Grateful to you

This is my creation, The Writers Toolbox. It has a long history that began back in college in the mid-1970’s, when I taught creative writing through the Bard College Prison Program and then later, I taught adolescents in New York City’s Payne Whitney Psychiatric Hospital. My approach has always been whimsical with the idea that the best way to access our stories is to not take the process so seriously. In fact, I would wear a funny hat to class and bring a straw basket filled with little pieces of paper on which I had written random words and strange sentences. From here, the story-telling began and The Writers Toolbox was born.

I went on to teach creative writing in many places, including the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, NYU, UCLA, Fairfield University, Wesleyan University and as a Yale University Teaching Fellow. I taught children-at-risk, senior citizens, cowboy-poets and professional as well as seasoned writers, artists and actors.

It wasn't long before I knew I wanted to leave a record of all these creative games. And so, I brought The Writers Toolbox to Chronicle Books in 2007 and since then, it's never been out of print. It can be found in museum gift shops, independent bookstores and of course, on-line. 

The Writers Toolbox is a box filled with all sorts of creative prompts—sentence sticks, nonsequiturs, cards, spiny dials, a little instruction booklet and an egg timer. It’s excellent for jump starting your writing and story creation. It's perfect for writers and improv party games. In fact, I know people who use it for playing Dungeons and Dragons.

 True, this magical box is not for children—although precocious young adults will enjoy it.

Creative Friends—I know you will dig the surrealism and the silliness and how the prompts never fail to spark your imagination. But, I will let you in on a little secret—besides the fun, I offer you something serious—a place where your unbridled imagination can run wild and free.

For this season--I give you not only a gift idea, but the possibility of healing, laughter and creativity.

Thank you for your support!

Love,

Jamie