furythephoenix's review against another edition
5.0
Every new and midling writer ought to read this!
This excellently written book was a soothing balm got me during this difficult time in my writing career, where I'm not sure what I should be doing or which voice in my head I should be listening to. Penn is empathetic and her guidance is sound and well-tested, backed up by great quotes from many famous authors. I would recommend this book to all new or midling authors, for aid and succor. I will be buying more of her books on the craft.
This excellently written book was a soothing balm got me during this difficult time in my writing career, where I'm not sure what I should be doing or which voice in my head I should be listening to. Penn is empathetic and her guidance is sound and well-tested, backed up by great quotes from many famous authors. I would recommend this book to all new or midling authors, for aid and succor. I will be buying more of her books on the craft.
vblack's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
4.75
Some of the suggestions seemed intuitive, but even in those cases it's helpful to have the verbal reminder. All in all I found most suggestions to either be helpful or reassuring and I loved the tone of the writing!
writeronherway's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as a birthday present and really enjoyed it. There are so many quotes that I feel the need to plaster on the wall with the standout one by the author herself being "We are all complex creatures and our work is merely one aspect of our character at a specific point in time." I would recommend this read if a writer needs a little reassurance or grounding! I feel as if Joanna is writing directly to authors and giving them permission to write, reminding them to push the negativity aside and "trust emergence."
fatherroderick's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It is a great read not just for aspiring authors of fiction or non-fiction, but for any creator who deals with the issues she describes that are so frequently witholding creative people from getting their work out there: self-doubt, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, lack of planning, lack of consistency. With humor and stories from her own career as a writer, the author helps the reader to get a realistic idea of what writing comes down to and how to get going. Can't wait to read her other books.
ericamatildas's review against another edition
2.0
2,5⭐️
Den var väl lite peppande och lite inspirerande, men egentligen gav inte den här boken mig någonting. I princip var det enda författaren gjorde att upprepa saker andra har sagt om ämnet och koppla det till lite egna erfarenheter. Ingen recommendrecommend på denna.
Den var väl lite peppande och lite inspirerande, men egentligen gav inte den här boken mig någonting. I princip var det enda författaren gjorde att upprepa saker andra har sagt om ämnet och koppla det till lite egna erfarenheter. Ingen recommendrecommend på denna.
emmalowe73's review against another edition
5.0
I read this as part of a local book club for writers and found myself amazed at how the self-doubting, terrified of failure, imposter I feel so often is fe,t by others.
I’ve followed Joanna Penn’s Creative Penn for years, and have always found her advice refreshing. This didn’t let down. I’d recommend for writers at any stage of their writing careers to read this
I’ve followed Joanna Penn’s Creative Penn for years, and have always found her advice refreshing. This didn’t let down. I’d recommend for writers at any stage of their writing careers to read this
stanwj's review against another edition
4.0
Joanna Penn's short book is exactly what it says--a look at how to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally to live the life of a writer, through new writer tribulations, on to actual publication and then dealing with what comes after (should you be so fortunate).
As such, there is little in here about how to write, but plenty of advice on how to deal with everything from self-doubt to overzealous fans, using a Problem/Antidote format. Penn's style (seriously, a writer named Penn? The closest I get is someone calling me "pencil neck") is open and friendly, and she provides excerpts from her private journal to illustrate points she is making, which is a nice way of building trust with the reader. The advice is practical and pretty common sense--you're unlikely to slap your forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of that?" but it's still handy to have all of these ideas collected together and presented in a way that's easy and entertaining to absorb.
It's also just a nice change-up to read a book about writing that is not about, well, the actual writing part.
Recommended for new writers or those on the cusp of publishing.
As such, there is little in here about how to write, but plenty of advice on how to deal with everything from self-doubt to overzealous fans, using a Problem/Antidote format. Penn's style (seriously, a writer named Penn? The closest I get is someone calling me "pencil neck") is open and friendly, and she provides excerpts from her private journal to illustrate points she is making, which is a nice way of building trust with the reader. The advice is practical and pretty common sense--you're unlikely to slap your forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of that?" but it's still handy to have all of these ideas collected together and presented in a way that's easy and entertaining to absorb.
It's also just a nice change-up to read a book about writing that is not about, well, the actual writing part.
Recommended for new writers or those on the cusp of publishing.
leticiatoraci's review against another edition
4.0
I usually have difficulties pushing through nonfiction books but this audiobook was very positively motivating and I couldn't stop hearing it.