Articles in the Book Reviews Category
Title: How You Leave Them Feeling
Author: Jesse Ferrell
Publisher: JessTalk, hardback, 254 pages
ISBN 10: 0977881008
“Simply put, how you leave other people feeling and how people perceive you have a profound effect on the quality of your life,” declares the jacket blurb on Jesse Ferrell’s “How You Leave Them Feeling“. Ferrell encourages readers to adopt his approach in any interaction. The goal is to leave each person feeling good about himself and thus feeling good about you. When you do this, Mr. Ferrell maintains, you will be on the way to living the life you deserve, getting what you want out of life, and “living the good life now.”
Ferrell begins with a rousing introduction in which he explains the idea of the book. He describes how he saw that his own success was based on his ability to consistently leave clients and others feeling good about themselves. Then he sets the table for the main course by listing the principles on which he has built his own life. (He calls them the “Seven Essential Laws of Life”.)
In the thirteen chapters that follow, he delivers the details of his Seven Essential Laws and explains how they relate to leaving others feeling good about themselves and you. He explores subjects of attitude, communication, personal and professional development, building a support network, maintaining a healthy balance in life and more, illustrating liberally with real-life anecdotes and summing up with bits of catchy wisdom.
Some memorable points of the book for me were:
- The idea of the personal signature or unique style by which each of us becomes known.
- An emphasis on kindness and giving to others.
- The importance of attitude – along with a piece of good advice: “When in doubt, leave it out… it is far easier to revisit a situation and provide additional messages than it is to take back a wrongful or inappropriate remark stemming from an attitude glitch.”
- The importance of listening: “Sharpening your listening skills will bring you more respect and interpersonal growth than just about any other endeavor. People like to feel they are being heard. When you clearly listen to others, you are honoring the power of communication by investing the time to take in their message.”
- The challenge to leave everything – and everyone – better than you found them.
The readability of Ferrell’s practical and crisply written material is helped by consistent organization and formatting. The text is laid out with lots of white space between paragraphs and broken up with bold-face headings. The main points of each chapter are listed again at the conclusion as action steps. A list of summary points (one-sentence statements that describe how following the actions steps will impact the reader’s behavior) and affirmations (brief positive statements for the reader to repeat or reflect on) conclude each chapter.
Jesse Ferrell, the man, comes across as enthusiastic, likable, a great friend and team player with lots of drive, integrity and clear goals. As a former executive within the Las Vegas casino marketing industry, he is now president and CEO of a professional speaking company, JessTalk Speaking Services, and seems eminently qualified to write a book of this kind. His experience in the corporate world gives added value to the personal and professional development section via the diary system he has developed and illustrates. He now works as a life coach and the “JessTalk Life Quadrant Model” he has developed for clients drives home his point about the need for and means of achieving a balanced lifestyle.
I gained much from the book. However, I would not adopt it carte blanche as my personal road guide. It is written from a humanistic perspective and is birthed out of a New Age worldview (bad energy, good energy, karma, the Cosmos, evolved soul, mantra, Mother Nature, envisioning/visualization are all terms or concepts found within). With that in mind, however, I would say that you can learn much of value from “How You Leave Them Feeling” whatever your creed.
I have encountered many of its principles in my own belief system and I decided, as I read it, to use what I could and simply discard the things with which I didn’t agree. It has certainly made me think twice about how I will treat the next telemarketer, panhandler, supermarket clerk or whomever – and that’s got to be a good thing.
Violet Nesdoly, a poet, Christian and Children’s Author said, “The world of words has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. As a kid, whenever my Mom needed me for a job, it was a sure thing she’d find me between the covers of a book.”
You can get to know her better by reading her blog, Line Upon Line, where she shares inspiration, poetry, and thoughts on writing life. You can also find out more about Jesse Ferrell on his site, JessTalk Speaking and Coaching Services.
If you’re interested in having a review or article posted on Writer’s Round-About please send a query letter to rebecca.laffarsmith@gmail.com.
