I have been trying to start writing a book on working life for many years and have never been able to figure out how to get started. I realized that this is the guide and invitation I needed to get me started and to stick with it. This book is for all writers and is essentially a six week program to help us initiate writing, stick with it and complete it! But what is unique and special about this book is that it is not the typical linear prescriptive guide of following a series of steps. It is a more organic journey loaded with her wisdom and experience naming the barriers that get in our way and tips on how to overcome these. One of the barriers is the "inner critic" which I realized has been a major barrier to my ability to get started because it tells me "why would anyone care about what you are writing about? or you are not a writer." Cameron's approach for dealing with her inner critic "Nigel" - (I love that she names him), gave me incredible hope and ideas on how to break through this barrier. One of the techniques she suggests is doing Morning Pages everyday -- just write first thing. She calls it "Spiritual Chiropractic" - moving us into alignment with our own dreams, hopes and goals. And I don't want to mislead you to think there is no structure here - -at the end of each chapter is a great summary of tasks and check-ins with yourself. The other book I read by her "The Artist's Way" says "Give yourself permission to be a Beginner" -- I am using this as my guide as I begin writing. I highly recommend this book to all writers.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There are a lot of books out there that tell you they will help you write your novel in six weeks or a month or whatever, and, if you’re like me, you might swallow them up like peanut M&Ms. Write for Life by Julia Camerson is, and is not, one of those books. While she does offer a course including tasks and a check-in at the end of each chapter, Write for Life is more about offering the mental tools in order to write your novel rather than how to structure your outline or define your hero’s journey.

Carrying over from The Artist’s Way is the idea of writing Morning Pages, three longhand written pages each morning in stream-of-consciousness. Having done this myself years ago, I do find it works to get the creative juices flowing and advocate it for any writer. Likewise, in the first suggestion she also mentions an Artist’s Date, in which a person goes off to do something on their own to stimulate creativity.

From there she discusses roadblocks that hinder a writer from getting words down on the page. The biggie that kept popping up and had meaning for me was perfectionism. While I always bemoan lacking discipline, she suggests that the key is not discipline but perfectionism. I don’t know. Plausible? Definitely. And, definitely worth investigating.

Amidst all of the topics and some really wonderful writerly quotes are the ubiquitous friend stories added for color, or perhaps example. I may be alone in this, and that’s why reviews are just personal opinions, but I could have done with less of these colorful anecdotes. I guess I’m just more of: give-me-the-facts-Jack-ilk.

Regardless, there is a lot of thoughtful material contained within Write for Life that makes me excited to give the course a try and, actually, just to get started writing. Morning pages start tomorrow.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: Write for Life by Julia Cameron
2023 Publication Date: January 10

⭐️⭐️⭐️️

T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2023

Pages: 208
Genre: Nonfiction
Sub-Genre: Creativity
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Essentials

PUBLISHER BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A 6-Week Artist’s Way Program...

Julia Cameron has been teaching the world about creativity since her book, The Artist’s Way, first broke open the conversation around art.

Now, in Write for Life, she turns to one of the subjects closest to her heart: the art and practice of writing.

Over the course of six weeks, Cameron carefully guides readers step by step through the creative process.

This latest guide in the Artist’s Way Series:
• Introduces a new tool and expands on powerful tried and true methods.
• Gently guides readers through many common creative issues ― from procrastinating and getting started, to dealing with doubt, deadlines, and “crazymakers.”
• Will help you reach your goals, whether your project is a novel, poetry, screenplay, standup, or songwriting.

With the learned experience of a lifetime of writing, Cameron gives readers practical tools to start, pursue, and finish their writing project.

Write for Life is for writers who have completed The Artist’s Way and are looking to continue their creative journey or new writers who are just putting pen to paper.

--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Write for Life ~Creative Tools for Every Writer (A 6-Week Artist's Way Program) by Julia Cameron from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press in order to read and give an honest review.

...Inspiring and optimistic to writers or creatives at any stage, Write for Life is a nudge to honor your creative self by flexing your creative muscles daily...

Over three decades ago Julia Cameron first published "The Artists Way,” and I must admit I still find her books a source of inspiration. I was introduced to the author's work in my late twenties when on a mission to get back that creative passion I once had. Over the decades, my copy has been read and re-read leaving it with dog-eared pages and a rickety spine, but I still turn to it when I find myself drifting from my creative self. Like her many other books since, Write for Life is an updated and perhaps more writing focused book. The author Julia Cameron, now in her seventies, is still a productive, and prolific writer with over fifty years of writing under her belt and has had an incredibly successful career by using the tools she introduced us to in the Artist's Way.

There is nothing earth shatteringly new in Write for Life but there is a little more wisdom and thought in this book. She has carved out a long-lasting and successful career and as many of us find, with age we learn to weed out what works and what does not, often tweaking our processes until they fit for us and whatever changes our lives bring. Her focus here is more inspirational, she has practiced what she preaches and her discipline in inspiring and it confirms that you need to show up for your creative self every day. This book, although it might feel repetitive to some, I think acts as a gentle reminder when sometimes we forget that like anything worth having in life our creativity needs our attention and dedication.

