader, and that comes across in this book. I prefer fantasy and science fiction, something which Kiteley admits he actively discourages in his live workshops because he doesn't read it much himself.
I think the exercises provided in this book are good ones. And at a different stage in my own writing endeavors, they would have likely been more useful to me. I'll keep the book around for now. I still have hope that these exercises could prove valuable.
I think the exercises provided in this book are good ones. And at a different stage in my own writing endeavors, they would have likely been more useful to me. I'll keep the book around for now. I still have hope that these exercises could prove valuable.
February 6, 2016
Possibly unfair to call this "read," as I've only actually attempted two of the exercises thus far - still, these are more than mere writing prompts, as Kiteley explores the reasoning and origin of each exercise in detail.
April 19, 2008
This is one of the best books on writing exercises out there. Lots of fun, original exercises, and I use them in my own writing and also in the classroom.
Currently reading
December 2, 2010I am slowly doing the exercises in this book of exercises for fiction writers. I am very pleased with them so far. They are far from being humdrum fiction exercises.
Read
June 20, 2010(This review was originally published in The Practicing Writer, September 2005 and was based on a copy provided by Writer's Digest Books.)
I first learned about fiction writer and teacher Brian Kiteley some years ago when I discovered his name in my research on writing historical fiction. Then I found a set of writing exercises he'd posted online, and I was impressed once again. So while I have yet to meet or work with Kiteley in person, I was familiar enough with his background to know that when Writer's Digest Books released his latest--The 3 A.M.Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction--I'd want a copy. It's probably too early to say that my fiction has been "transformed" by using this book, but it's not too soon to recognize that it's an excellent text, one I'll continue to turn to as I struggle with my own pages and one I expect to use in my teaching, too.
Kiteley, who has published two novels and currently directs the creative writing program at the University of Denver, encourages experimentation while offering guidance. For instance, he suggests that you might take "an old story of yours that you hate or love, apply four or five exercises to its subject, and you may find that another story lurks within its rumpled covers." On the other hand, you might simply "sit down and do seven of these exercises, quickly, no editor on the shoulder, under the gun." And then what? What next? As Kiteley notes: "That's the point. You should ask yourself, what next at every important point in the writing process." Kiteley also suggests ways to combine or pair samples from the book's 201 exercises for maximum creativity and cites his own favorite 15, the ones "that have triggered the most unusual fragments of fiction."
The exercises fall into groups, including (but not limited to) Point of View, Characters, Women and Men, Children and Childhood, Conversation, Thought and Emotion, Biography and Autobiography, History, Work, and Travel. Each section contains several exercises that present a specific task and continue with Kiteley's explanation about the reasoning behind it. For example, the very first exercise (in the section on Point of View) is titled, "The Reluctant I." Here Kiteley instructs, in part:
"Write a first-person story in which you use the first person pronoun (I or me or my) only two times--but keep the I somehow important to the narrative you're constructing. The point of this exercise is to imagine a narrator who is less interested in himself than in what he is observing."
Then he explains:
"The people we tend to like most are those who are much more interested in other people than themselves, selfless and caring, whose conversation is not a stream of self-involved remarks (like the guy who, after speaking about himself to a woman at a party for half an hour says, 'Enough about me, what do you think about me?'). I'm not trying to legislate only likeable characters or narrators. I use the example of successful social selves above to give an idea of what is needed in successful fiction. Another lesson you might learn from this exercise is how important it is to let things and events speak for themselves beyond the ego of the narration."
The book is made even stronger with its concluding section on "Exercises for Stories in Progress" (the day I draft this review I've completed the first of these) and its two appendices. Appendix A includes some solid "Advice for Writing Books" and Appendix B, titled "Literary Friendships," includes top-notch tips for "Critiquing Your Own and Other People's Stories."
