Many writers, even experienced ones, admit that one of the most frightening objects in their world is a blank piece of paper. Susan Horton feels that too many teachers, students, and writers themselves make writing harder than it needs to be. So much emphasis is placed on form and grammar--the -rules of the game, - so to speak--that the essence of the writing process, the sheer joy of saying something new, is lost.

Thinking Through Writing is, in Horton's words, -a 'Back-to-Basics' book---but one with a twist. -I'm talking about the real basics, - she says. -Not grammar, but...