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 Word Painting: A Guide to Writing More Descriptively ISBN0-89879-861-2 $19.00 hard cover $15.00 soft cover |
Word Painting:
A Guide to Writing
More Descriptively This guide combines direct instruction with writing exercises designed to increase your powers of observation and help you "paint" fresh, evocative descriptions. It includes passages from classic and contemporary masters such as Gustave Flaubert and Toni Morrison, as well as the advice of writers and poets from Aristotle to William Stafford. Readers comments: One of the best, May 28, 2000 Reviewer: Suzanne E Anderson "This is one of the best books on improving your writing skills. Ms. McClanahan's writing style is inviting and reassuring. Both beginners and experienced writers will benefit from her instruction on how adding descriptive elements will enrich the reading experience for our target audience and make us better writers." Keeping the pencil sharp, May 26, 2000 Reviewer: Karon Luddy from Charlotte, NC "This book has been a godsend to me. It's been enormously helpful in doing the final edit of my novel. Reading it made me feel like I had my own personal editor. The conversational tone of the book is inviting, nurturing, and encouraging. Any discussion of point of view usually makes me groan, but the way Rebecca McClanahan writes about it is exceptionally sane, enthralling even. The author is a master teacher, writer, and reader. Rebecca McClanahan is generous in sharing the secrets of her fine craft. This book would be fabulous for intermediate to advanced writers to read at least once a year to help keep the pencil sharp. The writing exercises are provocative and creative. This book showed me many things I would never have learned on my own. It made me want to be a better writer." For a More Picturesque Use of Language, March 6, 2000 Reviewer: Gloria Stern from LA Toward More Picturesque Language "Just as all boats rise with the tide, Ms. McClanahan's book, Word Painting, has the power to elevate the writing process for all those who would apply her insight and skillful direction. I intend to have it at my elbow as I write. It is a valuable resource - not only for me, but I will be happy to pass its precepts on to my students." Excellent; highly recommended, October 27, 1999 Reviewer: A reader from Manhattan "Having trouble with a writing assignment ("describe a place using vivid imagery"), I found this book. It's great and helped me paint the picture in words. Result: compliments on my simplicity, clarity, and vivid descriptions." |
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Exercises from Word Painting From Chapter Four, From Eye to Word: The Description Write a description for an article of clothing that will appear in a catalog unaccompanied by an illustration. Your job is not only to describe the item accurately but also to entice a customer to buy it. Begin with the basics: name the article precisely and list available colors (be inventive!) and fabrics. Then describe, in detail, each distinguishing feature. Finally, set the fantasy scene for the customer. Where might he wear the item? How will this article of clothing change his image, his life? From Chapter Six, Bringing Characters to Life Through Description If you want to learn more about your characters' inner lives, write a description of how each would react given the same situation. Choose a situation that will reveal the characters' values, attitudes or other qualities of their inner landscape: being accosted by a panhandler, being given too much change by a cashier, being seduced by a beautiful stranger. Which of your characters would fail to report cash earnings to the I.R.S.? Which ones would refuse to have an affair, even if their spouse couldn't possibly find out? From Chapter Eight, The Story Takes Its Place: Descriptions of Setting Describe the same neighborhood as viewed by three different people Ð for instance, a lifelong resident who's so accustomed to the scene he barely notices it anymore, a teenager who can't wait to escape the place, and a dewy-eyed honeymooner moving into her first home. |
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