Throughout, Kiteley's own prose is clear, concise, and engaging. The book's voice is personal: you'll hear frequently about Kiteley's family members, especially his wife and his late brother, and about the exotic places he has visited. Overall you'll begin to have the sense that you are working with Kiteley, the writing teacher, yourself. He frequently refers to the work of other writers to illustrate his points, so you'll likely pick up a few reading suggestions along the way, too (I already have). Just how "transformed" your work will be I can't say, but it's hard to imagine you won't benefit from this book.
I first learned about fiction writer and teacher Brian Kiteley some years ago when I discovered his name in my research on writing historical fiction. Then I found a set of writing exercises he'd posted online, and I was impressed once again. So while I have yet to meet or work with Kiteley in person, I was familiar enough with his background to know that when Writer's Digest Books released his latest--The 3 A.M.Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction--I'd want a copy. It's probably too early to say that my fiction has been "transformed" by using this book, but it's not too soon to recognize that it's an excellent text, one I'll continue to turn to as I struggle with my own pages and one I expect to use in my teaching, too.
Kiteley, who has published two novels and currently directs the creative writing program at the University of Denver, encourages experimentation while offering guidance. For instance, he suggests that you might take "an old story of yours that you hate or love, apply four or five exercises to its subject, and you may find that another story lurks within its rumpled covers." On the other hand, you might simply "sit down and do seven of these exercises, quickly, no editor on the shoulder, under the gun." And then what? What next? As Kiteley notes: "That's the point. You should ask yourself, what next at every important point in the writing process." Kiteley also suggests ways to combine or pair samples from the book's 201 exercises for maximum creativity and cites his own favorite 15, the ones "that have triggered the most unusual fragments of fiction."
The exercises fall into groups, including (but not limited to) Point of View, Characters, Women and Men, Children and Childhood, Conversation, Thought and Emotion, Biography and Autobiography, History, Work, and Travel. Each section contains several exercises that present a specific task and continue with Kiteley's explanation about the reasoning behind it. For example, the very first exercise (in the section on Point of View) is titled, "The Reluctant I." Here Kiteley instructs, in part:
"Write a first-person story in which you use the first person pronoun (I or me or my) only two times--but keep the I somehow important to the narrative you're constructing. The point of this exercise is to imagine a narrator who is less interested in himself than in what he is observing."
Then he explains:
"The people we tend to like most are those who are much more interested in other people than themselves, selfless and caring, whose conversation is not a stream of self-involved remarks (like the guy who, after speaking about himself to a woman at a party for half an hour says, 'Enough about me, what do you think about me?'). I'm not trying to legislate only likeable characters or narrators. I use the example of successful social selves above to give an idea of what is needed in successful fiction. Another lesson you might learn from this exercise is how important it is to let things and events speak for themselves beyond the ego of the narration."
The book is made even stronger with its concluding section on "Exercises for Stories in Progress" (the day I draft this review I've completed the first of these) and its two appendices. Appendix A includes some solid "Advice for Writing Books" and Appendix B, titled "Literary Friendships," includes top-notch tips for "Critiquing Your Own and Other People's Stories."
Throughout, Kiteley's own prose is clear, concise, and engaging. The book's voice is personal: you'll hear frequently about Kiteley's family members, especially his wife and his late brother, and about the exotic places he has visited. Overall you'll begin to have the sense that you are working with Kiteley, the writing teacher, yourself. He frequently refers to the work of other writers to illustrate his points, so you'll likely pick up a few reading suggestions along the way, too (I already have). Just how "transformed" your work will be I can't say, but it's hard to imagine you won't benefit from this book.
February 7, 2015
I’m not normally one for writing exercises. I like to read through them, but rarely try them. However, Brian Kiteley’s approach in The 3 A.M. Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction changed my mind (a little). Kiteley believes that writing exercises (prompts to get you to write a short piece of fiction) can be done with your current set of characters/piece of fiction in mind, and can become a valuable part of that work. With that mindset, I did try several of the exercises in the book and found them helpful.
