The Happy Writing Book: Discover the Positive Power of Creative Writing

by Elise Valmorbida

Overview

'There are many guides to good writing but none as valuable as this.' Oliver Kamm, author and columnist for The Times

Creative writing can enhance wellbeing, which can enhance creative writing, which can enhance wellbeing ...

Become a better writer with over 100 inspiring prompts, insights and exercises specially devised by an award-winning author and creative writing teacher. Discover how the practice of creative writing – being expressive, exploring ideas, crafting words, shaping stories – can also deepen your appreciation of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913947118
Publisher:	Laurence King Publishing
Publication date:	10/05/2021
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.85(h) x 0.95(d)

About the Author

Award-winning author, designer, communications consultant, film-maker – and, for over 20 years, teacher of creative writing – Elise Valmorbida offers guidance that is eclectic, inspiring and real. She learned a long time ago that creative writing leads to more than stories; it enhances wellbeing. Visit elisevalmorbida.com

Table of Contents

I Dare You 6

Happy Beginnings

1 Why write? 12

2 It hasn't all been done before 14

3 Never mind ubiquity 16

4 Short is sweet 18

5 Divine coincidence 20

6 You have nothing to say? 22

7 This Precious Now 25

8 Foreigners welcome 27

9 Indulge your passions 29

10 It's not you 31

11 The imagination box 33

12 You can be anything you like 36

13 Nothing is holding you back 38

14 Word-worlds 40

15 Let's cross over 43

16 Write what you know? 45

17 Research is a beautiful place 47

18 Spend, spend, spend 50

19 Dream big 52

20 Nothing is wasted 53

21 All you need is… 55

22 Possibly your greatest talent 56

23 Put off procrastination 58

24 The cloak of invisibility 61

25 It doesn't matter a jot 63

26 It matters a whole lot 64

27 Reading loves writing loves reading 66

28 The perfect sponge 68

29 Craft is something you can learn 70

30 Perfect is the Enemy of Good 72

31 Perfect is the Enemy of Interesting 74

32 Everyone is equal 76

33 Creating time and space 77

Happy Middles

34 The leap of failure 80

35 Love your notebook 82

36 Keep a diary 84

37 Ethical eavesdropping 86

38 Smell better 88

39 Wake up and hear the coffee 90

40 Do touch 93

41 Sweet, bitter, sour, salty, umami 95

42 The sounds of silence 97

43 You need only one violin 99

44 The truth about clichés 100

45 Describing without description 102

46 Action through description 105

47 How not to fear plot 107

48 A point of view 112

49 Thirteen ways of looking at a room 115

50 'I am a writer' 117

51 Simple is clever 119

52 Show not tell? 121

53 Moving images 123

54 Mind the gap 125

55 An argument against truth 127

56 Lawless territory 129

57 The art of poetry 131

58 Clash of the tongues 133

59 A metaphor is like 135

60 Found in translation 138

61 Take your mouth for a walk 140

62 Eureka moments (love your unconscious) 143

63 The riches of randomness 146

64 Some random prompts 148

65 Absolute power (love your intellect) 149

66 Herding words 151

Happy Ends

67 Success vs 'success' 156

68 Be a student forever 158

69 Learn from rejection 160

70 Grow younger 162

71 Lose yourself 164

72 The pen is mightier than the sword 166

73 An argument for truth 167

74 Person-building 169

75 Your diary will keep you 171

76 Rewrite history 173

77 Invent an alternative present 175

78 Write the future 177

79 Find material in misfortune 180

80 Write out the negative 181

81 Write up the positive 183

82 Take it on the chin 185

83 See more 187

84 Enjoy more brain power 190

85 Make yourself feel 192

86 Feel with others 194

87 Remember the other dog's bone 197

88 Perseverance works 198

89 Goals, goals, goals 200

90 A writer's life is easy 202

91 All creativity is good for you 204

92 Rejoice: you made it 207

93 Is it publishable? 209

94 No need to make money 211

95 Find new friends 213

96 Love your writing group 215

97 Make ripples 217

98 Change the world 219

99 The power of everything 221

106 Write now 222

Some Happy Stories 223

Some Reading (and Viewing, and Listening) 229

References 234

Acknowledgements 239

The Author's Story 240