Inspirational guru Julia Cameron is best known for her work, The Artist's Way, geared toward writers, artists and anyone who wishes to be more self aware of their potential and creativity. In The Right to Write, the author focuses solely on writers, providing them with a series of tools to spark and unleash their creativity. So this book will not teach how to write a great outline or create unforgettable characters; instead, it teaches writers how to trust themselves and their imagination, overcome writer's block, and keep their ideas flowing.
Morning Pages and Artist's Date
As in The Artist's Way, Cameron advices writers to profit from Morning Pages and Artist's Dates. Morning Pages are 3 pages of stream-of consciousness writing written without breaks in long hand. These are to be done every single morning before doing anything else, preferably as soon as one wakes up.Artist's Dates are fun outings at least once a week where the writer does something interesting all by him or herself. Could be a trip to a museum, a long walk on the beach, a visit to the local flower shop, etc. The important thing here is that it must be enjoyable and the person must do it alone and not with a friend.
Cameron also stresses the importance of long walks and their power to settle and 'light' one's thoughts.
Cameron advices to 'start where you are'. Don't wait for inspiration to strike, just write. An interesting thing she advices is to be aware of the sense of direction of your thoughts. "Writing is about getting something down, not about thinking something up"--this little advise can have a very powerful effect.
She also discusses the topic of making the time to write, procrastination, the importance of writing everyday, the evils of perfectionism (In order to be a good writer, you have to allow yourself to be a bad writer), and much, much more.
The book is written in first person and Cameron writes in a style that is smooth, comfortable,relaxed and engaging. Her keen observations about the writing life and the fears writers go through most of their lives are right on and enlightening. At the end of each chapter there are exercises but these are optional. The Right to Write is a book to read again and again in order to keep one's 'inspired' mode on. Highly recommended.
About Julia Cameron:
Julia Cameron has had a remarkable career, which in turn has given remarkable help to others. Herself an award-winning poet, playwright, and filmmaker, she has written thirty books, ranging from her widely-praised, hard-hitting crime novel The Dark Room to her volumes of children's poems and prayers.
Despite her extensive film and theater credits, which include such diverse work as Miami Vice and the prize-winning romantic comedy God's Will, which she both wrote and directed, Cameron is best known for her hugely successful works on creativity.
The Artist's Way has sold more than two million copies worldwide, and her followup bestsellers The Vein of Gold, Walking in this World and The Right to Write are likewise flagship books which are taught in universities, churches, human potential centers and even in tiny clusters deep in the jungles of Panama.
Purchase Information:
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: Tarcher; Reprint edition (December 27, 1999)
ISBN-10: 1585420093, ISBN-13: 978-1585420094
Mayra Calvani - Multi-genre author and reviewer Mayra Calvani has penned 10 books for children and adults. She's a regular contributor to Blogcritics ...