What was even more helpful though were Kiteley’s observations about writing sprinkled amidst the exercises. These observations, about people, relationships, and what works or doesn’t work in written narrative, made me think and at times served to illuminate difficulties I’ve had with my fiction projects. Overall I found the book quite helpful, even though I didn’t do all of the exercises.
{Read my full review here}
What was even more helpful though were Kiteley’s observations about writing sprinkled amidst the exercises. These observations, about people, relationships, and what works or doesn’t work in written narrative, made me think and at times served to illuminate difficulties I’ve had with my fiction projects. Overall I found the book quite helpful, even though I didn’t do all of the exercises.
{Read my full review here}
June 14, 2016
If you're tired of the same one-liner prompts, this is a good book to try. Kiteley comes up with scene exercises that have some meat to it, challenging you to write 300–700 word chunks based on a theme. I unfortunately didn't have time to go through as much of this book as I wanted to (I borrowed it from the library), so I skimmed through to find some exercises that pertained to what I was currently writing. I found some that made me think about relationships between my characters, ways to develop scenes, increase emotional impact, etc. Many of these exercises could easily be revised and worked into the story, or used to start a new one. Or at least they got me thinking about ways to spruce up my writing.
My only complaint is that some of these are a bit more advanced and could use examples. Though many of the exercises do contain samples, both from the author's own experience and excerpts from novels, but there are a few that could have benefited from them.
My only complaint is that some of these are a bit more advanced and could use examples. Though many of the exercises do contain samples, both from the author's own experience and excerpts from novels, but there are a few that could have benefited from them.
May 23, 2011
This is preliminary because I have only spent an hour or so with this book, but it wasn't what i expected. I was looking for a book with writing exercises and it was very highly rated on Amazon, with several glowing review, plus the title is sexy. But the introduction and how to use this book chapters are annoying to me. They are basically bulleted lists that read more like fashion magazine copy than writing advice. And the exercises haven't intrigued me much yet. Maybe I need to try a few more and see where they go and get back to you…
October 27, 2022
The title of the book excited me such that I knew I had to get my hands on it. Being a writer, it only made sense. But I didn't, not immediately. I waited for about two years while I kept checking the price of this expensive book on Amazon in my wishlist from time to time. When I found it drop to 520 INR, I added it to my shopping cart.
After receiving it, I found the back cover in bad shape. The packaging was not decent. Still, I kept it. This seemed like a very important book for writers. And I was correct.
The exercises are gems. I like the second one on page 21 so much at the end of which Brian teaches a great tool for writing.
The exercises were short -- one to two pages long. I took it one day at a time. Otherwise, it would have been overwhelming. Plus, learning for me happens slowly and over time. It made sense to learn a lesson and let the subconscious work on it at least for a day.
After writing six exercises, I found them helpful. Each exercise taught me a thing or two about the craft. I knew what I was going to do in the next 200 days. Finish all the exercises one day at a time.
This book gives the feeling of a classroom experience. Classwork is the exercise and perhaps the learning from the exercise is the homework which over time builds like a tall-storeyed office building with different employees for different roles for a project.
I skipped exercises 8 and 9 as I didn't feel like doing them. I was about to skip no. 10 as well. But after two days of going through it, I thought of a novel I was working on and wrote the Epilogue for it. The number 10 exercise helped me finish the ending of my novel way before I reached the end. It felt wonderful. Oh! I loved these exercises. I loved to do homework during my school days. These exercises reminded me of my childhood memories. No wonder I became comfortable with them.
After writing the initial 7 exercises, I stopped writing. I kept reading them each day like I used to but I didn't work on the instructions. Just didn't feel like it. It gave me food for thought about my writing, the projects I was working on. The insight into different ways of seeing things in life showed me a wider spectrum on which I can work on my fictional tales. Oh this and oh that...so many things are possible and these exercises opened my eyes to a world of immense possibilities.
