For Writers Only: Inspiring Thoughts on the Exquisite Pain and Heady Joy of the Writing Life from Its Great Practitioners

By Sophy Burnham

Book Overview

If you are looking for guidance on how to craft a sentence or find a literary agent this book is not for you. Rather, here is a map for traveling the emotion-laden path that is the creative process. In For Writer's Only , bestselling author and playwright, Sophy Burnham weaves the insights of some of the greatest writers with her own observations and experiences to provide inspiration and encouragement for writers everywhere. Burnham wrote this book for herself when she was in a particularly dark period, unable to get any of her work published. She wanted to know, how did the Great Masters, the immortals, do it? How did they combat discouragement, despair, rejection, dismissal, defeat? Did they write every day? What counsel and advice did they have to offer? In this book, you will discover the strange places authors have found they work best (Agatha Christie plotted her books in her bathtub, eating apples); the surprising diversions they use to escape the project they are working on (Anne Beattie used to vacuum rather than write); and why Faulkner famously asserted, "If a story is in you, it has got to come out." The truth is that the act of being creative is a difficult-even violent-process. Whether you read this book in one gulp from cover to cover, or simply pick it and read a few pages at those times when your are blocked, you will find yourself renewed, restored, re-heartened, and ready to race back to your own writing, your creative center.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585429120
• ISBN13: 9781585429127
• Release Date: December 2011
• Publisher: Tarcher
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Totally Inspiring!

If you could only read one book on writing, this would be the one. A friend gave this book to me several years ago, and I've used it for inspiration more than any other book on writing that I own... and I own a lot of books on writing. I'm using it in a workshop this weekend and I'll recommend it to the people there, as I recommend it to every person who thinks they want to write.

Refreshing and Excellent

I have read others books by the author and throughly enjoyed them. However, when it came to this book I was doubtful. I have read so many books about how to write or about writing; they were either boring, dry, or not helpful. This book was not boring or dry and it was extremely helpful. I could not put this book down; I highly recommend this book to any one who is interested in writing.

The agonies and ecstacies of writing...

This book is an outstanding source of inspiration and encouragement to writers of any age or at any stage of their writing career. Unlike many 'how to' books I've read, this one does not tell give tips on style, grammar or content. It does provide the reader with the incentive to continue writing and never give up. It makes one realize that we are not alone. Even the greatest of authors has suffered from Writers Block, despair and discouragement. At the age of five I said, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a writer." Well into my teens, I was an avid reader and dabbled in writing every spare moment I had. When it was time for college, I majored in Journalism and was active in writing for the school newspaper. However, as a young adult, I got caught up with 'the real world' and due to lack of inspiration, time constraints, and countless other excuses, I never realized my dream. Finally, in the Autumn of my years my first novel is well underway and I anticipate a completion date by the summer of 2000. Sophy Burnham's book has given me the inspiration to pursue my dream. My highest recommendation to ALL writers regardless of whether they are just beginning their endeavor or are already successful authors.

Like having a portable friend to encourage us

Not a how-to book but infinitely satisfying, Ms. Burnham deals with the emotional phases that writers share. She punctuates her experiences (written in brief stand-alone paragraphs, suitable to dipping into on any page) with quotes by other writers and artists. Uplifting, encouraging, helpful, I would recommend this book for every writer at any stage in his/her career.

Uplifting!!

I picked up this book at a time when I had not been writing for quite some time and felt I needed some guidance. This book was a great inspiration! I can open it to any page, read a few lines, and feel completely uplifted about my writing. She really shows the beauty and heartaches of the writing profession. A must for every writer of every kind!