Language Arts Books

Chris Keane does it all. I've been fortunate enough to be in his group in Maui and am about to be in his class in Maine. Everything other reviewers have said is right on, but one more comment is needed. Chris Keane actually cares greatly about his students whether they are new to the craft or old hands. He listens intently and answers thoughtfully. Oh, and he actually knows what he's talking about and speaks from vast experience. No wonder he's in such demand all over the world as an instructor. He knows how to "get 'er done". Any and all of his books should be OPEN on your desk, folks.

Barbara Lord Mannewitz (Bury Thy Brother)

If you are looking to learn about what attracts attention in the industry, read this book.

Romancing the A-List: How to Write the Script the Big Stars Want to Make

Chris Keane has written an indispensable tactical manual for the aspiring screenwriter. He generously shares his wealth of insider knowledge and industry experience. I want to take a week-end off, lock myself away somewhere and re-read the entire book ... it is that good. That useful. I suspect that "Romancing the A-List" it will become a reference beacon for many writers.
-P. Packenham

A big star can sell a movie much more than any other aspect - someone may be a fan of Hugh Jackman, but few would be fans of David Hayter, the screenwriter responsible for one Jackman's big films in 'X-Men'. "Romancing the A-List: Writing the Script The Big Stars Want to Make" is a complete and comprehensive guide to attracting those big stars to your screenplay, for that star support in getting the script writer's movie made - and to assure it will get the attention it deserves. Deftly composed and a must for wannabe screen writers, "Romancing the A-List: Writing the Script the Big Stars Want to Make" is highly recommended for writing collections, as well as professional, academic, and community library collections dedicated to film making.

Romancing the A-List is begging for a spot on your nightstand. This book ideal for screenwriters serious about their craft and wanting to get into the business as well as people who are interested in the story process and how their favorite movies have gone from idea to the silver screen. It's informative and entertaining. I like to consider it a classroom in a book. Christopher Keane takes you through all the steps, from creating a mini-treatment to building a screenplay in three acts. He encourages you to think outside the box but also to understand form and structure and method. I don't think I've ever read another book quite like it. I learned more about development of the story form in general in this book than anywhere else. If you don't get it, you won't know what you are missing.

BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT! If you have a child coming up on SAT's or even in middle or elementary school, this is the best book out there! It was recommended to us by a reading specialist. I love to read the book just to see if I can recall words. Love IT so BUY IT!

This is a fantastic book. I am in 6th grade and got this and loved it. I would reccommend this for grades 6th -- 11th. The way it works: first it shows the word, say "copious". Next, it shows the definition -- in this case, "abundant;plentiful". Underneath, it shows a link word. For "copious", the link word was "cup". An amusing cartoon strip follows, such as the one for "copious" which showed a grinning man proudly holding a massive cup of coffee. The caption read, "A COPIOUS CUP of coffee". Then, there are three good examples. At the end of every ten words, there's a review to make sure you understand. This book is wonderful, and I reccommend it to everyone! I loved it. In total, there are 290 words.

This book is a delight! Both this and it's sister version (Vocabulary Cartoons 2) are wonderful vocabulary builder starters before you drift off into harder works like "The Wizard of Oz Vocabulary Builder." That book sounds easy enough, but it's actually geared towards 12th graders and beyond.

These books are wonderful for visual learners, although, others might get something out of them. Building your vocabulary is a process, but the time spent will be well rewarded. A strong vocabulary helps everything, including foreign language and math skills. As you delve into harder works, you'll be learning Latin and Greek roots which build excellent decoding skills for standardized tests.

These books are perfect for summer education. You want your kids to enjoy themselves, however, it doesn't hurt to move ahead academically either. These materials -- and ones like them -- are fun summer pleasure readers. And they'll learn something along the way. Adults will likely enjoy them too!

No one cares about your education more than you do. Fortunately, we live in the day and age where materials just keep getting better and better. So supplement, supplement, supplement. Have no fear: it can actually be fun. A+

this book was a simple, fun way to review vocab for SAT

This book has been one of my most valuable resources in my classroom. Each of my students owns a copy, and through class activities that incorporate the vocabulary into various literature lessons, I have seen results. One student recently took the SATs for the second time and reported a 210-point increase in his verbal score--an increase that he ascribes to this book. I highly recommend this resource to any literature teacher and college-bound student.

