Overview

"Improv instructor and writer Jorjeana Marie presents the first book to harness the creative power of improvisation exercises to help both aspiring and seasoned authors defeat writer's block and generate new ideas. Free yourself from writer's block and inner critics with the creative power of improv! ""Jorjeana Marie's generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers-both seasoned and new-how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.""-Gayle Forman,New York Timesbestselling author ofIf I StayandI Have Lost My Way Improv instructor and writer Jorjeana Marie reveals a new way to generate idea after brilliant idea. Applying the rules of improv to fiction writing, Marie presents fun games and exercises you can do from the comfort of your desk at home. Surprise yourself with new plots, infinite characters and settings, and a supreme confidence in your own process. Armed with the power of improv-and liberating exercises like Ad Agency, Raise the Stakes, and Family Portraits-you'll soon be an idea machine. WithImprov for Writers, your creative storytelling well will never run dry again. Advance praise for Improv for Writers ""Here's a secret. Many authors started out as drama geeks and later found that theatrical skills like deep-diving into character and improvising on the fly were essential tools for writing fiction. Jorjeana Marie's generous, joyful and oh-so useful book applies the principles of improv to writing and though a series of targeted, fun exercises shows writers-both the seasoned and the new-how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.""-Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and I Have Lost My Way ""Part practical, part playful, part encouraging and affirming, Jorjeana Marie'sImprov for Writers is a certain antidote to writing blocks-and writer's block! This book is a necessary and vital tool for authors and storytellers everywhere.""-Karma Brown, bestselling author of The Life Lucy Knew ""Thank you, Jorjeana Marie for infusing joy and play and experimentation in the often-arduous act of writing fiction. I'll be turning to these exercises whenever I need to jump-start my writing session and will be recommending many of my writing students to do the same.""-Nina LaCour, Michael L. Printz Award-winning author of We Are Okay, Hold Still, The Disenchantments, and Everything Leads to You; and You Know Me Well, a novel written in collaboration with David Levithan."

Full Product Details

9780399582035

Table of Contents

Reviews

“A funny, whip-smart, crackling good how-to for anyone looking to wake up their inner creative self. There is literally something for everyone in Marie’s clever manual of creative exercises, prompts, tips, and encouragement.”—Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and How to Make Friends with the Dark “Not only is this is a great read and lifting of the veil into the creative process but a great how to that has helped me Immensely! Kudos to this great book!”—Eddie Pepitone, stand-up comic and actor “Writing a story is all about taking chances—and playing with purpose. Improv for Writers will help you get there! I can’t wait to try these techniques in workshops with my students!”—Sarah Aronson, author of Just Like Rube Goldberg and the Wish List Series “As writers we’re constantly told to get out of our own way, this book is a forever gift which does just that. I found reading these pages turned finding new ideas into a game worth playing. You won’t be blocked for long.”—Miranda Bailey, Award-winning writer, producer, and director  “Say yes to Improv for Writers that needs to be rule #1 for every writer regardless of platform. Jorjeana Marie takes us on a delightful journey - it feels like she is standing on my shoulder whispering words of encouragement. Her writing is delightful, witty and fun-and the bonus I learned a lot. Improv for Writers will be go-to when I get stranded on the page hearing “No” in my head- Jorjeana Marie and her wonderful book will be telling me ‘YES…AND.’”—Jennifer Rawlings, New York Times and Wall Street Journal writer and stand-up comic “This is quite an exceptional book! Really touches on a part of writing most people don't explain or know about, the actual creative part (as opposed to the format-ty part, of which there are a zillion books that, in the end, don't tell you really how to write, but how to make it look like you can write, but people have to start somewhere). Fun to read, fun to do. This book is something good. If you’re just starting out, or stuck in your writing, or just want to write mo’ better, there’s this book, or a hammer. This book is filled with iconoclastic improvisational ideas and games that’ll open the veritable floodgates of your imagination longing to be free. The hammer just hurts. A lot. Go with the book, it’s totally worth it and WAY less painful!”—Mark Zaslove, Emmy Award-winning writer and winner of The Humanitas Prize “I wish I'd had this advice, and these fabulously playful techniques, when I was struggling to become a recognized writer. Jorjeana’s own struggle has taught her so much, and we are so lucky she's sharing with us what she learned the hard way. Her irrepressible sense of whimsy and her very specific guidelines will make you laugh and inspire you—and unleash creativity you never knew you had.”—Gordon Farrell, playwright of The Lifespan of a Fact with Daniel Radcliffe, screenwriter of Girls Who Smoke, and winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle John Gassner Award for New American Play