I’d like to give my sincere thanks to Katie-Anne Gustafsson for this Guest Review. I haven’t had a chance to read Noah Lukeman’s book, “The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life” but it definitely sounds like this book and Noah’s first, “The First Five Pages” are necessary additions to my writer’s shelf. I hope you enjoy her review.
Have you read Noah Lukeman’s book? I would love to know what you thought of it. Feel free to leave your comments, review, or book review link in the comments. Are there any books in particular you’d like to know more about or would you like to share a Guest Review on Writer’s Round-About? Leave a comment or drop me an email!
Read more about Plot and Structure!
Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations is a social impact assessment of the power of emergent behavior – people self-organizing via the power of the new social networks – and how this changes things.
I have to admit that I’ve avoided Clay Shirky until now – the hype in the “2.0″ community was fairly intense, even cultish. The back cover didn’t help his case either – “…one of the new culture’s wisest observers” sounds very “legend in his own mind” to me. But I read it because it was there, and well, I liked it.
It is not the bible of all things social for the new millennium. It is not filled with cutting insights – some of the analysis of cause and effect works for me (the “let’s get Ivanna’s Sidekick back” phenomenon being an excellent example of the power of the net.mob) and some doesn’t work (the rise of social computing seeing the birth of real self-organizing groups – d00d, people have always self-organized).
Clay does make the point – several times – that social network users are not content to be traditional passive consumers of content – they are creating their own content, thank you very much – and they don’t want to be told what to read, what to buy, or who to vote for. Big “1.0″ business has had a lot of catching up to do (and those that haven’t got it are failing). In this, Clay Shirky is preaching to the converts that Seth Godin has made over the last decade (of which I am one).
Overall, if you are interested in how online community works (and want to avoid being seen as exploiting it in a bad way) then you should probably read this book. Please read it with an open mind but a critical eye.
Andrew Boyd is a co-convener of the Canberra IA Cocktail Hours, he is partial to good peaty single malt whiskey, touring, blurring social network boundaries between the virtual and the real, travel, fine dining, shiny sharp things, blogging, blogging on blogging, and Donna.
I’m not particularly into scriptwriting, but when someone recommended that I read Save The Cat by Blake Snyder, I was intrigued enough to comply. This is a book written in a personal and engaging style by a man who has a couple of million dollar script sales under his belt, as well as a few bombs. In other words, he’s experienced in the movie industry and he doesn’t pull any punches.
Why Another Screenwriting Book?Blake Snyder admits that there are many screenwriting books, but he says they don’t tell it like it is, and don’t help readers to achieve success. He also takes a pot shot at Hollywood, claiming that many movies lack common sense. Snyder hopes to address this in Save the Cat. I haven’t read many books on screenwriting, but I found this an easy read, which anyone could understand. |
The book’s intriguing title is explained in the introduction. It’s about having your hero do something that makes the audience sympathetic. The book is subtitled ‘The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need’. Although I wouldn’t be so bold, suffice it to say that by the end of the book, I felt I know enough about planning a screenplay to turn out something credible. So, what’s inside?
Inside Save The Cat
Eight chapters of straight talk, that’s what. Chapter 1 helps you to take your idea and formultate it into a logline, giving four ways to make it better. It also shows you how to test your pitch before doing it for real. Chapter 2 tells you about genre. Blake Snyder uses his own titles here, such as Monster in the House, Dude with a Problem and so on, helping us to see how different movies are examples of the same thing.
Chapter 3 is about your hero: how and why the hero works with your idea and which archetypes you need to think of in creating a hero. Chapter 4 shows the beats of a movie. According to Snyder there are 15 of them and he gives an example of how these appear in a popular movie. The following chapter shows you how to create a frame for your screenplay using these beats.
Getting To Grips With Writing
Chapter 6 shows us how to get to grips with the writing, using techniques such as Pope in the Pool (distracting the audience from necessary exposition) and the Covenant of the Arc (which is all about character development). Chapter 7 is about checking your work and chapter 8 is about marketing it. There’s also a handy glossary at the end.
My Verdict
Blake Snyder is either loved or loathed by critics, but the proof of the pudding for me was that I was able to see how various bits of script and writing techniques were used in a recent film, 88 Minutes. I could see how the writer created sympathy at a crucial moment and where necessary distractions were included. I learned a lot from Snyder’s book and it’s made me seriously consider writing a screenplay.
Now, all I need is an idea …
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This Book Review is written by Lillian Brummet. I’d love to feature more book reviews from readers. If you’ve read a book about writing and would like to share your book review please send me an email.
Pumping Your Muse is a 136-page non-fiction, self-help writer’s manual that is conveniently available in both electronic and print format. The hardcopy is coil-bound – perfect for an inviting workbook.
Published just recently in June 2005, this book belongs on every writer’s reference bookshelf. Donna Sundblad’s goal for her manual has certainly been met, as Pumping Your Muse is able to stretch the readers’ creativity beyond their normal limits by developing skills and focusing creative energies in new directions.
The author focuses on the ability to build worlds through a variety of exercises including reflections, perspectives, balance, using multiple sensory tools and expanding thinking patterns. Readers will learn about tracking implements such as cards, journals and maps that help develop a detailed world for the reader and make the book a whole experience.
Following every exercise like a home-school class will take several weeks and will definitely improve creative writing skills. Pumping Your Muse could also be used as a refresher course, a tool during the proofreading processes of a manuscript, or to get past writer’s block.
Donna Sundblad keeps the continuity flowing at an interesting pace and has allowed space for notes at the end of every chapter. Her useful manual also includes a number of excellent writer’s resource websites.
I recommend that readers review the entire manual and then return to chapter one before they actually begin the program. In this way, the reader will be more familiar with the reasons and goals for each exercise. I’ve been anticipating my return to chapter one since I began the reviewing process of this book and have no doubt that my skills will be improved because of the exercises in this manual.
ISBN#: 0970863578
Author: Donna Sundblad
Publisher: ePress-online.com ~ Writopia, Inc.
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~ Lillian Brummet – Book Reviewer – Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment – Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)
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Title: The 4 – Hour Work Week
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I was strolling through the bookstore as I do every week, when I stumbled into the “business” section (not a part of the bookstore I am very familiar with). I was 270 degrees into my turning around when I stopped myself. “I’m almost done with college. I might want to start a business one day,” I thought to myself, so I started to scan the shelves. MANAGEMENT. No thanks. INVESTING. Eh, too much work, and I have no money to invest. BUSINESS LIFE. What the heck is “business life”? Does that even make any sense? I was curious.
I crooked my neck in the most painful 40 degree angle to read the titles of the books, when suddenly I saw Mr. Ferriss’ book. “THE 4-HOUR WORK WEEK.” Hmmm. Being a specimen of the “millennial generation” (the most doted upon generation in American history and children of the richest generation in American history, the Baby Boomers), the idea of working a maximum of four hours a week not only sounds intriguing but plausible, even deserved! I pulled the book out, which imediately caused all the other books to fall over (I had no idea it was the keystone support of shelf D of the Business Life section!).
As is my custom, I immediately opened to the inside flap of the backcover. This is where you get to read a little bit about who’s paycheck you are about to help pay. “TIMOTHY FERRIS, a serial entrepreneur and ultravagabond, has been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Maxim, and other media.” Sounds legit. “He speaks six languages…” Cool. “Runs a multinational firm from wireless locations worldwide…” Impressive. “…and has been a worldrecord holder in tango…” Awesome. “a national champion in Chinese kickboxing…” Super cool. “and an actor on a hit television series in Hong Kong.” Uber-cool. “He is thirty years old.” That’s it, I’m buying this book.
I’m not going to lie, I was so excited to get home and get started on my second million (I gave up on the first). The first part of the book establishes his credibility. Mr. Ferriss is a maverick, genius, rebel, self-starter, and straight shooter. His writing exudes both cockiness and charm which struck me as both reassuring and unnerving. It’s obvious that his “no-nonsense”, “get-to-the-point-or-get-out” attitude is a key to his success, but one cannot help but wonder if he’s applying these Jedi mindtricks on the reader. Does Mr. Ferriss really want to share his secrets with the world and help me live a life of suckin’ down Mojitos on a beach in Puerto Rico, or was shmoozing me into forking over the bucks to buy this book an exercise of the very tactics he’s teaching and his greatest moneymaking scheme yet? After finishing the book and applying some of it’s advice, I’d have to say the answer lies somewhere in the middle. I think Mr. Ferriss will make truckloads of cash on dopes like me, but in the process, inspire a few us to get up and actually start building our dreams.
The meat of the book is explaining the acronym “D.E.A.L.”, which stands for Definition, Elimination, Automation, and Liberation; all keys to becoming one of the NR (the “new rich”). Every chapter ends with a review and a real-world exercise. Some of the exercises strike me as silly, but others are really neat confidence builders. The book feels more like a self-help book than a business & investing guide, which many stores classsify it as. Ferriss has a frank and simple writing style which makes the reading quite satisfying; you never feel like you’re reading filler.
Mr. Ferriss and I share a similar world view that he drills in almost every chapter: It’s not about having a ton of money. It’s about having the freedom to do what you want and the time/resources to be who you want to be. This point alone really hooked me. It seems like everywhere you look, the media, the education system, the entertainment industry, friends, and even family try to make you think that money is the ultimate answer for any problem. I simply don’t agree. Money is nice. I like it. I wish I had more of it, but it’s only because what money allows you to do. I don’t want “things.” I want to be places, with amazing people, and do fun activities. Mr. Ferriss really opens your eyes to that fact, and gives clear suggestions on how you can get what makes you happy in life, not necessarily a mound of cash. By applying all the principles in this book, you more than likely WILL get a mound of cash, but thats not the goal.
Reviews of this book are overwhelmingly positive, or at least they are on Amazon.com, but the few bad reviews are really without merit in my opinion. The most common complaints were that the ideas Mr. Ferriss suggests have already been done, or that he’s already out of those markets, or that making money off of silly products and outsourced services is not honorable, etc. Well, those are all stupid points to me. The book is not meant to be a collection of business ideas to try. Sure, it will make you aware of options you might not have been familiar with before, but it’s up to you to come up with your own ideas. Mr. Ferriss is giving you the tools, it’s now up to you to use them.
I feel that the benefits of the book are two-fold. First of all, it will educate you on the advantages of our new global marketplace and how to use these to achieve your goals. Secondly, and most importantly, it will give you reassurance that if you have a good idea, a good plan, and a good schedule, you can achieve your dreams. Everyone has great ideas, but because of fear of failure or laziness, 99% of people will never try to execute them. Merely trying already puts you ahead of everyone else. The greatest benefit of books like these are that they peel off some of the jaded layers that adulthood and the “real world” put on us, and restore some of the optimism and hope that is intrinsic to youth. As Mr. Ferriss brings out in one chapter, “we tell children to dream big, but tell adults to be realistic.” What happens between childhood and adulthood that causes us to lose hope? Whatever it is, it’s ugly, and I don’t like it one bit. True, we live in an uncertain world, but dreams can come true. If you’re going to buy this book for any reason, buy it for the comfort it gives. With global warming, terrorism, unstable economic markets, and natural disasters to worry about, who couldn’t use a little comfort?
Grade: B+*In one part of the book, Mr. Ferriss explains how he used to spend hours in the office of any teacher who wouldn’t give him an A. Well, Mr. Ferriss, if you’re reading this, you know where to find me. I’d love to talk 
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Title: Book Proposals that $ell Author: W. Terry Whalin Publisher: Write Now Publications, 2005 ISBN: 1932124650 Paperback, 184 pages. |
Violet Nesdoly, a poet, Christian and Children’s Author said, “The world of words has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. As a kid, whenever my Mom needed me for a job, it was a sure thing she’d find me between the covers of a book.” Today, she offers Writer’s Round-About a book review of W. Terry Whalin’s Book Proposals that $ell.
You can get to know her better by reading her blog, Line Upon Line, where she shares inspiration, poetry, and thoughts on writing life. You can also find out more about W. Terry Whalin on his brilliant blog, The Writing Life.
If you’re interested in having a review or article posted on Writer’s Round-About please send your query letters to rebecca.laffarsmith@gmail.com.
Book Proposals that $ell
When I dutifully picked up a copy of Book Proposals that $ell a while ago, and knowing that I (a perennial avoider of writing said proposals) really should read this, I admit I thought I’d enjoy it about as much as a handful of vitamins. But this slim volume had more than one surprise in store for me!
From the start, author W. Terry Whalin captured my interest. He did this by not only taking the mystique out of how to write an effective non-fiction book proposal but also by giving numerous telling glimpses into the world of editors and royalty publishing.
In the first three chapters, Whalin lays the foundation of why such proposals are necessary. He starts by sharing the story of how one of his projects went from idea to published volume via a proposal. Then he goes on to enlighten us about the current state of affairs in publishing and explains why, given the piles of submissions on editors’ desks and the small window of opportunity an unsolicited proposal has with an editor, only the most complete and professionally presented will earn a second look.
The 21 chapters that follow deal with the nuts and bolts of proposal writing. Many chapters address elements that must be included (e.g. Chapter 1 – Know the topic of your book; Chapter 5 – Know your competition; Chapter 7 – Create a dynamic marketing plan etc.). A few chapters also discuss attitudes that foster writing success (e.g. Chapter15 – Build editor relationships; Chapter 21 – Always take the attitude of a learner).
The chapters are short (about three to five pages) and information-packed. They are interesting, thanks to Whalin’s ability to weave personal anecdotes into the instruction:
“I once received a large manuscript in a note binder…”
“I received an entirely handwritten manuscript (fiction). I found it almost frightening to be holding the single copy of another person’s work.” [p. 88]
“He looked at my name tag and, knowing that our house took children’s material, he reached into his briefcase, pulled out a bound copy of a manuscript and almost threw it into my hands. ‘You need this manuscript,’ he said. ‘I read it in the elementary schools and the kids loved it.’” [p. 110]
His information is authoritative because he is no stranger to the writing and publishing world. He has authored over 60 books, written for as many periodicals, and worked as an acquisitions editor in several publishing houses. Though the type of proposal he advocates takes a lot of work, he is persuasive in explaining how each element adds value for the author and editor alike.
The book ends with a section of Appendices including samples, a list of other books about proposal writing, a checklist, helpful websites, and more.
I read it in a few hours and came away feeling empowered, motivated to give this brand of proposal-writing a try, and asking myself – exactly why have I avoided this for so long?
| If you’re anything like I am then your home is filled with clutter. You’ve a desk covered in books, papers, and lolly wrappers, shelves of books you’ve never seem to have time to read, children’s toys in various places best designed for tripping, a dining table that isn’t really designed for dining upon at all, and a bedroom that looks more like a library.
Ok, well perhaps you aren’t nearly as bad as I am but for some reason writers tend to be creative clutter collectors. Strangely enough however, I’ve found that clutter isn’t particular productive. I feel stifled when my desk is a mess and procrastination goes wild on all these little jobs around the house that really do have to be done first. |
I gave thanks when I found this brilliant little book on the desk of a client. I begged to borrow the book so I could learn to control my own clutter. To my amazement I learnt not only fantastic tips for bringing order and structure to my surroundings but also empowering Feng Shui tips that transformed my energy levels and revitalized my living space.
Some brilliant tips for writers include:
| “Furnish bedrooms with even-numbered items. Odd numbers are associated with change, movement, and activity. If you place three or five pieces of furniture in a bedroom, you may generate restless energy that can disrupt sleep.” |
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We need solid hours of rest so this tip is vital. There are other bedroom rules as well that can reform your sleeping quarters to provide an ideal environment for rest, relaxation and intimacy.
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“Hire help when you need it. Although you may prefer to do everything yourself (or feel that you should) sometimes it pays to hire other people to help out. Overloading yourself with tasks can cause stress and burnout. It may not even be cost-effective if low-level functions are taking up time and energy you could be devoting to more important ones.” |
So if you’re always distracted trying to keep up with your receipts or spend more time scrubbing floors than writing it could be a fantastic investment to delegate tasks to others and employ staff to cover areas of your home or business life to free time in your busy day.
10-Minute Clutter Control is full of brilliant little ideas like this and it is arranged in a way that makes it a breeze to read and consume. Find a copy of this book and begin putting these tips to use right away. Let me know what a difference it makes to your own life. Do you have any other clutter control tips to share that will help writers? If you write a post on the subject please drop a link in the comments. I’d love to read about other time and money saving techniques I can adopt in my own life.
If you’ve ever struggled to unveil your creativity or floundered in the search of something to write about then you could benefit from owning a copy of Sarah Quigley’s book, Write: A 30-day guide to creative writing. Sarah offers 30 days worth of inspirational topics and idea starters.
Each chapter begins with a mind-churning few pages that offer a unique perspective on some often overlook aspects of creative writing and includes some personal anecdotes that show readers Sarah knows just what you’re going through. At the end of these Sarah Quigley offers a few short prompts to get you writing that day.
Write can be used as a 30-day routine writing exercise or from time to time to starch flagging inspiration. Some of the prompts include:
- Write in a style conveying that you’re becoming progressively drunker. (p25)
- Write about a shark’s-tooth necklace or a rabbit’s foot. (p37)
- Write about a boot hanging from a tree. (p48)
- Think of a physical metaphor for writer’s block and describe it in words. (p56)
- Imagine discovering a time capsule from last century. (p103)
With chapters such as, Borrowing a springboard, Hunter-gatherers, Conquering the cliché, And a side order of fear and Heroic villains, and villainous heroes, there are a whole slew of ideas and interesting snippets to inspire a writing frenzy or to warm up with each day.
The writing advice for professional writers is slim in this book. It is a ‘guide’ better suited to hobby writers or those looking to get into the habit of writing regularly. Each day offers a new collection of raw material but there is very little progressive information. This book is fantastic for opening your mind to daily writing but is perhaps too light for anyone who already commits a significant portion of their day to writing. Having said that, Write offers some great, thought-provoking prompts if you’re looking for a chance to kick back and enjoy writing something just for you.
Sarah Quigley is a New Zealand born award winning writer with a range of short stories, poetry, novels and non-fiction works. Her books include, Facing Fear, Finding Courage: Your Path to Peace of Mind (1996), After Robert (2000), The Little Book of Courage: A Three-Step Process to Overcoming Fear and Anxiety (with Dr. Marilyn Shroyer, 2002), Love in a Bookstore or Your Money Back (2003), Shot (2003), and Fifty Days (2004)
Find our more about Write: A 30-day guide to creative writing on Amazon
If any book about writing will leap off the shelf this one will. The title, “Page After Page: Discover the confidence and passion you need to start writing and keep writing (no matter what!)” might be a mouthful but every writer I’ve ever met has struggled with these aspects of their career and many continue to face the daily grind caused by wending passion and lax confidence.
When it comes to inspirational guides that help you tap into your creativity Heather Sellers, “Page After Page” is a must-have for writers. Each chapter of this book ends with at least one exercise designed to get you writing, right away. I actually found this frustrating, because the chapters were captivating and the exercises enticing that I was torn between reading on or doing the exercise.
In the end, I did a number of exercises before putting aside my paper and finishing the book, cover to cover. It’s the kind of book that is worth returning to regularly. Many of the exercises are worth repeating. Our thoughts and goals change as our careers progress so it is important to return to some of these exercises to see where you are now.
Heather Sellers, who lives in Holland, Michigan with her husband and sons, has a modern, easy-going voice that is rich with experience but light-hearted and full of enthusiasm for her topic. She covers experiences writers face every day in a matter-of-fact way, with explanations and techniques that work to conquer the writing demons and get your “butt in chair”.
Chapters you’ll love include:
Lover on the Side, Lover in the Center
“When you have a lover or a baby, you fall out of time, and into the beloved. Love is the only time in our lives when we are out of time. To create a writing life, you will need to fall in love – deeply, seductively, passionately – with your writing life. It will become not a habit or a job, but a lover.” page 27-28
Sleeping With Books
“With books, I am promiscuous. You can’t get too far off track as a writer if you are reading. In fact, I don’t know any successful writers who don’t read. Writers read.” page 50
Butt in Chair
Button chair, Butt in Chair – regardless of how you spell it, the concept is an old one: You have to stay in your chair. You can’t do the laundry. You can’t clean things. You can’t take a bath, a shower, a walk. You can’t do any of the healthy necessary things you have been meaning to do: practice yoga, call your mother, write letters. All of those holy pure acts will seem appealing. You must resist bettering yourself in those ways. You sit in the chair. Whether or not you are writing.” page 56-57
“Writers are people who are comfortable with intense contradictions. They are the people who live with a high degree of anxiety. Becoming a writer means learning how to write, every day, without missing a day. In order to do this, writers have to gently embrace ambivalence, anxiety, not-sure-ness. While unpleasant, this practice of writing while in a state of anxiety is key to making a writing life. It’s way more important than learning plot or prosody or publication tips.” page 77
Blank and Cranky
“The secret to getting more work done is a little bit tricky, because it feels completely counterintuitive. If you want to pay your bills or get caught up on six months of unbalanced checkbook or start a new writing routine or do yoga, for that matter, the first thing you must do when the inevitable cranky horror mood strikes is nap.” page 103
Compost
“Finding your material is just like maintaining a compost pile. Slowly, over years, you take your best stuff out to a secret, hidden away place in the backyard, and you dump it there. You cover the pile. You can buy things to help digest it (therapy, self-help books, and art classes equal worms, enzymes, wood ash). But it will digest on its own, too. Without any intervention from you at all.” page 118
“If you had unlimited talent, a five-hundred thousand dollar grant, and a cabin in Vermont, what would you write?” [...] “Do you seize up? Does your mind go a blank? After the rush of the first idea what do you think and feel?” page 159
Mentors
“In each of us, there is a wise self. Whenever you ask yourself, your wise self, a question, she or he will always give you the right answer. You just have to ask. our mentor is right inside of you with fabulous advice, great contacts, and a deep enriched understanding of you and all your you-ness.” page 184
and A Wave Suspended
“That’s the kind of confidence you develop as you move from beginning writer to being a writer. You’re never totally safe or sure. You’re floating. You don’t know if your writing is good or not that day, not yet. But you learn to trust that you will come up for air, able to tell later what went on down there.” page 223
Earlier this year I did the first fifteen exercises in an older blog. Feel free to check those out (forgive the lazy language; these are unedited personal blog entries). I’d love to get my hands on a copy of Heather Sellers’ other writing book, “Chapter After Chapter“.
- Page After Page on HeatherSellers.com
- A Wonderful Review of Page After Page on Errant Dreams
- Interview with Heather Sellers and Dinty Moor’s Advanced Fiction Writing Class at Penn State Altoona
- Find out more about Page After Page on Amazon
- You may also be interested in Chapter After Chapter by Heather Sellers