Not your typical how-to-write book, but rather as the subtitle indicates, how-to survive and thrive as a writer. As I read, chapter to chapter, there were numerous times when I felt as if the author was speaking directly to me. All of the time, I felt I was receiving sage advice from someone who had been there, done that and come out the other side; someone further along the path willing to take a moment and share from his own struggles and successes in overcoming the various problems writers encounter on their writing and publishing journeys.

This is book is going on my books-on-writing keeper shelf. I highly recommend it to anyone who writes or wants to write.

One of my goals is to read every book on writing. I'm into my fourth year. There are very few books now that catch me by surprise and say something different. Rogers' book,

As a beginner who has been trying to stop procastinating, and start writing - I'd almost given up hope. After two years and having read at least a dozen how-to books on the writing craft, I gained a lot of knowledge on how to write. After reading Word Work I finally gained the knowledge that allowed me to write. In Word Work, Bruce Holland Rogers takes your fears and concerns about writing and buries them. He explained why I was procastinating and gave me the techniques to overcome it. Rogers takes all the excuses we give ourselves about why we can't find time to write and he shoots them down one by one.

This book is a must for all of you who say: "One day I'm going to write a novel", and for those of you who have lost your way. I highly recommend it

Of all the books I've read on writing, and there have been many, this is the one that addressed my real problem; my fear of not being able to summon up enough self-desipline to write my story. If this describes you...read this book. With the loving approach of a kind-hearted surgeon, Rogers gently pulls back the layers of writer's angst to uncover the size and shape of your particular "tumor". He then gives you, not feel-good pep talks, but practical excercises that liberate you from your black mass. I'm confident I will finish my book and be published, and when I am, Bruce Holland Rogers will be listed in my acknowledgements.

Book from a professional fantasy-writer and teacher (creative writing). The book contains columns, with advice how to avoid the slushpile of daily chores and keep at it, keep following the serious urge to write. This book adresses the possible emotional and psychological needs of the would-be-writer who wants to endure and stick to his writing.
As this is a book of columns, pieces which appeared earlier in a serialized form, there are some minor points which the reader needs to remember when using Bruge Rogers book as a guide to a writers existence.. Writing as the ancient rethorians maintained is as much about grammar, logic and ethos as it is about pathos (emotions).
Many aspiring authors do not lack ideas, but they do not know how to express themselves, or have not gained mastery of language as a working tool.
A book to buy if you are not looking for a work on the art of writing, mastery of language, style and the logic of building a narrative.

Reviewed by C J Singh (Berkeley, California, USA)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading John Trimble's
WRITING WITH STYLE. This witty book is aptly
titled: its numerous how-to suggestions are
all written with great style.

In the chapter "Writers Talking Shop," Trimble
quotes Lawrence Sterne, author of the classic
novel "Tristram Shandy": "Writing, when properly
managed, is but a different name for conversation."
Trimble's own writing demonstrates this, amply
justifying the book's subtitle, "Conversations
on the Art of Writing."

Talking about the use of semicolons, Trimble
says: "The average college student isn't
ready for semicolons. She hasn't discerned any
need for them,nor is she eager to. They look
forbiddingly exotic--about as tempting as a
plate of snails. The literary gourmets can
have them; she'll stick with her comma and
period." Trimble's fourth sentence examples
graceful use of semicolon. A bit later, he
quotes Mark Twain: "Training is everything.
The peach was once a bitter almond;
cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a
college education." Six more quotes
interspersed with Trimble's witty comments
precede the concluding paragraph: "If you
need proof that semicolons can mix agreeably
with a readable style, go to the nonfiction
of Mark Twain,one of America's most
readable stylists. You'll find maybehalf
a dozen semicolons per page. Or go to
the writings of George Bernard Shaw, one
of England's wittiest stylists. You'll
find the same thing. Better still, since
it's close at hand, open any copy of
`Newsweek.' As my examples show, the pages
of that magazine are sprinkled with
semicolons, yet I have never heard
`Newsweek' called heavy or formal."

In the preface, Trimble invites readers
to email him at his university address.

I did.

He graciously emailed back the same day,
answering in considerable detail each
of my questions. Thanks.

-- C. J. Singh

I love this book. I am a law student and this book has helped me to become a more effective writer. I have recommended it to many colleagues and will continue to do so.

"You are giving me an "F?" Are you @$#$^$ kidding me?" I stood aghast at the stupidity of this graduate level English professor. After 22 years of American education, I was in the middle of writing my doctoral dissertation. I took this graduate English Lit class on Ibsen on a lark. It would be sooo simple. Having done my Masters work on Ibsen's "Ghosts," I knew I could out think any of the English Lit lunkheads in my class when it came to theatre. But the sea of red ink on my paper could not be denied. The professor loved my thinking but hated my writing. "This is simply not graduate level work."