A funny, whip-smart, crackling good how-to for anyone looking to wake up their inner creative self. There is literally something for everyone in Marie's clever manual of creative exercises, prompts, tips, and encouragement. -Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and How to Make Friends with the Dark Not only is this is a great read and lifting of the veil into the creative process but a great how to that has helped me Immensely! Kudos to this great book! -Eddie Pepitone, stand-up comic and actor Writing a story is all about taking chances-and playing with purpose. Improv for Writers will help you get there! I can't wait to try these techniques in workshops with my students! -Sarah Aronson, author of Just Like Rube Goldberg and the Wish List Series As writers we're constantly told to get out of our own way, this book is a forever gift which does just that. I found reading these pages turned finding new ideas into a game worth playing. You won't be blocked for long. -Miranda Bailey, Award-winning writer, producer, and director Say yes to Improv for Writers that needs to be rule #1 for every writer regardless of platform. Jorjeana Marie takes us on a delightful journey - it feels like she is standing on my shoulder whispering words of encouragement. Her writing is delightful, witty and fun-and the bonus I learned a lot. Improv for Writers will be go-to when I get stranded on the page hearing No in my head- Jorjeana Marie and her wonderful book will be telling me 'YES...AND.' -Jennifer Rawlings, New York Times and Wall Street Journal writer and stand-up comic This is quite an exceptional book! Really touches on a part of writing most people don't explain or know about, the actual creative part (as opposed to the format-ty part, of which there are a zillion books that, in the end, don't tell you really how to write, but how to make it look like you can write, but people have to start somewhere). Fun to read, fun to do. This book is something good. If you're just starting out, or stuck in your writing, or just want to write mo' better, there's this book, or a hammer. This book is filled with iconoclastic improvisational ideas and games that'll open the veritable floodgates of your imagination longing to be free. The hammer just hurts. A lot. Go with the book, it's totally worth it and WAY less painful! -Mark Zaslove, Emmy Award-winning writer and winner of The Humanitas Prize I wish I'd had this advice, and these fabulously playful techniques, when I was struggling to become a recognized writer. Jorjeana's own struggle has taught her so much, and we are so lucky she's sharing with us what she learned the hard way. Her irrepressible sense of whimsy and her very specific guidelines will make you laugh and inspire you-and unleash creativity you never knew you had. -Gordon Farrell, playwright of The Lifespan of a Fact with Daniel Radcliffe, screenwriter of Girls Who Smoke, and winner of the Outer Critics' Circle John Gassner Award for New American Play

A funny, whip-smart, crackling good how-to for anyone looking to wake up their inner creative self. There is literally something for everyone in Marie's clever manual of creative exercises, prompts, tips, and encouragement. --Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and How to Make Friends with the Dark Not only is this is a great read and lifting of the veil into the creative process but a great how to that has helped me Immensely! Kudos to this great book! --Eddie Pepitone, stand-up comic and actor Writing a story is all about taking chances--and playing with purpose. Improv for Writers will help you get there! I can't wait to try these techniques in workshops with my students! --Sarah Aronson, author of Just Like Rube Goldberg and the Wish List Series As writers we're constantly told to get out of our own way, this book is a forever gift which does just that. I found reading these pages turned finding new ideas into a game worth playing. You won't be blocked for long. --Miranda Bailey, Award-winning writer, producer, and director Say yes to Improv for Writers that needs to be rule #1 for every writer regardless of platform. Jorjeana Marie takes us on a delightful journey - it feels like she is standing on my shoulder whispering words of encouragement. Her writing is delightful, witty and fun-and the bonus I learned a lot. Improv for Writers will be go-to when I get stranded on the page hearing No in my head- Jorjeana Marie and her wonderful book will be telling me 'YES...AND.' --Jennifer Rawlings, New York Times and Wall Street Journal writer and stand-up comic This is quite an exceptional book! Really touches on a part of writing most people don't explain or know about, the actual creative part (as opposed to the format-ty part, of which there are a zillion books that, in the end, don't tell you really how to write, but how to make it look like you can write, but people have to start somewhere). Fun to read, fun to do. This book is something good. If you're just starting out, or stuck in your writing, or just want to write mo' better, there's this book, or a hammer. This book is filled with iconoclastic improvisational ideas and games that'll open the veritable floodgates of your imagination longing to be free. The hammer just hurts. A lot. Go with the book, it's totally worth it and WAY less painful! --Mark Zaslove, Emmy Award-winning writer and winner of The Humanitas Prize I wish I'd had this advice, and these fabulously playful techniques, when I was struggling to become a recognized writer. Jorjeana's own struggle has taught her so much, and we are so lucky she's sharing with us what she learned the hard way. Her irrepressible sense of whimsy and her very specific guidelines will make you laugh and inspire you--and unleash creativity you never knew you had. --Gordon Farrell, playwright of The Lifespan of a Fact with Daniel Radcliffe, screenwriter of Girls Who Smoke, and winner of the Outer Critics' Circle John Gassner Award for New American Play

Author Information

Jorjeana Marieis an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, actress, and improv instructor. She has written for Disney, Cartoon Network, andWriter's Digestand has taught improv to Emmy- and Oscar-winning actors and beginners alike.

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