NOTE: I will be giving away a paperback copy of this book in my October 24th newsletter. Are you subscribed? Make sure you are so you have a chance to enter. Sign Up Here
If you’re not a spiritual person, there are things about
this book that you may not like, but there are also things that you’ll benefit
from. NOTE: There are
mixed reviews. Much of the book I didn’t connect with, but many techniques I
found to be smart and clever.
One of these techniques is morning
pages. Julia Cameron encourages you to wake up each morning, and before you do
anything (even have the first cup of coffee), write 3 pages of whatever comes
to mind. It doesn’t have to make sense or be descriptive. “Nothing is too
petty, too silly, too stupid, or too weird to be included.” Even if all you
write about are your problems, get it down, because that negativity is lowering
your creativity.
Julia discusses our censor. This is
where out critic is, and Julie says, “always remember that your censor’s
negative options are not the truth.” She prompts us to find a cartoon image of
our censor (perhaps the shark from JAWS), put an X through it, and post it
where we write.
“Just making the censor into the
nasty, clever little character that it is begins to pry loose some of its power
over you and your creativity.”
And two pieces of advice that rang
true to me:
“Judging your early artistic
efforts is artistic abuse.”
“…you must be willing to be a bad
artist. Give yourself the permission to be a beginner. By being willing to be a
bad artist, you have a chance to be an artist, and perhaps, overtime, a very
good one.”
This book is also a 12-week course
“to becoming and discovering your creative self.” Julia walks you through tasks
to help you get to know yourself and your dreams, and she pushes you to meet
those dreams by taking easy steps. Some of these may seem silly, but I’ve
always enjoyed self-help books. I couldn’t do all of the lessons because I got
the book from the library, but I did create wish lists.
QUESTIONS: What
image would you use for your censor?
.jpg)
Interesting exercise she suggests. I'm spiritual in that I have a relationship with God so I might enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteShe had a lot of interesting exercises in this book.
DeleteI'd fallen off but I usedto make it a habit to write 100-200 new words to a story before getting out of bed in the morning.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a very good routine to get in to.
DeleteI was spiritual long before I was religious. Many people who aren't involved with organized religion are deeply spiritual, just as many people deeply involved with organized religion aren't always so spiritual.
ReplyDeleteI understand that. In terms of this book, the author references God, so that's why I say "spiritual" and also because it's in the book's title..,
DeleteNot spiritual, but it makes sense. We all have to produce the crap so we learn and grow and it becomes less crappy haha
ReplyDeleteThat is the process for sure.
DeleteI've heard of this book. I'm not spiritual and it's a great fit for me but I've heard it's helped a lot of writers.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it's helped countless writers. :)
DeleteI find I enjoy Morning Pages at different times in my life. When it starts to feel too much like homework, I know it's time to stop for a bit. :)
ReplyDeleteIt definitely shouldn't feel like homework. That's what journaling ends up feeling for me if I try to do it each day.
DeleteCan I have my morning cup of coffee first? Otherwise it might take me two hours to write three pages.
ReplyDeleteShe says even before coffee. lol
DeleteI have read many books that have workshops, and have found much to appreciate from them, but have not been one to do the workshops. I do consider myself a spiritual person and I often write when I first get up (often recording dreams).
ReplyDeleteSometimes I skip the exercises. Unless it's an easy one.
DeleteThis was interesting to read Chrys....what's going on outside my poetry world.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I wonder what is going on inside your poetry world. :)
DeleteLOL. I guess my scary censor would be a picture of a spider or stink bug. I remember when all beginning writers were advised to read this book.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't figured out what my scary censor is.
DeleteI could get up early, but must, must have coffee first. Otherwise no words would come out, says a true coffee addict. Sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a morning person, so I think I'd struggle with this, too.
DeleteSounds like a book I'll have to check out. My inner censor... I'll have to think on that. Something will come to me. But, I could not write first thing in the morning. I have a hard enough time getting out of bed to get to work on time as it is.
ReplyDeleteI hate getting out of bed, too.
DeleteI know a lot of people really like and recommend that book. I did enjoy reading but like you I did not really connect with it.
ReplyDeleteI connect more with The Author's Mindset by Joanna Penn and The Art of War (not the old book by same title but different author which is a good read) BUT James Scott Bell book by same title. Also his book The Mental Game for Writers.
I do think The Artist Way is worth a read especially if you have never read at least once. There are some good techniques in it as you stated. She clever with writing that makes a enjoyable read.
I like self help books too almost as much as love writing craft books but not quite. LOL>
Those are two books I'll have to check out sometime. I enjoy self-help and writing books, too.
DeleteI think I'll get this book as I've never read it before.
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think of it.
DeleteI'm a spiritual person, so I'd check it out for sure.
ReplyDeleteOur own censor = ego. It thrives on fooling us on what's REAL.
Right indeed.
DeleteLooks like she has some great advice.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
She does. Different advice. :)
DeleteI borrowed this book from a friend many years ago. I really enjoyed it and found it extremely valuable. I don't know why I didn't buy my own copy? Thanks for the review, Chrys!
ReplyDeleteThis would be a good one to own, especially because of the exercises.
DeleteI like what you shared about this book!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteMy censor is a scarily formidable, spike-heeled woman in a tight red dress holding a barbed red pen. Picturing my censor this way helps me realize that I'm a casual person for a reason and my writing suits me, not ... her.
ReplyDeleteI love that!
DeleteSounds interesting, and I like the spiritual aspect. It's fun with books present activities to connect readers to the concepts.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like this book. :)
DeleteWow, talk about timely. Allow yourself to be a beginner. That's me. I'm getting ready to submit my first piece to the anthology and I'm so afraid. It's the first time I'm sending something to be judged by true, accomplished writers and it's scary! But we all need to start somewhere, huh?
ReplyDeleteElsie
Good luck with your submission!!!
DeleteI've heard of this book but have not read it. Maybe it's time I did. My censor is always at work. Would like to ignore it Not sure who/what the censor is. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if you know what it looks like, I'll be able to find a way to ignore it. :)
DeleteYou stopped me at 'before your first cup of coffee'. Is that even possible? Hmm...
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I've never tried it. lol
DeleteI love the artistic abuse idea. I can criticize myself into a fetal position when my brain is feeling evil...like a little droll troll.
ReplyDeleteAn artist's brain can be especially evil.
DeleteIf there is one good piece of advice here, and one I fight with every day day, it's that last one. It's easy to hate your own work into non-completion.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot easier. Something we all have to work on, huh?
DeleteI struggle with reading self-help books, whether spiritual or not (and I have a relationship wiht God), but I migh be willing to give this one a try. I think I'm just waiting for someone to write an amazing self-help or how-to book, disguised as a fairytale or mystery novel.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you might give this one a try. There's a self-help book out there for everyone, even for those who usually don't like them. :)
Delete