Review – The One Week Writing Workshop

There are hundreds – if not thousands – of books on the art of writing. Not all, however, offer a clear and constructive path to getting your first novel on the page. Karin Adams’ The One Week Writing Workshop provides an interesting method of building a story from scratch and the guidance is helpful for both beginners and experienced writers. 

I fall into the latter category. I’ve been writing fiction for over thirty years, but I found Adams’ advice to be incredibly beneficial. She takes the time to explain the process, the tools you’ll need, and breaks the steps down into an easy-to-follow format. As someone who has written dozens of pieces of fiction, following the path laid out in The One Week Writing Workshop gave me new insight into my writing process. 

Adams breaks her method down into several small exercises that the participant performs each day, eventually culminating in a draft. She begins with formulating ideas for a story, then works on creating characters, developing settings and plot, and then drafting on the fifth day. By day 7, the participant is starting the revision process.

Obviously, one won’t be finishing a complete novel by the end of the process, but it gives them the tools to get the work started. I also found that this process will work just as well for novellas and short stories because it starts with a foundation and builds the pieces of the story organically. 

And you don’t have to worry about getting in over your head with Adams’ writing workshop. Each exercise is simple and, for the most part, fun to do. However, I suggest you read through the book before beginning the first exercise. Many of the steps require things to help you, such as books, note cards, pens and paper, and other items. Also, you will need to mark off a few hours each day to allow yourself time to complete each step. 

I feel that “The One Week Writing Workshop” is a great tool for anyone who has been dreaming of writing their first novel (or even short story). It provides a simple, organic process that allows you to develop all the bits and pieces needed, and then shows you how they work together to become the story you envision in your imagination. Even seasoned writers will take away useful tips and tricks. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to write fiction.

This review was originally posted at Reader Views. For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.

RB