 |  |
 | reading about writing |
I’ve been reading Writing Down the Bones this week. I wasn’t really loving it at first; I felt like Goldberg was telling me what to do, and I don’t especially like being told what to do (to which my mother, among others, can surely attest). Then Heather mentioned that she really likes it, so I started reading a little more closely. Apparently you can’t tell me what to do, but I’m highly influence-able.
I didn’t end up changing my opinion of the book, though, just changed how I read it, so I guess maybe I can hold on to that notion that I have my own mind after all. Maybe.
At any rate, I realized that Writing Motherhood is really Writing Down the Bones for the mother-writer set, but with more (and more specific) writing prompts. In case you were needing a pithy little encapsulation of a book I talked about weeks ago. (Well, in case you needed that AND you’ve read Writing Down the Bones; if not, my clever little description probably doesn’t do much for you.)
Ah! I influenced you! I have power!
You know, I read that book in a very dry spell for me, writing-wise, as I was figuring out _how_ to write. So the prescriptive tone didn’t bother me–it was I needed.
Now, most writing books I read kind of annoy me. I’m more inspired by memoirs of writers or really good writing itself. I don’t need hand-holding as much.
For what it’s worth.
One good book you might not find annoying: Art and Fear. Maybe I’ll bring that over with Bird By Bird.
Heather, I didn’t mean to imply that you’re not rebellious, only that I am whiny. And the book is full of good advice, it’s just that it’s… advice, I guess.
Hmmm…I haven’t read Art & Fear, sounds intriguing. I did enjoy goldberg’s book years ago. I’ve used some of her ideas and writing when I taught college writing. I enjoyed Bird by Bird also. I noticed you had that on the table….hee. Happy reading!