The number of writers who write about writing grows ever larger. And why not? Who better to reach the inner mind of another writer or to teach some of the technical aspects of our trade? I like to read books about the craft of writing because they do two things for me. First, they reassure me that I know a fair amount about this skill and second, I find that I still have a lot more to learn.
The latest one I've read is Cecil Murphey's Unleash The Writer Within. Mr. Murphey definitely has the credentials to pen a book like this. He's a best-selling author who has written more than 120 books. He is well-known for 90 Minutes in Heaven. His books have sold millions of copies and have been published in more than 40 languages. Mr. Murphey is also an international speaker. With success like this, we'd be fools not to pay attention to what he has to say. He is a Christian which is evident in much of what he writes, although he's not attempting to sell his faith.
Reading this book is pretty close to attending a seminar on learning who you are as a writer, what is deep inside that makes you a writer, and how to deal with many aspects of writing that effect the inner you. Think how much more you would have paid to attend the seminar than the price of this paperback book!
Each chapter concludes with a statement of truth or principle. The entire list of these aphorisms are included at the end of the book. A few that I liked are:
1. When I'm blocked, I listen quitetly and compassionately. My deeper, inner voice wants to tell me something--something I need to know.
2. The better I know myself, the better I write. The better I like myself, the better writer I become.
3. The more I know who I am and like who I am, the truer my writing voice and the more faithfully I honor that voice.
4. I write creatively and I edit analytically.
If you read the book with an open mind and answer the questions posed to you honestly, you may learn a few things about yourself. Besisdes that, you may unleash that writer within to the point that you grow by leaps and bounds in your writing world.
I'm always up for a new book about writing. This one sounds like a winner. Hopefully I will have more reading time soon. I've been unable to find much time for commenting of late. I work in a 4 person office, one left for a job closer to home, and one seems to be losing her battle with breast cancer. We have a new hire starting next week, so my work hours should go back to normal. I've been reading as much as possible, and learning plenty, just not finding comment time.
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