While reading the exercises, I couldn't help thinking about the three novels I was working on. In one of the exercises, I even wrote an epilogue for one of my novels. This book is a treasure that I have cherished and I will reread it next year. And hope to write more this time.
This book reminded me how difficult writing is. Hard work!
I keep taking breaks from writing. I see no point in pressuring myself to make progress on paper in a project each day. I know that real writing happens in the subconscious. And I keep feeding the loop which eventually gives output in terms of words on paper.
5/5
After receiving it, I found the back cover in bad shape. The packaging was not decent. Still, I kept it. This seemed like a very important book for writers. And I was correct.
The exercises are gems. I like the second one on page 21 so much at the end of which Brian teaches a great tool for writing.
The exercises were short -- one to two pages long. I took it one day at a time. Otherwise, it would have been overwhelming. Plus, learning for me happens slowly and over time. It made sense to learn a lesson and let the subconscious work on it at least for a day.
After writing six exercises, I found them helpful. Each exercise taught me a thing or two about the craft. I knew what I was going to do in the next 200 days. Finish all the exercises one day at a time.
This book gives the feeling of a classroom experience. Classwork is the exercise and perhaps the learning from the exercise is the homework which over time builds like a tall-storeyed office building with different employees for different roles for a project.
I skipped exercises 8 and 9 as I didn't feel like doing them. I was about to skip no. 10 as well. But after two days of going through it, I thought of a novel I was working on and wrote the Epilogue for it. The number 10 exercise helped me finish the ending of my novel way before I reached the end. It felt wonderful. Oh! I loved these exercises. I loved to do homework during my school days. These exercises reminded me of my childhood memories. No wonder I became comfortable with them.
After writing the initial 7 exercises, I stopped writing. I kept reading them each day like I used to but I didn't work on the instructions. Just didn't feel like it. It gave me food for thought about my writing, the projects I was working on. The insight into different ways of seeing things in life showed me a wider spectrum on which I can work on my fictional tales. Oh this and oh that...so many things are possible and these exercises opened my eyes to a world of immense possibilities.
While reading the exercises, I couldn't help thinking about the three novels I was working on. In one of the exercises, I even wrote an epilogue for one of my novels. This book is a treasure that I have cherished and I will reread it next year. And hope to write more this time.
This book reminded me how difficult writing is. Hard work!
I keep taking breaks from writing. I see no point in pressuring myself to make progress on paper in a project each day. I know that real writing happens in the subconscious. And I keep feeding the loop which eventually gives output in terms of words on paper.
5/5
April 18, 2023
I'm going to go ahead and log this despite only doing roughly 20~ or so prompts. They're good! Useful and fun. I've been warming up with them since I picked up the book and I'm very impressed. I've juggled a few prompt books before but none have the sheer volume that this one does, and I've yet to encounter a prompt that I think is thoughtless or gimmicky. Maybe this review is premature, then, because I haven't done all of them. But I feel fine about this.
Not everyone gets the most out of prompts, but I'd go so far as to say I'm a champion for them. When people ask me what are five books to pick up to get into writing, I'll probably recommend this if only by virtue of being the best prompt book I've used. I'd recommend trying them even if you're skeptical, which I was initially. You just have to have someone who knows what they're doing feeding you exercises.
Not everyone gets the most out of prompts, but I'd go so far as to say I'm a champion for them. When people ask me what are five books to pick up to get into writing, I'll probably recommend this if only by virtue of being the best prompt book I've used. I'd recommend trying them even if you're skeptical, which I was initially. You just have to have someone who knows what they're doing feeding you exercises.
February 27, 2018
It was as if I have found my own holy grail in writing fiction.
Kiteley wrote an exercise book intended to be used by all fiction writers.
Inside, you will find many (and I mean MANY) small prompts that you can do one by one; or, if you are feeling brave, combine two or three prompts to create your own short stories.
Exercise are varied from 500-600 words.
At least those were the ones that I did during my day job.
But I love it anyway.
Keep writing, fellow writers!