"Hey, Prof! I have spent 22 years in the American educational system, I am about to write my thesis, if I can't write, it is not my fault. It is this crummy system that allowed me to get this far. I want YOU to help me fix this before I have to write my thesis! I want you to tutor me."

Now Full Professors are not often called to task like that, but then I was an "old" grad student, so maybe he cut me a break. He said, "You don't want me to teach you writing. I have forgotten how to do that after 30 years. You want my teaching assistant who teaches Beginning Composition to help you."

I met the TA and the first thing he did was hand me J R Trimble's WRITING WITH STYLE, the 1st edition. I devoured the book. For the very first time in my educational "career," someone was teaching me how to write, rather than how NOT to write. No detailed rules and format stuff like Strunk's stuffy book. This book actually taught me how to think like a writer. It gave me the confidence to trust my own "voice." I stopped being hamstrung by rules and convention and started to communicate. The elimination of the "back door approach" and finally learning how to get rid of the "passive voice" in my writing fundamentally changed how I thought about myself as a writer.

I got an "A" in my Drama class, successfully wrote my dissertation, and when I got to my first teaching assignment, I was giving the job nobody at the school wanted -- a major writing assignment to create a joint Music Theatre proposal that had to bring together two warring departments who had fought over this document for 3 years. I wrote it in record time, and it passed immediately.

The chairman of our department came to me and said, "I knew you could teach but I never knew you were such a great writer!" Today, people spend a ton of dough to have me write marketing material for them. I wish my high school English teacher was alive to see me now. She was the one who first soured me on writing and "convinced me" that I could NOT write.

I never had a chance to thank you Dr Trimble. So I hope you see this. As educators, and certainly as publishers, we often have no idea of the impact our work has on people. Your book literally changed my life.

Other than that, I don't think much of it! :-)

Bill Metcalf, Ph. D., Theatre Arts, University of Minnesota 1982
President of TechnoShift, Inc
www.MoreAndBetterClients.com

Ps. Doc Trimble -- I would love to hear from you and if anyone has any doubts about this book shoot me an email at bill@moreandbetterclients.com. Since I capture multimedia testimonials for a living now, I would love to provide one for you Doc if you have a website.

I've read a lot of books on writing over the years, so many that I've reserved a spot on the corner of my desk for the very best of them so I can refer to them every so often. Only a few books are in this pile: they are the special ones. And one of them is Trimble's book. I discovered it many years ago when it was in its first edition, and have held it in high esteem ever since. Not only does Trimble give you a lot of useful information, he does, indeed , do it "with style." I enjoy both the information and the way he presents it. He covers all aspects of writing, including grammar, and usually when I see a section on grammar in such a book I skip over it, but not in this case. Even it is a delight.

If you only have time and money for one book on writing, get this one. But if you want two books, get this one and "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.

I've used a lot of ideas from the book. I really enjoyed the section on getting endorsements for your book. And I contacted my local library after reading this book as well.

My copy of Carmen's book is dog-eared, underlined, highlighted and battered. I go back to it time after time for fresh ideas, as my first novel has just been issued and I need all the promotional tools I can get. Though some reviewers felt this book is "only for the self-published," they're wrong. These days, traditional publishers leave a LOT of the promotion up to the author. Don't fool yourself -- you'll need this stuff! In addition, there are so many great marketing ideas in the book and they can be used to make your next book proposal to a publisher really shine. They want authors who are willing to promote and who have concrete ideas how to do so. It could mean the difference between a contract and just another piece of wallpaper for your Rejection wall. I highly recommend it.

If I were self-publishing my book, I would give this book five stars. Only because I'm seeking a publisher I give it two. The book is well-written and full of ideas. I've met the author and she is sophisticated and experienced in self-publishing. I recommend it to anyone who publishes his own book.

You Can Market Your Book is designed to help you understand basic book marketing principles. No matter how your book was published, unless you are a superstar author, you are the main salesperson. Yes, you might be responsible for your own book distribution or with a traditional publisher, you might even have a publicist for a brief time, but ultimately it's up to the author. You need to be as aggressive as possible if you want to reclaim your garage or closets from the boxes of unsold books, or if you expect a royalty check from your publisher. Add this book to your marketing arsenal.

