Reviews for Writing alone and with others

The average rating for Writing alone and with others based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2007-07-08 00:00:00 Marco Volele This book is organized according to its title: the first half describes methods to help and encourage the writer in his/her solitary practice, and the second half describes Schneider's method for working with writers in groups. Her belief is that a "writer is someone who writes," and the focus of this book is really on prodding and guiding her readers to do what they have to do to keep writing. Although her sympathetic tone sometimes made me cringe (words like safety and healing abound), Schneider made me want to put the book down and write. Anyone who teaches, either in a school or in a private or community workshop, would learn a lot by considering her methods for working with groups, which she vivifies with lots of examples. This part was my favorite. (The part on working alone seemed to cover territory that other books, like Writing Down the Bones and Bird by Bird, do more effectively for me.) Also, there are a lot (more than a hundred) of really great, inventive exercises that prompt writing in many genres. Schneider offers some useful attention to revision and publishing, yet this guidebook is really for writers and teachers who want to jumpstart and generate writing. (And thanks go to James Black for pointing out Writing Alone and with Others on goodreads.)

Review # 2 was written on 2014-06-08 00:00:00 Nicholas Coll Pat Schneider's WRITING ALONE AND WITH OTHERS is familiar fare to warriors of the "How to Write" wars. Part One "The Writer Alone" is sound and helps buck you up, so to speak. I page-by-paged my way through. Part Two "Writing with Others" is geared more to participants or moderators of workshops (such as Pat Schneider herself). In this section I found myself skipping pages. Does not apply. Does not apply. Etc. The last part is "additional exercises" to supplement the many provided throughout the book. Lots of familiar ideas and some new. Overall, nothing glitzy, but a steady-wins-the-race Bible of sorts. I'd recommend especially if you're going to workshop as a verb, be it as participant or fearless leader.