What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers (3rd Edition)

I have been teaching writing and using this book for over five years. It has been beyond invaluable for me and my students, and I don't know how I am going to live without it.
The earlier, brown version is not the greatest, but the "Revised and Expanded" 1995 edition (blue cover) is fabulous. We were supposed to get a new 2000 edition in January, but now I heard that Prentice-Hall has decided not to do the new edition. So "What If?" is now out of print. NO!

I teach creative writing in the UCLA Writer's Program (online) and always recommend this book to my students as one of the two best books (along with Janet Burroway's "Writing Fiction") on the craft of writing ever penned. I have used the information in this book time and again in writing my own novels and stories ("The Death of Tarpons" (novel), "Monday's Meal" (story collection), "Over Easy" (thriller forthcoming from Random House, 1999). A more intelligent book than this has yet to be written. If you aspire to create memorable, quality prose, you must buy this book! It will aid you throughout your writing career in thousands of ways. Five stars is not enough to award this book, which I'm sure is destined to become a classic if it is not already considered so.

This fabulous book allows aspiring writers to get in that much needed practice. It has exercises for nearly every facet of your novel or fiction piece: opening lines, dialogue, character development. I was glad that the exercises can be used whether or not you have your own novel or piece of fiction in mind. I can say that these exercises are very stimulating and the student's examples from the workshops really highlight all of the possibilities.

"What If" differs from many other how-to writing books in that the writer will spend more time writing through the book than actually reading it - that is if the writing exercises at the end of chapter are completed. The chapters are bite-size, informative and to the point. Thus the information the book brings, coupled with the exercises, makes it functional and at the same time fun.

If you enjoy writing fiction, this book is a plus as it breaks down fiction writing point by point. And who knows, doing the exercises may just lead to that short story or book lurking around in the shadows of the imagination.

Anne Bernay's and Pamela Painter have done a good job in giving writers many different kinds of options to jumpstart your writing. I especially like the way the invite you to go beyond your own story and into the characters as well as encouraging the writer to take chances with their own emotions and write from sometimes scary places. I think doing this results in a huge payoff for the writer and puts the writer squarely in the creative journey.

There are lots and lots of exercises that approach the writing journey from different points of view. Good for all levels of writers and also a keeper. I think if you are a beginner you'll get something and then if you look back into the pages and redo these exercises in time, you'll get even more out of them

This book is for anyone who writes, anyone who wants to write. It is for anyone who teaches creative writing, anyone who wants to teach creative writing.

"What If?" could be useful at virtually any grade level from 5th grade (about ten years old) up through graduate school.

Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter are completely in-tune with the writing process and are aware of difficulties one may encounter when trying to create fiction.

Also, you could compile an outstanding reading list from the writers who Bernays and Painter have cited. A list gathered from their references could be used for personal enrichment or to help create a syllabus-or both!

to appreciate the writing jumpstarts presented in "What If?" However, the exercises outlined in this book will have you writing, and more importantly, thinking like a writer. More than 75 exercises for the beginning to advanced writer. Welcome this helpful source to your library!

I teach creative writing at a University, and I use this text in my classroom. Bernays and Painter have compliled a great little collection of jumping-off points. No matter what you're trying to work on-- your grasp of plot, dialogue, or maybe just that first line-- this book will give you some good ideas. Super-great for those new to creative writing.

This book is filled with great ideas to jump start writing - it was so helpful to me in the creative writing class I'm taking. Also, it has lots of short stories in it to help you get a feel for different styles of writing. It is a great resource for all writers!

Nothing's guaranteed to get you writing, but Bernays and Painter do their darndest here, and if you have any motivation of your own at all, chances are, they'll work their magic for you.
This is one of those books I refer to time and time again, whenever I feel like I'm stuck (or about to get stuck).

I bought this book hoping to find some new exercises that would help me expand my skills. But I found most of them too basic for my tastes. This book might be good for people who are just learning to flex their writing muscle. But for anyone who has been writing for a few years, don't bother.

When I ordered this book I was under the impression that is was slightly worn. When I received the book the cover was badly damaged and 2 pages were torn from the book. I have bought many used book online before and this is the first time that I was very disappointed.

Nothing's guaranteed to get you writing, but Bernays and Painter do their darndest here, and if you have any motivation of your own at all, chances are, they'll work their magic for you.
This is one of those books I refer to time and time again, whenever I feel like I'm stuck (or about to get stuck).

I have to disagree with the other reviewers on this book for two reasons: 1) I was able to go through, sentence by sentence and cut the first two chapters in half without losing ANY meaning (after that, I threw the book away, and I don't throw books away), and 2) the writers talk down to the "novice writers" they're writing to. Go to other writing books where the authors at least recognize we're all on the same journey as writers, and don't waste your time with this book.