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The Practice of Creative Writing: A Guide for Students Second Edition

by Heather Sellers (Author)

92

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There is a newer edition of this item:

The Practice of Creative Writing: A Guide for Students
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Designed for all students in the introductory course, The Practice of Creative Writing has a simple message: you can do this, and it’s worthwhile to try. Heather Sellers, who writes in multiple genres herself, has developed an approach that focuses on the habits and strategies that produce good writing in any genre: Images; Energy; Tension; Pattern; Insight; and Revision. She teaches students how to focus, to generate lots of writing, and to get to the good stuff — the powerful imagery and the stories they really want to tell. She provides opportunities to be playful and to experiment at the same time she teaches students the importance of discipline and craft. This new edition gives students even more support and encouragement, with earlier attention to structure — because students struggle with this strategy — and with expanded coverage of revision and a wider range of genres they can use as generative tools.

ISBN-10

0312676026
ISBN-13

978-0312676025
Edition

Second
Publisher

Bedford/St. Martin's
Publication date

August 10, 2012
Language

English
Dimensions

6.5 x 0.74 x 9.08 inches
Print length

528 pages
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Heather Sellers
93
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31 offers from $38.87
Heather Sellers
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Richard E. Miller
120
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bedford/St. Martin's; Second edition (August 10, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312676026
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312676025
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.38 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 0.74 x 9.08 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,283,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #42 in Encyclopedias (Books)
- #1,991 in Literature
- #56,129 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
92

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Heather Sellers

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Welcome to my Amazon author page.

The new edition of The Practice of Creative Writing is now out in its fourth edition. Instructors who adopt the book for their courses receive the updated 170-page instructor's manual. I'm incredibly proud of this project. With my terrific team at Macmillan Learning, I've worked on this baby for two years.

In April 2022, my new collection of poems is forthcoming from BOA Editions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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4.4 out of 5

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M. Hudson

Unlimited Technique Improvement

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

As someone that enjoys writing book reviews and sharing thoughts with other possible readers, I find it a responsibility to share my thoughts toward works that I feel extremely passionate about. With this text book, I find it very passion-driven. The techniques used to demonstrate improved writing techniques of any style (short story, memoir, fiction, poetry, etc) are paramount to any writer seeking success. I rented this book through the Amazon Student book rental program. I attend the University of Southern New Hampshire as a Creative Writing Major. With a class aimed toward improving my writing skills, it is absolutely paramount for me to have a text book that is not only "reader-friendly", but also explains the very basics of how other successful writers become published successes; and, how to harness their styles by avoiding forms of writing that can make a very decent, powerful piece of writing become repetitive, dreary, or simply repetitive in language. This book provides insights into what specific dynamics of writing that are effective, followed by excerpts from successful writers and how the author uses that particular technique for a specific type of writing. Example: My car came to a sudden halt as the stop sign came into view. This book offers a way to turn a simple sentence into one that carries much more depth, passion, and of course meaning: my heart thudded in my chest as I pushed the accelerator to the floor. My car screamed in protest as I pushed it far past it's limitation. I knew I didn't stand a chance of making it on time, but I had to try. Suddenly, I moved my right foot to the brake, slamming it as hard as I could. Beneath the overgrown branches of an old oak tree, stood a rusty old stop sign. It's presence merely a reminder that I shouldn't even try. As the sun began to reflect on it's jagged edges, the push in me resurfaced. Once again, I slammed in the accelerator, driven by both stubbornness and determination." This adds a lot to a story, but if this book were not required as part of my class, I would be reading it independently. I give it an A+ even though my class isn't finished with it yet because it's done so much for me and 25 other students. I have no doubt that it could be the very thing you're looking for if you're hoping to be published one day, or simply seeking self-fulfillment by improving your own writing. I hope this review helps. It's already helped so many others!

15 people found this helpful

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TK

The lady knows her stuff

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2013

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Ms. Sellers speaks to creative writers or those practicing in a way that puts you at ease but also doesn't let up on you. She seems to know how beginners feel and explains away some bad habits as really fears in disguise. There are plenty of examples to read along with the lesson she is presenting. I do believe that by the end of the book and class I will be a much better writer with a better understanding of myself and my craft.

4 people found this helpful

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Sarah Elkins

The Practice of Creative Writing: A Guide for Students

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2013

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This book is bringing out the best in my students. I am using it in an Intro to Creative Writing course taught within the Federal Prison System. I have students of all different backgrounds and varying levels of writing experience, yet each student is able to access this book at his own place of understanding and interest. If this book works for my unique classroom, it's bound to work for anyone's.

7 people found this helpful

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Windows 98 SE

Good book, somewhat pricey.

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2014

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Good price compared to the Barnes & Noble college book store, of course. The book is written well, however, I can't really be wholly satisfied with the price... but such is the world of college textbooks. I bought this for a creative writing course.

2 people found this helpful

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Maggiemommashap

A terrific book for students learning to write at any age

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2017

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A terrific book for students learning to write at any age. Wonderful short essays, stories; showing the craft of structure, plot, point of view-all of it.
So much information and easily structured. Highly recommend it be in a writer's tool chest.

One person found this helpful

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faithm. enjoyed it. hard to find stories to get easily lost in. this was great

I would have rated the book ok not good.

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2015

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I would have rated the book ok not good.

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2013

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This book is awesome, is really really helpful and detailed about how to write properly a creative story. Also this book gives you a lot of examples about when a sentence or idea is developed correctly and when is not which to me is very helpful.

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2020

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Great source of information.

One person found this helpful

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