This book is not writing advice intended to be read from cover to cover, but a collection of assignments to get you writing, whether you're just starting out or experienced. The assignments, generally designed to be about 20 minutes of free writing, are grouped by technique, beginning with a section of warm-ups designed to get your creative juices (and pen) flowing, moving to various techniques of writing fiction - dialogue, point of view, etc. - and poetry. Each includes a section that explains what the writer is to do, a short example of such writing, and either Further Suggestions or Recommended Reading that illustrates the technique assigned. Since the assignments are meant to be written freely, the point is not to limit yourself to the "assigned" task so much as it is to get you writing something, anything, for a set period of time. Much of the book focuses on writing fiction, though Newman often starts with memories from one's own life, sometimes building on a few assignments to take that original, true piece and make it a part of something fictional.

I purchased this several years ago at a Children's Literature conference, back when I was considering becoming an author. While I still write on occasion, I'm really not motivated enough, or compelled enough since many writers (published authors or no) have the need to write in a way that I do not. So while this is not the book for me, it's a great collection to give writers ideas and starting points. Though the subtitle is "Inspiration and Exercises for Women Who Want to Write," most of the assignments are not gender-specific and could be useful to anyone.