This is a week where two events collide: the First Wednesday post of the Insecure Writers Support Group, and the second of my three-part Badass series.
They go together, I promise.
On the first Wednesday of every month, the IWSG members post encouragement and support to other writers. Join us!
This month’s co-hosts are:
Sandra Hoover, Mark Koopmans, Doreen McGettigan, Megan Morgan, and Melodie Campbell
And, special thanks to Alex J Cavenaugh, the founder and fearless leader of this group.
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Now, on to Badassery. Last week I posted Part I, in which I opined on Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes. This week, I feature another Badass: Elizabeth Gilbert.
Are you feeling discouraged, confused, or disappointed with your writing career? If so, I can offer you nothing better than Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.
Big Magic isn’t a self-help book per se. Gilbert doesn’t offer a series of exercises, nor does she give you the secret keys to success. However, as she shares her own writing journey, you’ll learn from her.
She calls Big Magic her “permission slip” to writers…the thing that says, “do it” when those sneaky, clever self-doubts threaten to upend our dreams. Most importantly, she puts our writing in perspective. Yes, it’s hard work, but so are other jobs. Yes, sometimes our writing is received more at other times than others. Yes, some days we don’t want to do it. But if we persist, we can find those moments of Big Magic.
Filled with compassion, Big Magic also provides a gentle, but loving, kick in the pants. By demystifying and deromanticizing the creative process, Gilbert makes it easier for us to approach it.
Best of all, Big Magic is beautifully written. After reading some books lately that weren’t so good, sitting down with Gilbert’s chatty, humorous, literary style felt like I’d walked into a fresh spring day. Reading it, I found myself nodding my head…a lot. I said yes, over and over. Sometimes she hit a nerve. I kept on reading because this book is pure pleasure to read.
Gilbert has strong opinions, which is why I include her in the “badass” category. She doesn’t like it when we talk of our writing as though it’s our baby. After all, what if someone tells us our baby is ugly?
She’s also not impressed by Hemingway’s counsel to “open a vein and bleed” on the page. We don’t have to suffer for our art…just apply regular practice and discipline to the process.
In short, she sticks pins in the balloons of what we’re told as writers, those things that cause us to cut and run (or, as I’ve seen a lot of lately, to whine on Facebook instead of writing).
I’ve no doubt I will turn to Big Magic over and over again when I need motivation. I hope you will, too.
Nadine Galinsky Feldman is the author of The Foreign Language of Friends and the upcoming What She Knew, available March 2016. If you enjoy this blog, please consider purchasing a book or signing up for the newsletter to learn about upcoming promotions and giveaways.
Cathrina Constantine says
Hello, Nadine, nice to meet you!!! I guess I could use a gently kick in the pants!!!
admin says
Hi, Cathrina, welcome! She does it in a loving and entertaining way.
Diane Burton says
A friend gave me Gilbert’s book for my birthday. Very encouraging.
Best wishes,
Diane
IWSG #85
admin says
Enjoy! I loved it.
emaginette says
I’m not sure I’d agree with her, but I would encourage anyone to do what they need to and get the words down. 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
admin says
This is exactly what she does in the book…she clears the drama and the “stuff” out of the way, which leaves us space to create.
Sunflower Michelle says
Sounds really interesting. I’ve read Eat, Pray, Love and Committed and really enjoyed her writing style. Might give this a look.
admin says
I haven’t read Committed yet, but I probably will now.
Megan Morgan says
The way you’re describing her reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott. If you’ve never read any of her work, you might enjoy it as well! She writes about writing a lot too.
admin says
I love Anne Lamott! I’ve read some of her work but wouldn’t mind reading more. Thanks for the reminder!
Gwen Gardner says
I hadn’t heard of her new book, but I love Elizabeth Gilbert so I’ll have to look it up. If you haven’t seen her on Ted Talks, it’s definitely worth it.. She is so inspiring!
admin says
Thanks for reminding me of Ted Talks. I saw her on Stephen Colbert’s show, and that’s what inspired me to buy the book. I wouldn’t mind hearing more of her!
Liz A. says
Sounds like she knows what she’s talking about.
admin says
Recently we were in a Hemingway exhibit, and one of the visitors said, “These writers seemed to be so generous with each other.” I think this book carries that torch…she’s reaching out to help any of us who want it.
Cindy Ferreira Whitney says
Sounds like an interesting book.
admin says
It is, indeed!
Nicola says
Sounds like a great book to have on hand, Nadine. I have a couple of books that are looking a bit bedraggled due to over use. Maybe it’s time to add a new one. Thank you for the post. Lovely to ‘meet’ you. Have a fabulous December.
admin says
Nice to meet you, too! I wouldn’t mind knowing what those bedraggled books are! I have a few of them myself, and I think they’re a great help to us.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says
I’ve been reading a lot of reviews of Gilbert’s new book. Seems like it might be well worth putting on my to read list.
admin says
I highly recommend it! I think it’s good for artists of any type, though it’s aimed specifically at writers.
Michelle Wallace says
In this week, a friend recommended Big Magic and I added it to my list. I also phoned our local book bargain store to price the paperback. I’ll probably pick it up some time next week.
I love your thoughts on the book. Badassery, you say? Great! Can’t wait to read it! 🙂
doreenb8 says
I liked Big Magic, Elizabeth is creative and a good writer. Once we stop wanting to learn how to improve our craft we might as well give up.
Ula says
This is a book I know I need to read. Thanks for the recommendation.