What If? is the first handbook for writers based on the idea that specific exercises are one of the most useful and provocative methods for mastering the art of writing fiction. With more than twenty-five years of experience teaching creative writing between them, Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter offer more than seventy-five exercises for both beginners and more experienced writers. These exercises are designed to develop and refine two basic skills: writing like a writer and, just as important, thinking like a writer. They deal with such topics as discovering where to start and end a story; learning when to use dialogue and when to use indirect discourse; transforming real events into fiction; and finding language that both sings and communicates precisely. What If? will be an essential addition to every writer's library, a welcome and much-used companion, a book that gracefully borrows a whisper from the muse.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Creative Writing Text:
The book was purchased as a text for a creative writing class. It contains numerous writing exercises, is well thought out and effective.
What if!:
This is a great book for writers, whether you are just starting fiction, or have been at it for a while. I bought this book for a college class I am taking, but I could easily go through these exercises on my own. I plan on reading the book cover to cover, regardless of how much my professor covers in the course. Overall this is a very exciting book for fiction writers!
A great collection of both exercises and stories:
This book has been used as text for creative writing classes but it is also a great means of working on writing skills in your own time. The exercises are varied, interesting and plain fun. There are also some short works of fiction in the back which the writers/editors included as illustrations of some of the styles and techniques they refer to. I don't always purchase text books for the classes I take but I thought this was definitely worth owning.
"What If" a great way to exercise your creativity.:
This book is used by the woman who heads the writing group I belong to. The exercises really get the creative juices flowing.
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