I sat down to read Carmen's book with a highlighter and legal pad in hand; from glancing through the book I knew I'd be writing down lots of great ideas for publicizing and promoting my new book. I was absolutely thrilled when, on page 23, I read, "As Christians, the first step in our marketing plan must be prayer." I've been praying for God's guidance throughout the planning and writing of my book, and was so happy to find that Carmen shared my Christian viewpoint and beliefs. She urges us to seek His will at all stages of book writing and promoting and marketing, and with everything we do. Godly encouragement is sprinkled through the book, and provided me with some much-needed encouragment.

At the end of every chapter you'll find very helpful resources, including author websites and references for more information about the subject of that chapter. Carmen covers a comprehensive range of topics throughout the book, taking the reader step-by-step through marketing tools like reviews, promotion, etc. Many/most of the ideas are inexpensive and simple, but I know will be effective.

By the time I finished the book there were pages dog-eared, sticky notes sticking out of various pages, and almost a legal pad full of ideas I will be using to market my previous books, as well as the one coming out next.

This book is a must have for any author!

this was a very nice book for the price.... *even if I did order 2 by accident.. Thanks again...

This textbook has been great for my research and writing class. It allows me to interact with the book more than some older, maybe more well known books. A useful feature is that you can do the exercises online, as well as from the book.

The Bedford Handbook
I was satisfied with my order, and was delivered as it said

i ordered it and got it in a very good condition and in time. customer service is awesome. my blessings. keep up the good work.

Diana Hacker has an English comp book for any possible usage, she grinds them out every few years. My college requires me to use this book as a handbook. That is unfortunate.

Of course, this book provides a basic explanation of English composition, grammar, documentation, and document design and critical reading. However, the attempt in this case is to present something that is lighter than Rules for Writers, a full scale manual that is sufficient to use as the only text for a college composition course or as a full writers reference, and her Writers Reference, which is a good handy handbook that is inadequate as a full course book, but is great as a rule book to be used by students taking a course using another text.

Usuing this book, I have had to create supplements from web material for issues that I expect to be covered fully in a college handbook such as the requirements of formal writing.

To be sure there are interesting illustrations and graphics and like her other books, the text is intimately linked with the enormous online network that Hacker and her publishers have created. It is not an awful book to use, but I would prefer Rules for Writers, Jane E. Aaron's Litte Brown Handbook, or Writer's reference.

If you are new to the writing profession, or, if you are a veteran who needs to re-charge, this book will help you in many ways. The 19-page chapter on writers' block alone will help you overcome procrastination. Her chapter on personal and professional writing also contains many useful tips.

Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing is full of practical steps and how-to's - you can see your progress toward better writing immediately. I will be a better writer because of this book.

Many non-fiction books have great content, are well-researched but are written in a poor style and in a language you don't understand. So what do you do? You put the book back on the shelf and it will never be read.

The author Jan Yager, Ph.D., teaches us to keep things simple and write so it's understandable to anyone. This is not just a book for a professional writer. This is a book for everybody who writes. Everything from e-mails to non-fiction books is featured and don't we all write non-fiction in our daily life? Think about that!

In `Effective business and non-fiction writing you'll learn about time management, how to get your writing published, how to overcome writer's block, researching, interviewing and much more. Furthermore, the book is filled with examples and exercises. This is really good work and the book is very well-written.

Many non-fiction books have great content, are well-researched but are written in a poor style and in a language you don't understand. So what do you do? You put the book back on the shelf and it will never be read.

The author Jan Yager, Ph.D., teaches us to keep things simple and write so it's understandable to anyone. This is not just a book for a professional writer. This is a book for everybody who writes. Everything from e-mails to non-fiction books is featured and don't we all write non-fiction in our daily life? Think about that!

In `Effective business and non-fiction writing you'll learn about time management, how to get your writing published, how to overcome writer's block, researching, interviewing and much more. Furthermore, the book is filled with examples and exercises. This is really good work and the book is very well-written.

Many non-fiction books have great content, are well-researched but are written in a poor style and in a language you don't understand. So what do you do? You put the book back on the shelf and it will never be read.

The author Jan Yager, Ph.D., teaches us to keep things simple and write so it's understandable to anyone. This is not just a book for a professional writer. This is a book for everybody who writes. Everything from e-mails to non-fiction books is featured and don't we all write non-fiction in our daily life? Think about that!

In `Effective business and non-fiction writing you'll learn about time management, how to get your writing published, how to overcome writer's block, researching, interviewing and much more. Furthermore, the book is filled with examples and exercises. This is really good work and the book is very well-written.

