SKU: 21707795129

Naming the World: And Other Exercises for the Creative Writer

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Description

Naming the World: And Other Exercises for the Creative WriterYou already have the tools to become a gifted writer; what you need is the spark. Harvard creative writing professor and acclaimed author Bret Anthony Johnston brings you an irresistible interactive guide to the craft of narrative writing. From developing characters to building conflict, from mastering dialogue to setting the scene, Naming the World jump starts your creativity with inspiring exercises that will have you scrambling for pen and paper.

You already have the tools to become a gifted writer; what you need is the spark. Harvard creative writing professor and acclaimed author Bret Anthony Johnston brings you an irresistible interactive guide to the craft of narrative writing. From developing characters to building conflict, from mastering dialogue to setting the scene, Naming the World jump-starts your creativity with inspiring exercises that will have you scrambling for pen and paper. Every chapter is a master class with the country's most eminent authors, renowned editors, and dedicated teachers.

- Infuse emotion into your fiction with three key strategies from Margot Livesey.
- Christopher Castellani dumps the "write what you know" maxim and challenges you to really delve into the imagination.
- A point-of-view drill from Susan Straight can be just the breakthrough you need to flesh out your story.
- Jewell Parker Rhodes shares how good dialogue is not just about what is being said but about what is being left unsaid.

Brimming with imaginative springboards and hands-on exercises, Naming the World has everything you need to become a stronger, more inventive writer.

"A delicious book. Imagine yourself at a cocktail party crammed with literary lions. You have the chance to spend a few moments with each of them. Wit and wisdom abound."
-Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way

"A highly useful and perceptive book. With charm and intelligence it touches on nearly every teachable aspect of the devilishly difficult art of writing."
-Ethan Canin, professor of creative writing at the Iowa Writers Workshop, and author of Carry Me Across the Water

"These entertaining and useful exercises, intelligently organized, are a boon for both beginning and experienced writers."
-Andrea Barrett, National Book Award--winning author of The Air We Breathe

"Forget about getting an MFA For any writer struggling with his craft, here is the equivalent of a master class in writing by some of the best writer/teachers around."
-Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers


Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Published: 01/08/2008
ISBN: 9780812975482
Pages: 368
Weight: 0.63lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.24w x 0.77d
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SKU: 21707795129

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4.5 ★★★★★
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C
Verified Purchase
Cybush
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 4
Didn't last. Great concept if it was more durable.
Pattern Name: Dog
Ball came off first week. The ball is great.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
Chris
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Fantastic toy for GSD and dogs that like to play tug-o-war
Pattern Name: Dog
We got this 6 months ago and it is our German Shepherd's favorite outside toy. It is the first thing she runs to when she goes outside. She will try to pull it off the rope with all her strength until she eventually launches it and has to go chase it down. She's obsessed! She is a very powerful chewer and destroys even the most durable rubber toys. It isn't a matter of if she will destroy it, but when. This toy has lasted so much longer than other toys, even high end 'indestructible' toys that cost 3 or 4 times as much. After a 6 month battle with the toy, she has won. I think our main mistake was that we didn't bring it in during the snow storms. The freezing temperatures must have made it more brittle, since we immediately noticed a crack start to form on the green ball as she played with it in the snow, which slowly spread until she we able to completely rip it off. I am definitely buying another one! A couple tips for strong chewers -Supervision is key at first for smart dogs. Our GSD quickly realized that the easiest way to get the ball is to chew through the thin bungie ropes. However, we were there to redirect her to the ball. After a few times, she stopped trying to chew through the bungie rope part. She must have realized that it is more fun to chase and pull on the ball than simply trying to solve the problem of how to get it. -Make sure the ball hung high enough up where your dog can't casually stand there and chew on the ball or ropes with their powerful back teeth. This doesn't mean hang it super high so they have to jump for it, but just so they can't hold it without there being some resistance on the rope. If there is some resistance they will want to pull back instead of destructively chew. -Bring it inside during extra cold weather.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2024
T
Verified Purchase
Theresa LaMotte
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 1
Not durable
Pattern Name: Dog, Pattern Name: Dog
Took 15 minutes to put up. Took less than 30 seconds for him to pull off bungee. Great concept but ball didn’t hold up.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2026
F
Verified Purchase
Failed frugalness
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 3
Potentially incredibly dangerous, but also very fun
Pattern Name: Dog, Pattern Name: Dog
Edit to add. We've swapped out the toy for a rope with a ball on it (last picture) and it is much safer now. He's over 75 pounds now and it is holding up fine to the tugging *** Our 6½ month old puppy likes playing tug much more than any of us in the family do. He immediately fell in love with this toy. We attached the severed arm of another toy to it, which has a squeaker and that made it even more exciting. I want to give it more than 3 stars, but I can't because as is, it really is kind of dangerous. Because of the large loop the ball is attached to, a dog could get seriously hurt. My little (ok, he's not little since he's over 70 pounds already) guy shows in the video one way it could be a problem. They can get a leg caught in the loop, and get twisted up, harming their leg. Thankfully he didn't this time but it could easily happen. Worse, a dog might get their neck in the loop and have fatal results. All it would take to fix it is a thicker, shorter, single cord going from the main piece to the toy instead of the thin loop. We are going to fix it, but as is, PLEASE don't let your dog play with it if you aren't right there to help them.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2025
D
Verified Purchase
D. Antoniotti
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Buy it, your dog will love it
Pattern Name: Dog
I’m telling you, this is THE dog toy. My dog does not get sick of this and it is so good for getting energy out.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2026

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