Inspiring and optimistic to writers or creatives at any stage, Write for Life is a nudge to honor your creative self by flexing your creative muscles daily. In a slump it came at a perfect time for me to re-establish this practice as it has worked for me in the past but this book acted as a reminder. If you are trying to reignite your spark this is the book I would highly recommend.

The first thing that stuck out to me about this book is that it’s very wordy and sometimes repetitive—unnecessarily so, I thought. But then I thought about it more, and I think Julia did it very intentionally. Much of what she says really deserves to be heard and perhaps we don’t really hear it the first time or we don’t allow it to get past our inner critic.

I’m not a writer, although I want to be. I suppose I am a writer who has yet to begin. Julia has given me the courage to start, and I realize the importance of simply starting, not knowing where I’m ultimately going to end and being okay with that.

I do feel this book is mainly geared towards those who write full time. Obviously, anyone can apply these techniques, but it will take intense dedication from someone with a day job that is not writing for themselves. I suppose the main takeaway is simply that it takes hard work and perseverance to get it done, regardless of your background, your abilities, your attitude or your time allowance. This book provides very specific steps for starting, continuing and finally finishing, for the story never truly ends.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

A life changing book! This book has re-energized my love of writing with simple and practical advice on how to write again. I love the writing style, like an old friend is talking to you. The habits to form are very practical and achievable- writing in small chunks (about 3 pages in the morning), taking walks and having outings to replenish your creativity. This book is easy to read and clearly explains the benefit of writing to the reader. I highly recommend it to anyone who has wanted to write for a long time.

Julia's latest book for people that want to write is simply amazing. It's easy to understand and her steps are outlined by a week at a time. Mixed with her own stories this was fascinating and a bit more meaningful to me then the other book she wrote that I read recently - The Artist's Way.

If you desire to get into a habit of writing daily this will guide you! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy for the purpose of this review.

A must read for writers. Love the concept for morning pages.

Will reference this book when I need inspiration again.

Julia Cameron’s latest book, Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer, is a 6-week program that provides writers with tricks and tools to complete their writing project, from ways to beat procrastination to advice on revision.

There are two core concepts at the heart of Julia Cameron’s approach that you’ll find in all of her books: Morning Pages and Artist Dates. Write for Life introduces a third: the Daily Quota.

Morning Pages
Morning Pages are three pages of strictly stream-of-consciousness longhand writing on eight and a half by eleven-inch paper, done upon awakening. Yup, that’s right, and she’s ambivalent about whether or not this practice can be combined with caffeine. Do what you need to do — you’ll find no judgement here. The intention is to purge any negativity onto the page, become aware of insights and goals, and be sparked into action. A journal becomes an affordable room of one’s own that provides autonomy and coaxes the practitioner into greater creativity. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Artist Dates

The second touchstone to Julia Cameron’s philosophy on creativity are weekly Artist Dates. These dates are essentially creative upkeep: two hours during which you take your inner writer on a solo adventure to feed the creative well. It’s a mission of just doing something fun.

The Daily Quota

In Write for Life, Cameron suggests writing a set number of pages on your project, every day. For prose, she recommends two pages. She advises writers to set the bar low, because slow and steady progress limits the risk of draining your inner well of inspiration. If your writing does become more difficult and thin, her remedy is a second weekly artist date.
On First Thoughts

Cameron’s essay on “First Thoughts” resonated with me. Too often, Cameron says, we sit down to write and reject our initial idea, trying to find a better way to say it, when the first idea is often the best. Our first thought leads to a second; our second thought leads to the third. Pause at the first and you stop the process, preventing the play of ideas from unfolding. I enjoy editing and often have to remind myself that the first draft is not the time for revision. My goal is to take Cameron’s advice to heart and trust my first thoughts — at least, when penning a first draft.

Write for Life is an encouraging companion for writers completing a first draft and would be especially useful for those tackling NaNoWriMo.

Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer (A Six-Week Artist’s Way Program)
By Julia Cameron
St Martin’s Essentials
Publication date: 1/10/23

Write for Life is a 6 week program for anyone who is working on a writing project. It is a toolkit of sorts, offering tips, tools, and essays.

Julia Cameron wrote The Artist’s Way in 1992, and it was groundbreaking. I first read it when I was 18, and it opened up doors within myself I didn’t know were there. I still do Morning Pages (3 pages handwritten stream-of-consciousness every morning.)

Julia Cameron teaches “creative unblocking.” Her framework consists of Morning Pages, walks, and Artist Dates. Write for Life includes essays on procrastination, rejection, faith, hope, the inner critic, and connection, among others.