As I have been published in a weekly newspaper column for more than ten years, I probably fit more in the group called '...writers' rather than persons new to writing who are trying to gain traction.
Like most writers I hesitate to declare that I am one.I do however write, regularly, for publication.
Milli's book and guidance gave me a different direction to go in.I had reached a cross road and was stalled. Her book provided a stimulus and a challenge.It also provided a frame to work within.
Her list of topics and coaching were very useful, are valued still.
Had I not bought the book and read it, digested it in part, I might never have tried doing fiction.
This book provided a solid point of departure.It provided credible assistance along the route.
More than those things, it provided a place in which some of us may try different things, with firm but empathetic direction as we try.
Anyone who is serious about writing has recognizable milestones that are beside the path or trail they take or are shown.
I have a feeling this book Milli Thornton created may very well be one of those for me.
Respectfully Submitted,

F.S. Lentz

What I want to know is how Milli Thornton knew exactly where I was when I began reading Fear Of Writing: I was curled up in bed. She knew that, and she told me that I was not allowed to read her book in bed:

"To begin with, this is not a bedtime book. Just as you would never dream of exercising aerobically right before you go to sleep, this book should be strictly a daytime pursuit. . . . so don't read this book in bed (Thornton, 10)."

When I read this, I put the book down. But I was afraid to pick it up again. What else would Thornton know about me? Would she know that I hate everything I write as soon as I write it? Would she know that I often don't write because I know I'll end up hating my work-that I make myself fail before I even try?

I did finally conquer my fear of reading Fear Of Writing, though, and I am glad I did. Thornton's insights, anecdotes, and short stories are not only helpful, but are also fun to read. And her Fertile Material exercises stretch the imagination! I've written from the point of view of a mutt-hating Siamese cat, a cockroach-loving activist, and a jazz musician.

I love that Thornton gives her readers no pressure to write the perfect piece. She gives a prompt, and you can write whatever you want, be it a poem, a dialogue, a short story, or a stream-of-consciousness piece. You don't even have to finish the story! Just write something, anything, to get those creative juices flowing. You can choose to share your writings with others (I have found that sharing them with the Fertile Material group on Yahoo! is quite rewarding.) or keep them to yourself. You simply write for yourself-an audience of one. No fear there!

This is an absolutely wonderful book! Anyone plagued by the fear-of-writing bug should read it and use the Fertile Material exercises. You won't be sorry!

Milli Thornton's Fear of Writing has inspired me to write again, helping to end a lengthy 'writer's block.' I have enjoyed responding to the prompts.

I didn't really think of myself as a closet writer, or even a writer of any kind for that matter, until I read a copy of "Fear of Writing." Even though I had ideas for books "I want to write someday" swimming in my head, I never had the courage to embrace the idea of it actually coming to fruition until I read Milli's book. Her book changed my attitude and diminished my fear within the first few pages. "Fear of Writing" gave me instant inspiration and permission to write freely without worrying about making a mistake. Heaven forbid I make a mistake! I've been doing that in my everyday life, so why am I worried about it in writing? I love this book and I respect Milli for her courage and tenacity to make this book happen and her willingness to share her knowledge. If you have ever once considered creating a story of any kind, do yourself a favor and read Milli's book. You won't regret it.

Do I have a "Fear Of Writing?" You bet I do. I'm loaded with it.

And sometimes, before buying this book, I was paralyzed by my fear.

But then, I happened upon a magical book. I discovered Milli Thornton's "Fear Of Writing: For Writers & Closet Writers," and this wonderful book helped me understand that being afraid to write didn't make me a failed writer. Having a "Fear Of Writing" is a natural outgrowth of my own desires to become a better and more successful writer.

Did this book cure me of my fear? Absolutely not.

Instead, I've found that this text has given me the tools I need to continue to write in spite of my fear. I've learned that being afraid is okay. And, most importantly to me, I've come to understand that I am NOT a failed writer unless I allow my fear to control me and prevent me from writing.

Using a series of fun and imaginative exercises, as well as personal anecdotes and insight from other writers, Ms. Thornton has written a book that provides what individual writers need most.

Need the warmth of a hug to support you and get you back to your desk?
You'll find that hug in these pages.

Need a sprinkling of fairy-dust to call your muse back to your side?
This book will show you many, many ways to locate a muse that's gone missing.

Maybe you're like me, though.
Maybe what you really need is a kick in the seat of your britches.
Maybe that's what it will take to get you writing again.

If so, the author will give you a firm but gentle boot with the included "Fertile Material Exercises." These exercises are enchanting, silly, exciting, and most of all, they are fun. Plus, they are certain to kick-start your imagination and get the words flowing.

