Selected Book
A Writer's Coach: The Complete Guide to Writing Strategies That Work
- Paperback
- Author: Jack R. Hart
- Publisher: Anchor
- Release Date: August 2007
- ISBN-10: 1400078695
- ISBN-13: 9781400078691
- List Price: $13.95
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryMystified over misplaced modifiers? In a trance from intransitive verbs? Paralyzed from using the passive voice? To aid writers, from beginners to professionals, legendary writing coach Jack Hart presents a comprehensive, practical, step-by-step approach to the writing process. He shares his techniques for composing and sustaining powerful writing and demonstrates how to overcome the most common obstacles such as procrastination, writer’s block, and excessive polishing. With instructive examples and excerpts from outstanding writing to provide inspiration, A Writer’s Coach is a boon to writers, editors, teachers, and students. |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Very Useful
Rating:
Very useful book. I've been borrowing a copy from the library for the past ten weeks, and it's high time I bought my own copy. It has helped me greatly in constructing my pieces. I'm a journalist/blogger with three deadlines every week and 50 or 60 clips, and Hart's book has been useful in more ways than I can summarize. I'll just say that I almost never buy writing books, and I never write reviews on Amazon. I'm making an exception to both rules for this great book. It's aimed at beginners, but journalists with dozens or even hundreds of pieces behind them will find useful ideas too.
For the Writer Ready to Move to the Next Level
Rating:
Books on writing often reiterate the same advice we learn over time, the reader sometimes lucks out in using a tidbit or two. Realistically, no one has time to study the advice and put it to practice. Thus, it's not a bad thing for a book on writing to cover the things we've read before. The more we read about it, the more it stinks in.
But you can't read A Writer's Coach in the same way you read any other writing book. This one goes deeper meaning a reader may absorb the information better by reading one chapter at a time to understand and practice the concepts. Coaching an athlete to improve at something doesn't happen overnight. Thus, this book targets the serious writer who needs to move beyond the basic books on writing in order to take writing to the next level.
I try to avoid writing general reviews that tell the reader nothing, but Hart is a master in explaining the concepts of method, process, structure, and everything else he covers. It's difficult to capture them into a little review when I try to avoid long reviews.
Business and life coaching grows more popular because they're effective in helping people change behavior and improve. In thinking about coaches, I reflected on my childhood years when I played sports. The best coaches point out the right way to swing a bat, serve a volleyball, or shoot a basket. They also help players review their weaker moves so they can fix their form rather than let them continue using bad form, which will hurt them in the end. "Coach" is a fitting word in the title because Hart takes the coaching approach in showing the writer the right form for taking an idea from start to finish.
The book speaks more to journalists and non-fiction writers. However, much advice works across all writing genres -- so those who thrive on telling stories can glean a few valuable lessons from Hart. Expect to find high quality content that you find in the best college textbooks -- except subtract the stiff and convoluted writing. Hart's writing style makes the reading easy. A Writer's Coach contains smart, clear and logical guidance that will take a writer's writing skills to the next level.
A new "writer's friend"
Rating:
A Writer's Coach: The Complete Guide to Writing Strategies That Work is a practical and comprehensive writer's companion for beginners, professionals and anyone in between.
Whether you write non-fiction or fiction, Hart offers examples of strategies and techniques for eliminating procrastination, breaking through writer's block, establishing and narrowing focus, and developing a voice-all vital components in any writer's toolkit. Also included are sections on the rhythm of words, and the mechanics of writing.
Hart, a former professor at the University of Oregon, and editor at large at The Oregonian, explains his method in a clear and concise manner easy to comprehend. Mastering the art of language is a process achieved by understanding and utilizing key strategies to expand your skills as a writer.
After reading A Writer's Coach, I have a better grasp on how to assemble my thoughts into a cohesive and focused structure, and convey them for better reader clarity.
Armchair Interviews says: A must-have book for writers at any level!
So Useful!
Rating:
I found Hart's book to be incredibly useful. As a professional editor and writer, it was refreshing to read a text on writing that was so well written. I also bought it for my father who is writing a book.
It reminds me of a good college text book, but with real-world examples and stories.
A key text for anyone considering writing a book, or for anyone who wants to improve their writing in general.
Invest in this one!
Rating:
Of all the writing guides out there, this one stands out for its balance between passion, precision and technique. You'll find some real gems tucked nonchalantly into the most unassuming paragraphs. Most helpful are the check-lists at the end of every chapter.
As a novelist, I gleaned a lot of wisdom and encouragement from this book. If you want to build a library of master teaching, add to this Stephen King's On Writing, and Donald Maass' Writing the Break Out Novel. These three are spot on.
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