The Writer’s Toolbox: Creative Games and Exercises for Inspiring the “Write” Side of Your Brain by Jamie Cat Callan. © 2007 Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-5429-0. Nonfiction/Writing. $24.95 US. Source: copy from publisher.

This is an extremely nice and quality set. It comes with a 64-page booklet, sticks to draw, wheels to spin, a timer to turn and cards to draw–all with the aim of getting the right-brained person around that creative writing block. The author, Jamie Cat Callan, is a long-time writing teacher. She has taught writing at N.Y.U., Yale University, U.C.L.A. Extension, Fairfield University, and Wesleyan University. So this is definitely a set put together by someone who knows what they are talking about.

However, none of the games and exercises helped me at all. I get about two minutes of writing under my belt and then here would come another wall. I just didn’t have the time to keep pulling cards or drawing sticks for ideas. Especially with NaNoWriMo just around the corner.

It’s a fantastically well-designed set and I wanted so bad for it to work, and it may just be because of me that it wouldn’t work, not the set. And because of that, I’m not going to “rate” this like I normally do. It’s probably something that either works for you,  or doesn’t. I couldn’t really find a middle ground.

SHOP INDIE BOOKSTORES
-or-
PURCHASE ONLINE FROM AMAZON

The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner. © 2000 Riverhead. ISBN 157322152X. Hardback. Non-fiction. 240 pages. $21.95 US. [ Purchase ] Source: local library

As an amateur writer who has long fancied a career in editing, this book naturally piqued my interest. In chapters that first detail different types of writers and then move to varying perspectives on the process of publishing, Lerner takes the writer by the hand and on a tour through the miry maze of publication.

Lerner begins with the starting point of any piece of writing: its author. I thoroughly enjoyed the characterizations, sometimes perhaps caricatures, of different ways the need to write manifests itself. There are different types of writers, and while we all might not fit tidily into one box, the observations are accurate. Read the rest of this entry »

Composing Magic: How To Create Magical Spells, Rituals, Blessings, Chants and Prayers by Elizabeth Barrette. © 2007 New Page Books. ISBN 1-56414-935-8. Paperback. 240 pages. $14.99 US. [ Purchase ]

This book is informative and brilliant, the author even takes you step-by-step through the entire writing process to help you better create words of power. After you have learned what it takes to write, you a taken into the world of Writing Tools and Techniques, where you will be shown what reference books come in handy and the different techniques of sound effects, literal language and figurative language. Next, you are shown the various, basic forms of poetry, how to spin special spells, create colorful chants and powerful prayers, beautiful blessings and wonderful rituals, and finally advice on sharing your work with the pagan community.

This will be one book that gets much wear and tear from my use. This is a blessing to the pagan community and writers everywhere. Get ready to flex those bardic muscles!