This is one of those rare books that deserves a spot on every writer's desk. Regardless if you're a seasoned pro or someone completely new to creative writing, this book will help you write more, write better, and help you overcome your "Fear Of Writing."

Oh my goodness, how I wished I'd purchased The Frugal Editor when I first started hearing about it. The author, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, also wrote The Frugal Book Promoter, my own copy is dog -eared and highlighted and I've given copies to my author friends.

Today I was fortunate to read The Frugal Editor for the first time. Every author, published or not, should have a copy of this guide to editing. Not only are the usual problems with editing covered: from the proper use of pronouns, how and when to use quotation marks and ellipses , when to use lie and lay, to finding your writing idiosyncracies-and yes, we all have them-also included are many amazing ways to use your word processing program to help with your editing.

The book is easy to use and one of the most comprehensive instructions to editing I've ever seen. I should have had this one in hand when I edited my last book. It might have helped me to prevent the gremlins that crept into the galley.

I highly recommend The Frugal Editor.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Good book but mixed feelings. Here's my take on the pro's and con's of the Frugal Editor.

The Format of this book: It is noted that it is a 208 page book, but it's actually 192 pages. Subtract from that, 29 blank pages and 6 pages of paragraph length chapters and you have a 158 page book for 18.95. Now in her book, the author states that formatting standards of what side a chapter should start is the culprit of white pages (because chapters should begin on the right side). However, this standard gets overused, so the format stretches a small book into a roughly 200 page book. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. As it seems lately, many self-published books are using this tactic. I don't mind purchasing a 90 page book filled with excellent information as long as it is priced right. But a 150 page book for $19 plus shipping made me feel cheated.

On the plus side, she does include shaded boxes to highlight important tidbits or summaries of information, which I found extremely helpful, especially for the visual learner.

Now for the content. On her website/blog, she promotes how this book goes into the Flesch-Kincaid Readability tool. Something that I was really interested in knowing and it is what finally prompted me to purchase the book. But the only info. her book delves into is on how to access it. She does NOT offer any concrete interpretation on what the Flesch scores mean and how to specifically use it. She does, however, send you to a link of audio files she produced on using the Flesch for an additional cost, of course. Albeit, you can't even purchase that audio because it is not even available on the websites listed within the book. For me, that was slick advertising and left me really disappointed. Thankfully, I own another book by James V. Smith, "The Writer's Little Helper" which goes into the Flesch tool quite a bit. I was just looking to find more innovative ways to use it thru the Frugal Editor book, but I was left empty handed.

A main premise throughout this book is on the utilization of Microsoft's Find and Replace tools and how to search for redundancies in terms of adverbs, gerunds, and the such. I found these sections very helpful because it never occurred to me to use this tool in such a way. If you are not familiar with this, then the purchase of this book will make it worthwhile.

There are a few sections on grammar that the Frugal Editor delves into with enough explanation to help you implement the author's points within your editing. But then there are many other sections where she just wraps it up with a very brief summary of a few lines and sends you off to various website links. Although, some of these sources were excellent, for 18.95 and having about 35 blank pages within the book, the author could have summarized better and offer more examples on the topics she touched so that one could utilize her book as a usable reference. I didn't need to pay 18.95 for a list of website links for grammar usage tips when a Google search would cost me nothing.

On the plus side, the Frugal Editor does contain an extensive set of appendixes and some were very beneficial such as a website that offered free searching tools of adverbs, prepositions, passive words, word & phrase frequency. You can find it at www.rogerjcarlson.com . Then there is another similar tool for about a hundred dollars on a U.K website for a Concordance Tool that does the above, as well as indexing and other tools. I wasn't aware of these tools, so just finding out about it within this book did help to lessen my other gripes.

The author also included sample query letters and cover letters although meant to be helpful, had no connection with the editing purposes of this book. Just seemed like "helpful" filler - a nicety.

All in all, the author seems very likeable and enthusiastic especially about her books. She has an extensive professional background and seems to be a respectable member of the community. Her advice is not to be taken lightly. I really liked what she had to say about the editing process and had only hoped that she would have dispelled more of her experience and background into her book as she does in her audios (she has an extensive list of audios - each about 60 minutes long, but I found no way of purchasing many of them). Perhaps a future updated edition of this book is due soon (Hint).

If you can find this book elsewhere for a lot less, then I definitely recommend purchasing it.

