Writing With Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process

Elbow is the known authority for writing techniques and this book is a classic. Easy to read and understand, Elbow creates a world where writing is not only important but rewarding. I have tried many of the suggestions and after years of frustration with writing papers, I have found tools that are very useful.Best of all, Elbow is so excited about the writing process, I actually look forward to sitting down and getting started.

The Institute I am currently taking a writing course through, encourages the students to collect other points of view toward achieving our goal. I learned of this book from my neighbor who also took a writing course. I am enjoying the use of it very much. Thank you.

At one time, writing was slow and awkward for me. My college assignments forced me to write, but each essay and paper was an excruciating ordeal. Peter Elbow's book, recommended by one of my professors, turned my writing life around.

Writing With Power explains how the writing process works (and why it sometimes doesn't work). With those insights in hand, and using Peter Elbow's simple techniques, I began to write faster, more often, and less fearfully. And now, years later, I'm a full-time professional writer -- something that would have been unimaginable before I read Writing With Power.

I first came across Writing with Power in our university library when I was starting my thesis in my final year of my Architeture Degree in 1991.
Up to then, my essay writing or writing generally - was lousy!!!!. So I was looking for a book which may help me.
Well what a surprise.
Peters suggested that writing be broken into 2 stages -
1. writing of ideas,
and then
2. editing

This new process provided for me , a creative person , a breakthough in a how to write that was contrary to how I had been taught to write ( writing and editing at the same time) which quite frankly didn't work for me.

Now armed with this more creative process, I was able to write and draw my thesis, graduated with 2nd class honours - much better that barely passing.
I reckon this ought to be a basis text book introduced to all students, at any level of schooling.

Now that I have found this book available on the web, after 15 years, I going to get myself a copy -Thanks Amazon and Peter.
ps didn't help my english though.

It seems as if writing books can roughly be divided in two categories. First, there are the books that tell you to plan your writing project in advance in meticulous detail. Second, there are books that tell you NOT to plan anything in advance, but urge you to start writing until you drop.

Elbow's book is in the second category. Though it seems as if his method of "freewriting" leads you nowhere, the book helped me tremendously. Elbow describes several techniques, all of which can be of help (including the planned writing strategy) to those who have to write stuff. However, his own tack is what he calls the "loop writing" process. During this process, one blends freewriting techniques with more directed writing techniques. The emphasis, however, is on the creativity stimulated by freewriting. The reason why Elbow emphasizes freewriting is extremely simple, and by experience I know it to be true.

Elbow writes that when we write we tend to be our own critic. We evaluate immediately what we write, we edit on the fly, and therefore get stuck rather quickly. Elbow urges us to leave the editing until a later time, and simply start writing whatever comes to mind. You can always throw out stuff later. That way, you'll create a work flow, that is beneficial to your creativity. Just read the book and Elbow's wonderful advice, and see if this works for you as it did for me.

I took Elbow's advice seriously in my scholarly writing (I am a philosopher of religion and theologian at Leiden University, the Netherlands). Elbow's book was a real source of inspiration and made writing a lot of fun. At this stage, I have finished a 250-page book (which will be published in two months with one of the major Dutch publishing companies), and several articles. I don't claim it will work for everybody, but it certainly worked for me. Just read the book and try it - if it doesn't work for you, at least you've read a wonderful book!