Library Kiosk

Lerner, Betsy. The Forest For The Trees. New York: Riverhead Books, 2000.

Yesterday evening was library time. They had a kiosk set up for National Novel Writing Month with a number of books about writing and the writing process. What a gift to come across Betsy Lerner's book subtitled "An Editor's Advice to Writers."

I've only completed the first half of the book, but it is a beautiful support for me as I struggle with my writing. The first chapter grabbed me right away. She identifies what she calls the "Ambivalent Writer." "You have something to say, something you feel desperate to express, but you have no idea how to go about it." She states that "the only real difference that I have been able to quantify between those who ultimately make their way as writers and those who quit is that the former were able to contain their ambivalence long enough to commit to a single idea and see it through." (14 -15)

Another book was all about focusing on emotions. The book was organized around the following emotions:

anger, anxiety, apathy, confusion, contentment, curiosity, desire, despair, excitement, fear, fondness, forgiveness, gratitude, grief, guilt, happiness, hate, hope, hostility, irritation, jealousy, loneliness, longing, loss, love, passion, resignation, restlessness, revenge, sadness, shame, surprise, suspicion, sympathy, tenderness, and worry

Still another book urged to find the Joseph Campbell Hero within and consider writing as a heroic voyage complete with:

Hero, herald, allies, mentors, threshold guardians, shapeshifters, tricksters, goddesses, shadows, superheroes, and steeds

Another book was all about motivation making sure writers attribute motivations to characters.

Excellent advice and support from the library.