I recently gave this book as a gift to an aspiring writer whom I've been coaching. It is packed full of things he needs to learn but which I don't have the time to explain. I later bought a copy for myself as I taught a writing course for high school students this summer. It was not particularly conducive to a classroom environment but is better suited to personal use. It will serve the beginning writer well and will be very useful to the more experienced "serious" (determined, disciplined) writer, too. If you're floundering, this isn't the source to get the juices flowing. But if you've really got something worthwhile already in the works, this can be a tremendously valuable resource!