Cameron says “writing leads to writing” and that “It matters less what you write than THAT you write.” The great thing is anyone can be a writer! It isn’t just for the elite few.

This book came at just the right time for me, and reignited my interest in writing, reminding me to recommit to myself.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Julia Cameron for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review! I received an audio arc and will be posting my full review there.

I didn't really care for this. I'm a writer and much of this seemed repetitive, with an emphasis on morning pages, and look, if you can do morning pages - good for you, but that's not the reality for some. How can all creatives be expected to wake up and write 3 long hand pages of stream of consciousness and THEN do their actual writing? I've always been anti-morning pages. I think time writing should be spent in the creation, not stream of consciousness. What if you have children? Pets? A hectic morning? Not everyone can write in the morning. That's the reality of it.

I was hoping for something else and didn't get that here.

Julia Cameron's latest book expands on her theme that we can all be creative -- in this case, specifically as writers, though I believe her ideas could just as easily apply to other forms. Each section of lessons learned and stories from her creative life ends with reflection items. Ms. Cameron talks about ideation, beating procrastination, creating drafts, editing, and so on -- and knowing when you're finished. These are practical tools to jumpstart when stuck or to start, when a bit nervous about it all.

3.5 stars

I've read other books by Cameron, so I was excited about this one. The author shares her experience and what she's learned over the years. This is a good book for writers of various stages in their career. Each section ends with reflection items. The book's tone makes it feel like you're chatting with a friend. Real issues are covered in this encouraging book, and the author covers drafts, edits, rewrites, and up to knowing that you're finally finished. If you are questioning whether you should write, or continue writing, this could be just the inspiration you need to proceed.

Overall this has some good writing tips for any writer.

However, the way this book is designed, a 6 week program, the tips for each of the week don't need to be nor make sense as week "lessons." Without giving spoilers, feels like you need to hear week 4 lessons during week 2 kind of thing. They're not bad lessons just felt odd to design it like that.

This was a great read. It's a great resource that educates writers. This is a must-have for writers everywhere!

Write For Life: Creative Tools For Every Writer by Julia Cameron is an essential book for writers. In this six-week method, writers discover coaching and assistance for their art. Write for Life is an invitation to begin, stick with, and finish your project. Weekly themes are organized by chapters: 

WEEK ONE: Priming the Pump 

WEEK TWO: Begin Where You Are 

WEEK THREE: Trust Your Process 

WEEK FOUR: Resist Your Resistance 

WEEK FIVE: Dismantle Your Perfectionist 

WEEK SIX: Celebrate Your Achievement

After four decades, artist Julia Cameron continues to write three morning pages. She encourages her readers to push beyond their writers block and discover true creativity. She describes her morning pages as a “telegram to the universe.” Since she first started the practice of writing three morning pages, Ms. Cameron has published more than forty books. Her method of unleashing creativity works! 

What I liked most about this book is the structure of building routines and overcoming roadblocks to writing. I found the author’s expertise and understanding helpful for my journey. 

“Too often, when we sit down to write, we reject our initial idea. We rack our brains for something better. But long experience has shown me that my first idea is often my best idea. Writing, after all, is not meant to be torture.” -Julia Cameron, Write For Life

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and also purchased a copy for my home library.

While the majority of this book has stories from Cameron's own life as a writer, she shares some useful tidbits to help other writers who may have a block. Intended to be a "six-week program", she encourages readers to first start each day with writing “Morning Pages” which are just whatever your thoughts come up with, without trying to fit a specific prompt. This exercise is intended to get the creative juices flowing, and helps to develop a writing routine that is easy to abide by. Her suggestions typically try to get the reader to forego modern technology and embrace traditional methods (ink and paper). However, if you are like me, it may be more so a hindrance to eliminate the use of a laptop. To me, one of the most useful items in this book are the relatable and inspirational quotes from famous writers/poets throughout history that she has sprinkled throughout each chapter. Overall, if you need some inspiration, I would recommend this book for a quick skim.

*I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A must-read book for any writer or really, any artist. Julia Cameron has a way of shining light on the simple and necessary tools needed to truly succeed in your endeavors and to inspire you to create. This is wonderful for anyone just getting started, burned out and needing a lift, or writers who can easily write at whim but needs an extra tool for their writing arsenal. Again, it's really motivational for any type of artist. Thank you, Julia Cameron, for writing this book.

I'd heard of The Artist's Way, but this is my first Julia Cameron book. I'm necessarily an aspiring writer, but curious about pursuing artistic endeavors. The tone is motivating and reassuring. Cameron gives manageable guidelines for becoming a writer that focuses on consistency and calm. I loved the gentle tone that encourages us to unplug with daily walks and artist dates to spur ideas and well-being. I listened to the audiobook which was perfectly narrated by Eliza Foss. It's a fairly short book and it reads quickly. Pick this up if you're looking for inspiration to pursue writing or need reassurance!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing this ebook/audiobook. All thoughts are my own.