***********UPDATE****************

This is my second writeup for my update. Somehow it got suspiciously deleted. Hmmmm. For reasons I don't understand because all I wanted to relay to you prospective buyers is another book by BOBBIE CHRISTMAS titled "Write In Style: Using Your Word Processor and Other Techniques to Improve Your Writing", which surpasses the Frugal Editor book in so many ways. Christmas's book offers very detailed explanations about style and punctuation, as well as a few other elements of craft as it pertains to using the "search and find" function in your word processing program. This book is everything and more than what the Frugal Editor offers and should have been. Although, the Frugal Editor has its merits, buy this book instead.

Should you be your own editor?

The Frugal Editor will answer this question while giving you an insight to editing. In the end, it is up to the author, whether or not they want to self-edit their manuscript. Carolyn will give you information and links to information while also giving you some tools in Microsoft Word, albeit, pre Vista and Word 2007.

With a bit of internet searching, you can find the subtle differences, I did. Word 2007 will also save your work in a format that someone using an earlier version will not be able to read. You will learn this also as you become more familiar with Word 2007. Hint: save your docs as Word 97-2003; that way people using earlier versions of Word will be able to read your docs easily.

In The Frugal Editor, Carolyn gives you a wealth of information gleaned over the years by trial and error. It is easier to learn from someone that' been there and done that than fight it yourself. I know I have, and I welcome the information to help me save time and energy by reading this book and visiting some of the links. Unfortunately, as the internet is, links don't seem to last. I found a link here and there that didn't work; that being said, I found more than enough links that did work for me to bookmark many sites for further perusal.

No matter what level of writer you are, The Frugal Editor is a must read, whether novice or pro, you will gain something. I plan on telling my writer friends about this book. I found it fun and informational at the same time. As a freelance writer, The Frugal Editor, can be, and, should be, used if you are considering writing of any type.

Do yourself a favor, pick up a copy and read it. You will not be disappointed, and you might just learn something new about writing in the process.

This is a fantastic editing reference for writers. With so many style guides out there, it's sometimes hard to know which books are really worth owning. This book teaches you how to effectively edit your work (as much as is possible on your own), use the tools in your word processing program, and avoid deadly words and tell-tales of amateur writing.

Oh, how I wish I'd read this book before I published mine! This book will sit forever on my bookshelf alongside my Roget's Thesaurus and my Chicago Manual of Style.

As an author and being involved in the publishing world I highly recommend this book to all those wanting to break into the market, those already in the market, and those afraid to step into the market. Carolyn dispels all myths, gives encouragement, and certainly filled the book with tips and techniques to get past road blocks and fear. Concise, easy to read and follow, "The Frugal Editor" is a must-have book in the writer's library to create those killer manuscripts. I just know it will get dog-eared from use within a very short time, and as a writer you will easily have your foot into the door of successful publishing.

For the most part, I really like the "Pimsleur Method". It gives the listener a sample dialog, then expounds on it with additional vocabulary. But what's real good is that throughout the lessons, there are quick reviews of
vocabulary that's already been introduced in previous lessons. Each lesson is about 30 minutes long.
This is a real good technique to reinforce what you've learned while continuing to build on what is being
taught in each lesson.
The only thing I wasn't not totally happy with is the speakers in the lessons often don't give clear enough
pronunciations of words. On several occasion I thought the speaker was pronouncing a word one way
only to find out later that they were really saying something else. I downloaded these, so I didn't have
the benefit of a book or study guide that comes with the CD when you buy it.
But aside from that little problem, I really recommend this product. Not just the Italian, but their courses
for a variety of languages are all really great.
What's also great is that, unlike other language instruction aids I've used, these don't get boring.

I bought all 3 German Pimsleurs when I moved to Germany a year ago. Within 6 months I was prattling away in Germans and people here didn't believe I didn't speak a word of it before I moved here.

Now I'm dating an Italian and have picked up this first Italian with every intention of going through the series. This is the best way to get a basic grasp of a language. Comfortably, in a way that makes you feel that you can speak and add vocabulary, rather than merely reciting set phrases like a trained monkey.

Would I do this if I was only a tourist? Don't know. My boyfriend is now using my German one (with me translating the commands into Italian from English) and he's thrilled that he's learning to understand and speak German. For me, Italian is my 6th language, but German is his first foreign language. It works. If you follow it, it works. It won't teach you everything, but it will teach you the framework you need for understanding how to parse and manipulate a language you are learning. I spent 5 years with French, 5 years with Russian and 2 years with Arabic in classrooms and NEVER ever felt as comfortable with those languages having only classroom grammar drills. Let's face it, you didn't learn your mother tongue in a grammar book, filling in worksheets. You learned it by people saying things to you and making you interact with them.

