Items related to Woman in Front of the Sun: On Becoming a Writer
Synopsis
In this collection of essays woven with poems and folklore, Judith Ortiz Cofer tells the story of how she became a poet and writer and explores her love of words, her discovery of the magic of language, and her struggle to carve out time to practice her art.
A native of Puerto Rico, Cofer came to the mainland as a child. Torn between two cultures and two languages, she learned early the power of words and how to wield them. She discovered her love for the subtleties, sounds, and rhythms of the written word when a Roman Catholic nun and teacher bent on changing traditions for the better gave her books of high literature to read, some of which were forbidden by the church. Later, as an adult, demands from her family and her profession made it difficult for Cofer to find time to devote to her art, but her need and determination to express herself led to solutions that can help all artists challenged with the limits of time. Cofer recalls the family cuentos, or stories, that inspire her and shows how they speak to all artists, all women, all people. She encourages her readers to insist on the right to be themselves and to pursue their passions.
A book that entertains, instructs, and enthralls, Woman in Front of the Sun will be invaluable to students of poetry and creative nonfiction and will be a staple in every creative writing classroom as well as an inspiration to all those who write.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Judith Ortiz Cofer is a Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Georgia.
From Library Journal
This collection of essays and poetry tells of Cofer's love of language and how she became a writer. Born in Puerto Rico, she came to the mainland as a child. Since then, she has struggled with being torn between two cultures and, more recently, with finding time for writing while balancing her family and teaching career. Cofer (English and creative writing, Univ. of Georgia; Silent Dancing: A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood) uses cuentos, or stories, that have served her as inspiration, and she points out how they speak to everyone. Especially noteworthy is "The Woman Who Slept with One Eye Open." Here Cofer shows metaphorically how the artist must use ingenious means to avoid or outsmart anything or anyone who keeps her from realizing her creative power. Cofer writes with conviction and power, encouraging all whom aspire to writing or creative endeavor to pursue their dream with energy and dedication. This book will be useful in creative writing classes and for those who would like to write but cannot find the time and energy. Recommended for public and academic libraries. [The story cited here also inspired the title for an anthology Cofer coedited, Sleeping with One Eye Open: Women Writers and the Art of Survival, LJ 11/15/99.DEd.]DNancy R. Ives, SUNY at Genese.
-DNancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherUniv of Georgia Pr
- Publication date2000
- ISBN 10 082032261X
- ISBN 13 9780820322612
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages144
- Rating
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