Virginia Woolf Writer’s Workshop: Seven Lessons to Inspire Great Writing Book Review

In the past, it was not uncommon for an apprentice to learn from a master.

Writing is no different. New writers often look to the greats of the past and present for inspiration, advice and confidence as they learn to write.

In 2008, Danell Jones published Virginia Woolf Writer’s Workshop: Seven Lessons to Inspire Great Writing. Drawing from the work and life of the late and great Virginia Woolf, Ms. Jones imagines what a modern writers workshop might be like with Virginia Woolf as the teacher.

What I enjoyed about the book was not only the realistic element of a writers workshop (I’ve attended several in the past), but the method that the author imagines that Virginia Woolf might use to teach beginning writers.

I also appreciated the prompts in the back of the book. Writing, especially when one is starting out can feel very intimidating. The though of attempting to write the next great novel, play or film is often enough to keep some people from writing all together. Sometimes all we need to begin is that spark of an idea. Like all writers, Virginia Woolf did not start out as a legendary best seller. She had to learn her craft and, as we all do from time to time, make a few mistakes along the way.

I recommend it.

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Flashback Friday-Simply Irresistible (1999)

Magic is often a component of a narrative that drives the story. The question is, is the magic enough to keep the story going and the audience engaged?

In the 1999 romantic comedy Simply Irresistible, Amanda Shelton (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a young chef whose career and love life are not exactly spectacular. Finding a magical crab, Amanda suddenly finally finds success in business. She also attracts the attention of Tom Barlett (Sean Patrick Flanery) a department store executive who is skeptical about Amanda’s new-found success. Will Amanda have both the romantic and business success she craves or will the magic present only an illusion of that success?

As romantic comedies go, this film has the hallmarks in terms of plot and narrative that exist within the genre. Unfortunately, in the ranking of romantic comedies, this film does not rank very high.

Do I recommend it? No.