The Virginia Woolf Writers' Workshop: Seven Lessons to Inspire Great Writing

Here's a great idea for a book: a workshop teaching the views of a famous author. As far as this book goes, it accomplishes that. However, there are only about 50 pages of actual material based on Virginia Woolf, the rest is exercises apparently of the author's own creation. It's hard to believe that with the mountain of diaries and essays that Virginia Woolf wrote, there is only 50 pages of material. So, I'm glad I only checked this out of the library, because there really isn't much here. However, if similar books come out I'll definitely read those too, though with lower expectations.

If you enjoy writing or are learning how to write this book is a great tool. I and my teenage daughter explored this book together; it takes away the fears/blocks and gives you the convenience to develop your own writing style. All High School English creative writing classes should include some of this book in their lesson plans. Virginia Woolf is a unique writer and person and that comes through in the book as well. This book is for all levels of writing; be unique, be disciplined and the book will give you all the encouragement, and inspiration you need. At the very least it will teach you how not to bore people with your writing any more! My daughter has started writing her first novel at age 13.

As a layman seeking to understand the magic of Virginia Woolf, I found that her approach to creativity opened a new vista to my eyes. Reading Jones' treatment to the complex Woolf was like taking a course in painting principles and becoming to appreciate the combination and mixture of colors. Upon having gained that new appreciation, one could go out in the nature about them and perhaps see the colorful beauty of the world for the first time. Jones' text opens the eyes of the reader to the complexity of an author's task. Through this work I have gained a new found admiration for the laborous task that faces a serious author. Obviously Jones has employed the work ethic of Woolf. J. G. Pastrick