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annieb123's review
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
This is a short (144 pages) but surprisingly deep treatise of conscious creativity and mindfulness as they relate to the writing process. It's not so much an instruction book as a philosophical examination of writing and how to open a conduit and tap into one's inherent ability.
The text is accompanied by sidebars with various mindfulness exercises to lead and inspire the writer's creativity. They focus on diverse goals such as breathing, awareness, dealing with a block, stream of consciousness and others.
The book is not so much a treatise on writing craft or mindfulness, but the intersection of the two. The included exercises could well be adapted to mindfulness and meditation without the intention to write, and can be used to bring more awareness and meditation to our everyday lives.
For people who are interested in incorporating more organic and philosophical working methods into their writing process, this book could be a useful tool.
Basic info:
Author: Joy Kenward
Publisher: Quarto Publishing - Leaping Hare Press
Release date:15 Oct, 2017
144 pages, ebook and hardcover formats
Four stars
Disclosure: I received an electronic-ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
This is a short (144 pages) but surprisingly deep treatise of conscious creativity and mindfulness as they relate to the writing process. It's not so much an instruction book as a philosophical examination of writing and how to open a conduit and tap into one's inherent ability.
The text is accompanied by sidebars with various mindfulness exercises to lead and inspire the writer's creativity. They focus on diverse goals such as breathing, awareness, dealing with a block, stream of consciousness and others.
The book is not so much a treatise on writing craft or mindfulness, but the intersection of the two. The included exercises could well be adapted to mindfulness and meditation without the intention to write, and can be used to bring more awareness and meditation to our everyday lives.
For people who are interested in incorporating more organic and philosophical working methods into their writing process, this book could be a useful tool.
Basic info:
Author: Joy Kenward
Publisher: Quarto Publishing - Leaping Hare Press
Release date:15 Oct, 2017
144 pages, ebook and hardcover formats
Four stars
Disclosure: I received an electronic-ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
irfoxwriter's review
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Lots of helpful exercises to improve writing skills.
anjana's review
4.0
https://superfluousreading.wordpress.com/2018/02/04/the-joy-of-mindful-writing-by-joy-kenward
etienne02's review
3.0
This book aboard the writing process almost as a spiritual thing. So it's not for someone who want to write a novel or anything, it's more about writing thoughts and writing to get your head clean off. That being said, if you're in that kind of thing (I'm not), this book is very well done, organized and short so it gives you a very synthesize view of the subjects and then you can continue to search on the subject if you're interested. Probably more for beginner in the mindful writing or for the people who are curious and want to see what it's about. Not for me, but a decent enough book!
easyqueenie's review
3.0
Sophie was sent a copy of The Joy of Mindful Writing, a creative writing guide that aims to help writers, “embrace the process of writing and the rich potential of conscious creativity”. The book includes 20 mindful writing exercises over its relatively short length, including various forms of meditation, stream of consciousness writing, and engaging all our senses to explore our world and spark new ideas and ways of looking at things
The book gives advice on how to avoid common writing stumbling blocks such as not allowing yourself to believe you require certain materials in order to write (“oh I can’t write anything until I’ve bought that new, expensive pen”), and finding time to write (one anecdote recounts a woman who gave up one hour of television per night and had written a novel six months later). There are also ideas to help inspire creativity in your storytelling – using the elements and seasons to inspire change, allowing yourself to daydream, and using lists and timelines to both inspire and keep track of events.
This wasn’t the best creative writing book Sophie has read, but it was deeply positive and encouraging and will no doubt be of help to aspiring writers struggling to find what works for them.
The book gives advice on how to avoid common writing stumbling blocks such as not allowing yourself to believe you require certain materials in order to write (“oh I can’t write anything until I’ve bought that new, expensive pen”), and finding time to write (one anecdote recounts a woman who gave up one hour of television per night and had written a novel six months later). There are also ideas to help inspire creativity in your storytelling – using the elements and seasons to inspire change, allowing yourself to daydream, and using lists and timelines to both inspire and keep track of events.
This wasn’t the best creative writing book Sophie has read, but it was deeply positive and encouraging and will no doubt be of help to aspiring writers struggling to find what works for them.
eddie's review
3.0
Very prettily produced book - may be a cute gift. Some good advice and exercises, but I feel if you are into either mindfulness or creative writing, you will find better books on those subjects.
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