Based on Kate Gould's experience as an editor, teacher, and critic, The Perfect Word is designed for writers of all levels and experience - from beginners and burgeoning talent to experienced and published writers. Combining technical instruction; insights into the methods of working writers; forty exercises to stretch your imagination and practice your skills; and advice on where to find inspiration from the mundane to the monumental, it is both an enjoyable and challenging read. Dip into it if you're in need of a jolt out of a writing rut or follow the structured lessons through each component of good writing. From your first venture out with a notebook, through the dangers of clichés, ellipses, and overwriting, to a lesson on how best to present your finished manuscript to a publisher or agent, this book provides a complete writing course.