Writing and Publishing Personal Essays

by Sheila Bender

In "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays," nationally acclaimed writing teacher Sheila Bender shares the tips and secrets that have given so many of her students the skills and confidence to become writers. Her clear and powerful instruction will benefit experienced writers as much as it benefits beginner. "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays" * Powerful encouragement to begin writing today * Instructions for writing 8 different kinds of personal essays * Special techniques for receiving and using critical feedback * Proven tips for getting your writing published * An extensive listing of additional resources Read "Writing and Publishing Personal Essays" and discover why Brenda Miller, author of "Tell It Writing and Shaping Creative Nonfiction," calls Sheila Bender an "extra-ordinary teacher in person and on the page."

Genres: Writing

255 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

I have been writing seriously since 1975 and have taught writing since 1980. I published my first book about writing (Writing in a Convertible with the Top Down) in 1991 and have continued since then writing and publishing my poetry (Sustenance: New and Selected Poems), reviews (in Poet Lore, The Seattle Times and The World), and articles (Writer's Digest Magazine and The Writer), as well as producing and publishing many more books on writing, the newest entitled Writing and Publishing Personal Essays.

My passion is helping those who want to break their writing out into new forms, revise effectively, generate more writing or facilitate the writing of others. In the last three decades years, I have worked with hundreds of people in colleges, universities and workshops helping them write personal essays, poetry, and writer's journals and allow writing a serious place in their lives. I've provided teacher training in WA, AZ and CA. I conceived and launched Writing It Real in 2002 as a vehicle to help others foster their best work, involve themselves in a community of people who write from personal experience, and learn to teach others how to facilitate good writing. In 2005, I developed LifeJournal for Writers with Chronicles Software.

I have an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Wisconsin, an MAT in Secondary Education from Keane College and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Washington.

from http://www.writingitreal.com/page.php...

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having enjoyed Bender’s classes, I had to buy this book. It’s a little too basic for experienced writers, but writers just starting out will find a lot to work with here. Bender goes through eight different types of essays—description, cause and effect, compare and contrast, etc.--and shows how to shape them into person experience pieces. She offers suggestions for brainstorming ideas and focusing them on the page. The chapters include marvelous sample essays and step by step instructions on how to write and revise your own. These are followed by a section on marketing, another on critiques, and an extensive resource list for writers. Some of this is out of date; technology has changed so drastically in the last 12 years that no print book can keep up, but this book is definitely worth a read.

[Brian]

I'll have to read this book again to see whether I missed something on my first go-through. But, so far, this book is a disappointment.

I am a big fan of personal essays, and I was hoping that this book would give me a few short cuts (or at least a road map) on writing them.

No such luck. The book is mostly the worn-over writing advice that one can find anywhere. Worse, however, are the examples that the author includes. She uses several of her student's essays as examples of her lessons. Unfortunately, most of these examples are horrible. They are full of navel-gazing purple prose. Many of them read like they were written by a self-absorbed 12-year old describing what she did on her summer vacation. I have a hard time imagining any of these essays being published in anything resembling a reputable publication. If this is the best her students can do, then we have to suspect the qualifications of the teacher.

But, like I said, I'll give it another try. Maybe I was in a bad mood the firt time through. Also, I have a preference (bias?) toward a more minimilast-sounding prose. I may be more sensitive to (annoyed by) the adjective-laden discussions of all matters emotional than other readers may be.

[denise kay jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing and Publishing Personal Essays focuses on the art of the personal essay in various traditional forms or styles such as description, how-to, compare & contrast, etc.

It seems to me that much of life writing is focused on retrieving memories and getting the story down. Organization is not necessarily the first thought. Eventually, however, form has to be considered. Bender approaches structure, organization, and form from the perspective of improving our writing and making discoveries about ourselves.

So, a person could take an essay they've written and experiment with form based on Bender's various chapters. For this reason, I think the book is helpful to new writers and those teaching writing.

[Amber Ziegler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. I really liked that she included example essays (from herself and other writers) to show all the different takes on the genre.

[Terry Persun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A writing book. So, I'm taking it slowly, as I like to apply the ideas to my own work. Sheila is a great writer and teacher. I loved this book.

[Larry Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, some parts helpful. Had a specific reason for reading this, probably didn't answer the specific question I need but I found other helpful tools for something I've never tried before.

[Beverly Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent edition for any writer's reference collection. I found much of the material quality and off value for a writer just starting out.

[Elisabeth Kinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for mapping out creative nonfiction essays.