an amateur writer's golden ticket

Charming, insightful and thoroughly enjoyable. Cathy finds a way of incorporating the discipline and humanity needed for creativity and expression in a way that is down to earth, relatable and feasible.

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A Real Gem

Loved this book…at last I feel empowered and inspired to finish the task. I have committed to courses, read copious books on the subject and have abandoned many false starts over decades. Thank you Cathy 🙏🏻 x

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A very supportive book on writing.

I got so much out of this book on writing memoir. I highly recommend it.

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3 people found this helpful

Great book on writing your own story

‘Write it all down’ by Cathy Renzenwick has written a wonderful (and short - so I will be re-reading) book to help people write.
- IMPOSTER SYNDROME: She begins this book by talking about the idea of not having imposter syndrome and sticking with trying to have the confidence because anybody can write and you don't need to be special and you don't need to be anything other than you have to write. Somebody with a form of writing words down and have something to write them on.
- It's also important not to get too focused on how people might receive something or what you're going to write next, the most important thing is to just keep practising and keep on writing and then you can always edit afterwards which is an important process and itself.
- The book looks at ideas in regards to getting yourself started by using question prompts and also using time is just five minutes to get yourself started or 15 minutes to work on a small project and even if you're still going after an hour, remember the timer is there just to get you started to stop yourself from looking at the phone will been distracted.
- BOREDOM AND NOT GETTING DISTRACTED: The book is full of wonderful ideas and approaches that you can use and they are right to the bone without excess waffle, but one of the most important things that I felt I got from this group is the idea of embracing boredom. You can think about the plot whilst washing the dishes or making a jigsaw puzzle or colouring in, but it's really important not to become distracted. You can have some of your greatest breakthroughs when you're really bored and just focused on the work.
- I also really like the idea when writing the story of your own life, of just writing the story at any part, not necessarily at the beginning, and having just recently (see how Craig Brown writes his books such as ‘1234: the Beatles in time’, you could just write little snapshots of moments in your life to write the story of your life. You could experiment and see yourself from other people's viewpoints, right in the third person or in the first person, the first tense of the past tense.
- The book ends with a number of authors writing about the thing that most motivates them to write and is a wonderful potpourri of ideas. One of my favourite books on getting you writing.
‘Write it all down’ by Cathy Renzenwick has written a wonderful (and short - so I will be re-reading) book to help people write.
- IMPOSTER SYNDROME: She begins this book by talking about the idea of not having imposter syndrome and sticking with trying to have the confidence because anybody can write and you don't need to be special and you don't need to be anything other than you have to write. Somebody with a form of writing words down and have something to write them on.
- It's also important not to get too focused on how people might receive something or what you're going to write next, the most important thing is to just keep practising and keep on writing and then you can always edit afterwards which is an important process and itself.
- The book looks at ideas in regards to getting yourself started by using question prompts and also using time is just five minutes to get yourself started or 15 minutes to work on a small project and even if you're still going after an hour, remember the timer is there just to get you started to stop yourself from looking at the phone will been distracted.
- BOREDOM AND NOT GETTING DISTRACTED: The book is full of wonderful ideas and approaches that you can use and they are right to the bone without excess waffle, but one of the most important things that I felt I got from this group is the idea of embracing boredom. You can think about the plot whilst washing the dishes or making a jigsaw puzzle or colouring in, but it's really important not to become distracted. You can have some of your greatest breakthroughs when you're really bored and just focused on the work.
- I also really like the idea when writing the story of your own life, of just writing the story at any part, not necessarily at the beginning, and having just recently (see how Craig Brown writes his books such as ‘1234: the Beatles in time’, you could just write little snapshots of moments in your life to write the story of your life. You could experiment and see yourself from other people's viewpoints, right in the third person or in the first person, the first tense of the past tense.
- The book ends with a number of authors writing about the thing that most motivates them to write and is a wonderful potpourri of ideas. One of my favourite books on getting you writing.

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2 people found this helpful

Whenever your head goes down, here’s the pick you up you need

So often I know I want to write, know I can write, know I have something to say, and then self doubt creeps in. This book’s an absolute gem. Guaranteed to unlock the paralysis and to confirm everything you are going through is just a normal part of the writing process.

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Excellent guide to writing.

I have had over 50 factual features published and now, due to failing health, come to writing fiction. This book is inspiring, informative and interesting. Spurred me on to write. Thank you.

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4 people found this helpful

Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you, Cathy!

Cathy Rentzenbrink's beautiful reading of her book felt like a desperately needed warm, comforting and reassuring hug from a friend. I have no publishing ambitions, but I do love journaling and thought this book might help me go deeper and better understand myself, my past and my issues. I wasn't disappointed. I loved every single word and felt very inspired and comforted. The book feels more like a manual on life than "just" a book on writing, overflowing with wisdom, truth, and kindness.
Thank you, Cathy!

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3 people found this helpful

so good I ordered the book too

I Bullet journal but this opens up a whole new perspective on writing in a more literary way and interesting way. I won't be published but I will step into a brighter way of describing my days to myself

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Excellent, inspirational and encouraging

My main concerns about writing were dealt with and dispelled while listening to this book. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to write but encountered a1000 barriers.

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Brilliant! A great listen...

This guide to writing - especially memoir - is so well-written and helpful.
Cathy Rentzenbrink is honest and open about her own approach to her writing and has some wonderful tips and advice on how we can overcome some of our own fears and worries as writers.
I read the book and then bought the Audible version. [I read the book twice - and something I never do - I even marked the passages which I needed to especially remember]. Cathy is the narrator and it makes the content extra meaningful.

I was then filled with confidence and entered a major writing competition - crossing fingers and hoping for some success!
Thank you Cathy - I thought it was an amazing book. I would have given it a "10" if I could!

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5 people found this helpful