Pimsleur is more like teaching a man how to fish than feeding him a fish dinner... it all depends on what you want then, doesn't it?

I just completed Pimsleur Italian I and I'm very pleased with it. I am now beginning Pimsleur Italian II.
The course is not perfect but it is far superior to all of the other audio courses I have tried or examined. As somone familiar with earning theory, I absolutely agree that Pimsleur duplicates the same language acquistion method we use to acquire language as children. I have, however, some suggestions for gaining the most from the course.
1. Get a good dictionary, a verb conjugation book and look up words in the lessons so that you can write them down. Aural learning is great but accompanying visual learning it is even better.
2. After listening to each lesson a few times, write them out, in sequence, on 3x5 cards and use them as "drill flash cards" (I put the English on the front and the Italian on the back and fill each card up with as many phrases as would fit). This is a bit of work but also extremely helpful for forming a Gestalt. My wife and I drill each other using the cards and it is a nice change from the CD's.
3. Since Pimsleur does not systematically or comprehensively offer those specific phrases and nouns that tourists need (e.g., helpful travel phrases, helpful in-hotel phrases and objects like "pillow," "soap," etc.), as you go, put such phrases together on "Extra" 3x5 cards and commit them to memory. This is easy within the context of the Pimsleur method because you will already be learning how to put sentences together--one of Pimsleur's strengths.
4. Each lesson starts with a dialogue. After a few listenings, be sure to write the dialogue down in sequence so that you can read aloud along with the CD. This combination of aural and visual learning greatly enhances your ability to cope with the speed with which the speakers on the CD speak the language. I found at times that ther speed was so confusing it sounded like they were using words that had not yet been introduced or included in the lesson under consideration. However, once I figured out and wrote the dialogue down (using the forward/back buttons on my CD player to re-listen multiple times) it all came very clear and my ear improved dramatically.
5. Don't expect to learn each lesson after two or three listenings. We listen to the lessons at least 10 or 15 times each. We also, for the first few times through a new lesson, hit the pause button after being asked to translate a phrase from English into Italian in order to avoid the pressure resulting from the short space of time they give you to come up with the answer-translation. We found that we could, after a few listenings, dispense with the longer pause as we learned the phrases.
6. Finally, I suggest that you wait until you've learned all the lessons before bothering with the reading practice. You can do the reading at the end because the reading is not connected in any meaningful way to the lesson that precedes it. The reading is useful however, because it helps you to read and pronounce more accurately.
In summary, I'm very pleased with the Pimsleur approach and plan to buy and study Pimsleur II and III.
Incidentally, I called Pimsleur and asked them if they sold an addendum transcript booklet of the disks but was told that such a transcript flew in the face of their theoretical belief about how one should learn a language. While I don't agree, I admire their integrity. They could sell a ton of such transcript booklets if they so chose.

From an Italian teacher's perspective, I highly recommend the Pimsleur series. If you're serious about learning Italian, I do think they're the best. And the reason is because they get you to repeat the phrases over and over and over again. Learning a language takes time, but if you need some essential expressions before your trip, they also offer an Instant Conversation series, which is a lot shorter than this one.

The important thing in learning a language is repetition, and you'll get plenty of it with these CDs, as well as learning correct pronunciation.

Remember the first time you hear a song? It takes time to learn it, doesn't it? Well, imagine learning a song in Italian.. it takes even longer, but with some patience, you too will be singing the language of love!

As far as books go, you may end up using a combination, but I do like the Living Language Beginner's book a lot.

Definitely join a course in your area - there's no better practice than to practice in a group! Perhaps you can ask if a community college has it as a continuing education program - although you won't have big problems with the language in the bigger cities, Italians do appreciate if you know at least a little bit.

If instead, you're planning on visiting Southern Italy, or the countryside, you definitely want to know some Italian (if you want a vacation, and not an adventure, that is!).
I hope this helps! Grazie & arrivederci!
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Pimsleur Italian I is the most effortless language program I've ever encountered. The program introduces new material at such a gradual pace that it's barely perceptible. I was astounded, however, at how much I had learned by the end of the program. Before starting Pimsleur I read a few pages from an Italian grammar book and was completely overwhelmed. After finishing Italian I, I reread the grammar material and, although Pimsleur rarely presents grammatical rules explicitly, I was able to infer them to such a degree that not only did the grammar seem manageable, but it felt more like review.