A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life - Softcover

Judy Reeves

4.18

1,048 ratings by Goodreads

9781577311003: A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1577311000 ISBN 13: 9781577311003

Publisher: New World Library, 1999

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Playwright and editor Judy Reeves has taught writing, led creative writing workshops, and participated in writing groups for years. A Writer’s Book of Days is a compilation of all that she’s learned from getting together to write with other people. She says, the book came about because I saw the difference ongoing, regular practice could make in a writer’s life.” Practice makes perfect, and this book makes practice easy by providing writers and would-be writers with stimulating topics, helpful instruction, monthly guidelines, dozens of inspiring quotes, writerly lore, and tips for special writing sessions such as marathons, cafe writing, and other ways to make the work of writing more creative and fun.

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Review:

Musicians practice. Athletes practice. And so, too, argues Judy Reeves, should writers practice. Her Writer's Book of Days provides a "writing prompt" for each day of the year, and then some: "Write about a time someone said yes"; "Write about leaving"; "Something seemed different." The more you practice, says Reeves, the more you write. And writing from a prompt, she adds, is like having "someone provid[e] the music when you want to dance." The prompts are the backbone of this book, but its pages are fleshed out with advice, inspiration, quotations from writers, encouragement, and a profusion of literary tidbits. Write from the sense, Reeves recommends. Audition words. Take risks. And when all else fails, amuse yourself with these astonishing tidbits from literary lives: T.S. Eliot, we learn, preferred writing with a head cold; Flaubert kept his lover's slippers and mittens in his desk drawer; and Friedrich von Schiller liked to invoke his muse by sniffing rotten apples. --Jane Steinberg

Review:

This book dances around the imagination and makes you take out your pens and journal to play.”
SARK, artist/author of Succulent Wild Woman

Any time someone asks me for writing tips How can I start? What do you do about writer's block? I suggest they peruse this wonderful compendium of writing lore, empathy, and daily practice.”
Janet Fitch, author of Paint It Black and White Oleander

A delightful mix of commonsense and inspiration I suggest this book to every writing seminar graduate a way to take the experience home and carry on.”
Christina Baldwin, author of Storycatcher and Life's Companion

Sure to quench the thirst for inspiration. Reeves's work will find the creative in every writer, and bring it dancing onto the page.”
Fiction Writer

An invaluable guide for the writer Full of delicious prompts, exercises, insights, and inspirational tips, it will get people who dream of becoming real writers to do what real writers do sit down joyfully and get to work!”
Steve Kowit, author of In the Palm of Your Hand

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