With over 500 idea-generating prompts, this is the book you will reach for time after time to jump start your creativity and develop original ideas. Four distinctive sections offer dozens fo unique approaches to "freeing the muse," each geared toward a different stage of writing:

• Bending & Stretching introduces a variety of loosening up techniques--clustering to automatic writing--designed to banish inhibitions and get the words flowing.
• Exploring encourages you to discover the rich writing material within your life. Exercises including role-playing and picture drawing help you elicit limitless ideas.
• Finding Forms prompts you to explore traditional (and nontraditional) forms of written expression so your feelings and objectives are captured keenly and effectively.
• Assessing & Developing focuses on developing and refining existing material through a range of exercises and examinations.

Praise forThe Writer's Idea Book"The Writer's Idea Book reads as fluently as a good novel, on every page offering the novice writer and seasoned pro alike all sorts of ingenious ways to unlock the stories in your head."--Philip Gerard, author of Hatteras Light and Writing a Book That Makes a Difference."What an inspiring book! The Writer's Idea Book does exactly what it sets out to do--offer writers at all stages of their careers a seemingly endless variety of ideas to noodle around with, explore, and ultimately make their own."--Janice Eidus, author of The Celibacy Club and Urban Bliss"Jack Heffron manages a sly trick here by offering The Writer's Idea Book as a how-to for beginning or fearful writers. In pleasing, trustworthy prose, he lures writers into thinking they're just practicing, but at the end they'll have enough material for a lifetime, and a new way of being in the world."--Monica Wood, author of My Only Story, Description and Secret Language"In a field crowded with disappointing tomes, what a joy to open The Writer's Idea Book and find vast regions of opinion and experience mined for creative fodder. As much fun to read as it is to use."--Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander