We all have our favorites and then there are some duds I'm sure, but let's share books on writing that simply rock our worlds!

I recently blogged about this book in my Artella blog but wanted to share here as well because I am really enjoying it. The Write Brain Workbook by Bonnie Neubauer is absolutely wonderful. It's different from other writing books in that there is only a short section in which you READ about writing (I don't know about you all but that is my favorite form of writing procrastination!) and then you must actually (gasp!) WRITE!  I love it and am truly inspired.

How about you? What books rock and roll YOU? 

Well, I can reply as soon as I stop laughing that hilarious Calvin 'n Hobbs graphic in the corner of your original message....

 When I read your post, I rushed to get this beautiful journal off my shelf that I had been inspired to start when I read THIS wonderful book on writing:  Poemcrazy by Susan G. Woodridge.  After just 16 pages, I stopped and wrote several "poems" (a subjective description, of course) of my own.  The words were just twirling around in my head.  I felt a tremendous release.  This, I thought to myself, is going to call for a special journal. 

Sooz ~  Serendipity.

I am reading poemcrazy right now AND finished a subjective version of myself about 15 minutes ago.  It is a great book for immediate inspiration to do, not just read. 

My favorite by far is Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.  Each chapter is self-contained and only two or three pages long, so you can literally read for five minutes and then start writing.  It's wonderful.

Others I've enjoyed:

How I Write by Janet Evanovich and Ina Yalof (brilliant Q&A-style coverage of all parts of the writing and publication process)

On Writing by Stephen King (mostly memoir, but worth a gander)

Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott (not so much writing exercises as encouragement)

I'm not sure if my favorite book counts as a writing book. It is The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I like it because she introduces you to the idea of writing "Morning Pages". Its free flow writing first thing in the morning before you've even spoken a word. You shoot for 30 min. I think it was. By writing morning pages you can clear all of the stuff out of your brain and be refreshed. She says not to go back and read them for a while. I did this for a few months in 2005 and I still haven't read them. I'm afraid of what I'll find! LOL!

That reminds me that I have that book hiding somewheres and it is a good one, Heather!  Think I'll try to locate it and try out that morning writing - it would do my heart good.  I think it'd be great to look back and read things from time past--I often look at my old journals and shake my head.  It's a good way of seeing where you've come from and sometimes you discover things about yourself you'd forgotten.  Thanks, Heather.

- chameleon

chameleon:

That reminds me that I have that book hiding somewheres and it is a good one, Heather!  Think I'll try to locate it and try out that morning writing - it would do my heart good.  I think it'd be great to look back and read things from time past--I often look at my old journals and shake my head.  It's a good way of seeing where you've come from and sometimes you discover things about yourself you'd forgotten.  Thanks, Heather.

- chameleon

You betcha. I think my writings are still too fresh to read. Once I'm well into the next season of my life (all children in school) I'll go back and read them. I need to start setting the alarm and write morning pages again. Oh! I just thought of something else Julia recommends. She thinks its best if you hand write your pages rather than typing them in.

Happy writing to all!

Heather

 Hi Everyone -

Just wanted to toss in a couple more.

I like Brenda Ueland's "If You Want to Write" - it's been around for a long time and is wise, practical, and inspiring.

For questions of grammar, I'm partial to Karen Elizabeth Gordon's, "The Deluxe Transitive Vampire" - and I imagine that lots of visual artists would like it too for its retro and vintage design.  Funny and charming!

 Since I did NaNoWriMo a couple years ago, I like "No Plot, No Problem," which is boot-camp and home-cookin' all in one volume.

I like Natalie Goldberg's "Wild Mind," almost more than "Writing Down the Bones" - mainly because of the exercises.  But she's great in both books!

   Good idea, Wozzie!  I'm excited to get that Write Brain Workbook!

KateSinging (and Writing, too)
 

 A couple of my favorites have already been mentioned.  I also love the Write-Brain Workbook, and I agree with Kate on Wild Minds.  I also liked it better than Writing Down the Bones. I also like The Pocket Muse, The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration, and The Writer's Book of Matches.  All three of these are filled mostly with written prompts or photo prompts (depending on the book) and are great when you just can't seem to get started. I also recently  picked up Picture is Worth 1,000 Words:Image Driven Story Prompts & Exercises for Writers.  I haven't gotten a chance to really get into it yet, but it looks fun.

 Hello Writers!

Just wanted to add a book I got last night and have been devouring with great interest:

Writing Alone and With Others, by Pat Schneider.

Pat leads the Amherst Writers' Workshops here and in other countries.  I've read 50 pages or so and the book is packed with great exercises, loving advice, and inspiration. One really useful thing is her method of following an opening, safe thought to a second, richer thought and investigating the connection, and sometimes going to a third, even richer thought.  This method is reassuring in that it suggests that we can start anywhere and reach a juicy destination eventually.  Love that!

 Hope you're all well this snowy night (here in New England anyway).  The stars are so bright tonight they're nearly blue.  Orion and the Pleiades make good company on a winter night.

starrily,

KateSinging
 

 Here's another one I'm just finishing from the library:  Walking in this World, by Julia Cameron.  It is similar to The Artist's Way in format, but I like it as a book for people who are already doing their thing - working on their art.  It seems like an inspired "Keep going" sort of book.  One thing I'm taking away from it is the "Tah-Dah" list.  At the end of the day, write out a list of your accomplishments.  It's such a simple thing, but it's kind of amazing to see how much happens in one day, and even on days when it feels like you don't get much done.  Yesterday I included "repotted the basil" and "learned a new O'Carolan tune," among other things.  Looking at the list brought great pleasure and peace before retiring for the night.

 Sending you peace for your own rest -

KateSinging
 

We do often bypass our accomplishments, don't we?  I will put it on my list of Wanted: Good Art Books and when I'm out and about, I'll look for "Walking in this World".  Sometimes I find that I get on an artistic roll but for some reason or another, there is a low that comes after the high, and that's when the book would come in handy - so that I will "Keep going", as you say, KateSinging.  Thanks for your reading suggestion! 

- chameleon

 I have started reading The Writing Diet which is also by Julia Cameron.  I have only read a couple of chapters, but the basic idea seems to be that Cameron noticed that students in her twelve-week Artist's Way workshops would go through physical changes, as well as creative changes.  People would lose weight and look healthier.  So, she took what she learned from that and put together a plan specifically for weight loss.  It's not a diet.  It's a tool (or several tools, really) to use while you are trying to lose weight.  Morning pages feature prominently here--as they do in most of her books. 

 I am still not "daily" with my morning pages, but since I started reading this book I have stuck with them much more consistently than I did when I was trying to work my way through The Artist's Way.  I'm not really sure why that is...maybe I am more motivated to lose weight than I am to unblock my creativity.  Who knows.  Anyway, I am really enjoying the book.  I'll let you know more about it once I finish it.
 

I, too, am a big fan of Julia Cameron. I picked up a gem during Christmas time at Barnes & Noble. It is a hardback volume of three of her books bound into one called, The Complete Artist's Way.  It has The Artist's Way, Walking in This World, and Finding Water all in this one volume. I have read The Artist's Way a couple of times. I just recently (Jan.1) started my morning pages again. I'm not as consistent with them, either, but am doing better this time around. They are very therapeutic.

I didn't know about these other two books she had written until I saw this volume. I'm halfway through Walking in This World and love it. From what I skimmed through, Finding Water is along the same lines. I had heard about the The Writing Diet but I wasn't sure if it was an actual diet or what it was. I'm curious to see what you think. I'm thinking about ordering this one.

Wow, Kristin and isabella!  My listing of books is growing and all by Julia Cameron - obviously a good writer that can relate to how artists think and feel.  There should be a discount somewhere for purchasing her books as this forum is excellent advertising of her work, don't you think??!  If we only lived closer, we could perhaps make one large order and save some $$$.  This is one girl who's going to check out the 'The Writing Diet'  by Julia Cameron!  These suggestions are awesome.

- chameleon