Kiteley wrote an exercise book intended to be used by all fiction writers.
Inside, you will find many (and I mean MANY) small prompts that you can do one by one; or, if you are feeling brave, combine two or three prompts to create your own short stories.
Exercise are varied from 500-600 words.
At least those were the ones that I did during my day job.
But I love it anyway.
Keep writing, fellow writers!
December 31, 2024
¡Fantástico! Completísimo y muy útil.
Este libro está repleto de ejercicios de escritura para relatos o novela, y lo mejor de todo es que no son clichés o tópicos de los que encuentras en otros manuales, sino que son enfoques originales y muy interesantes.
Ejercicios con distintos puntos de vista, trabajar con las imágenes, personajes y maneras de ver, conversación, pensamiento y emoción, biografía y autobiografía, tiempo... y muuchas más.
Cada uno de ellos está muy bien explicado, ahondando en esa idea e incluso poniendo algún ejemplo con un fragmento literario de algún autor que lo utilice. Además especifica el número de palabras para cada relato.
¡Completamente recomendable!
Este libro está repleto de ejercicios de escritura para relatos o novela, y lo mejor de todo es que no son clichés o tópicos de los que encuentras en otros manuales, sino que son enfoques originales y muy interesantes.
Ejercicios con distintos puntos de vista, trabajar con las imágenes, personajes y maneras de ver, conversación, pensamiento y emoción, biografía y autobiografía, tiempo... y muuchas más.
Cada uno de ellos está muy bien explicado, ahondando en esa idea e incluso poniendo algún ejemplo con un fragmento literario de algún autor que lo utilice. Además especifica el número de palabras para cada relato.
¡Completamente recomendable!
August 16, 2017
This is one of my favorite writing exercise books of all time, there's one after it that I have as well called the "4 am Breakthrough" that is just as good, although at this point in time, I have no idea where they are. I've flipped through I don't know how many writing exercise books and just roll my eyes at the exercises, these prompts made me get excited to write. And I hope they make you want to write as well.
October 10, 2024
The text is very small, making this an uncomfortable book to read. And while it has some potentially useful ideas, none of them really appealed to me. I did try with it, a couple of times, picking it up regularly over the course of many months, but nothing inspired me. So, twice now, I've ended up putting it back in my shelves unfinished.
I'm sure it's useful to others, but not for me. At least, not at present.
I'm sure it's useful to others, but not for me. At least, not at present.
December 12, 2018
I read through this book (I'm still only a short way through the exercises) and thought, on the whole, that it seems to be a great way to learn to stretch your writing muscles in new and unconventional directions. Exactly what I need right now. I bought this book to help get me out of a bad writing slump, and so far it's doing admirably.
January 13, 2018
Filled with lots of writing prompts that will challenge and stretch the creative mind, Kiteley's book is great for writing groups, critque groups, writers block or rainy days with nothing to do. Pick a prompt and go!
December 3, 2019
I haven't read through all of them, but this has loads of unique writing prompts for people who often find it hard to pick up the pen and write (like me) or for someone who just wants to change things up in their writing style.
April 6, 2020
One of the greatest sources ever for anyone who wants to improve their creative writing, expand their comfort zone and abilities, and learn a crazy amount about what’s going on in your imagination!
10/10
10/10
Currently reading
August 11, 2023A friend gave me this, and I think it might be the most immediately useful writing book I have ever received. Really smart, interesting exercises that are opening up lots of potentially helpful areas for self-improvement.
July 18, 2017
Helpful for my writing of short fiction. Will probably be helpful for my longer writing in the future when needing inspiration.
November 12, 2017
Brilliant exercises. Highly recommended.
March 17, 2018
Fun excersises
March 28, 2019
Very different fiction writing exercise. Not prompts!
March 9, 2020
I love all the prompts.
March 17, 2020
I would have given this mediocre book one more star, but there were a few instances of ableist and sexist language in it that were pretty offputting despite the generally enjoyable style of writing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews