I haven't read any of Julia Cameron's works, but I am definitely intrigued by her writing.. This book is a compilation of her best writing tips with great testimonials from her long career. She gives writers in progress some sound, solid ways on completing their manuscript, starting with 'Morning Pages'. I loved that this was such a short book, with a few chapters, and doable tasks to follow up on our writing journey. Bonus points for mentions of her adorable dog Lily!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the early listening copy in return of my honest opinion.

Amazing resource for burned out writers who want to simplify things and reboot and reset. A lot of repetition throughout the book. But this one was a more concise version of The Artist Pathway. A resource all writers need to remind themselves to go back to the basics. Julia Cameron is the fairy godmother to all of us writers.

A good workshop in cultivating a writing practice. Julia Cameron continues to offer sage advice and practical suggestions for cultivating one’s practice and voice.

I loved reading this book. It's like sitting down with a good friend who reminds you of the things you know and shares the things you need to know. It's the practical advice like, "Begin where you are" that reminds me to show up to the page and to keep writing.

Julia Cameron’s latest book, Write for Life, reminds us “It is the act of writing that makes us writers.” Instead of trying to crack the code of what to do on your own, consider reading Cameron’s book. She shares what she has been doing for a lifetime of writing to become prolific and published.

You may recognize the name Julia Cameron because she has been teaching creativity with her groundbreaking book, The Artist’s Way. It started the conversation about how to be a better artist, how to be more creative, and how to own that persona in a world where artists and writers seemed to be gifted with a different mindset than others. (Spoiler alert: the gift is one we give ourselves when we show up to the page on a consistent basis.)

In “Write for Life,” Cameron breaks down the tools that every writer needs. She shares this art and practice with her readers. She mentors with an excitement that is palpable. This 6-week Artist’s Way Program is a detailed guide through the creative process. It includes everything from getting started, dealing with procrastination, trading in doubt for your own growing confidence, addressing deadlines and even work schedules.

So why does this matter? Because we all have a story to tell, and that story is worthwhile. It is unique to you and your experience, and the world needs to hear the stories that you are willing to share. It connects us, grounds us in a common experience, and reminds us that we all have something to contribute. This read is essential for those who have been writing for a long time and are looking to continue and enhance their creative journey. It is also needed for those who are new and wondering where to start. There are so many gems in this book. I wanted to highlight them all.

This is a culmination of all of Julia Cameron’s previous works which by the way I LOVED. Yes, this is more of a how to do the work but if you are a fan of her work then this will all be information you have already read and enjoyed.

Julia Cameron hits it out of the park again. Her book The Artist’s Way helped me truly become the writer I always wanted to be, along with so many other writers and creative people. Through daily “Morning Pages,” Artist Dates, and a new work ethic of sitting down to write daily, I eventually published several books and came to understand myself as an artist.

But we all need reminders, reinforcement, and more in-depth understanding of the practices we hold dear. This new book by Julia Cameron does just that. Even after years of journaling, I had let myself slip by with writing only a page or two, not the prescribed three. After reading this book, I understood why I needed to get back to writing a full three pages each and every day. My thinking and creativity have improved already.

If you’re a devoted adherent to Ms. Cameron’s tried and true methods, you’ll want to read this book. Maybe you need to read this book, to remember why you do what you do and to understand this methodology in new and better ways. If you struggle with writing and creativity, you’ll want to read this book, too. (And you’ll probably become a fan of Julia Cameron and want to read The Artist’s Way as soon as you can!).

P.S. As a Westie dog owner, I loved the parts of this book featuring Lily, Ms. Cameron’s own Westie! Best supporting dog in a writing book!

Great book full of information any writer can use. I can't wait to get a copy of this to add to my shelves.

Write for Life is a sequel to The Artist’s Way. The Artist’s Way was recommended to me a long time ago but never got around to reading it. When I had the opportunity to read Write for Life, I jumped at the chance. Although I’ve been writing for 10 years, suffering imposter syndrome and writer’s block for most of those years, I still needed this book to remind me to bring my writing and ideas back to the basics. I was reminded of things that I should do to center my jumbled thoughts. And while there were so many recommendations, the basic tenet of this non-fiction book is to journal. Daily journaling will help break through those blocks and writing paralysis. Before reading this book, I had spent a year journaling all of my fears and concerns about writing. When I stopped journaling, I became more confused by what I wanted to accomplish and how to get myself to follow through. I need to return to journaling, and this book has given me the tools and questions I should ask myself as I write morning pages before doing anything else.
If you’re a new writer or even an expert writer, I would recommend Write for Life by Julia Cameron to support your writing goals and process.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this terrific book given in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This book is a six week course written as a way to try and beat writer’s block and build better habits. Julia Cameron’s approach is soothing and conversational, making it easier to overcome writer’s block and deal with the guilt that can sometimes come with ‘not’ writing. The steps are simple enough and after awhile I was able to complete them without really thinking about it. As someone with Executive Dysfunction that was a bit of a surprise.
Overall a really good book that I recommend anyone looking for a little help.

Julia Cameron is brilliant. I've been doing morning pages most of my adult life and she is fantastic about getting creativity out of me personally.

I highly suggest following the program. I know it's easy to want to skip around out of excitement. I am working on a project so getting this book was like winning the book lotto. I have become more disciplined in my writing due to this book. I rarely skip my morning pages as it's a part of me. Julia's writing mixes great prose with lessons and teachable moments. It's not like a typical "how to" it's like reading with a good friend who understands the struggle to keep writing when you are not in the mood or your mind isn't into it. Many writer's, myself included, feel we are not good enough, our thoughts become our downfall. This book pushed me though those moments. It's packed full of wisdom, ideas and again, her own brilliant writing. I'm on my 3rd read if this book that is highlight like crazy. This book is a writing class on its own. Any writer beginner or seasoned this book would be an exceptional addition to your library.

Julia Cameron has so many devoted fans and followers who will love this new book. If you familiar with her work, she advocates the same tools and techniques (morning pages, artist dates, etc.) but includes some new ones, as well as new ways of using the old ones. The thing that makes this book so appealing is that it is very goal-oriented. She's helping readers determine a goal and focus on it, with the goal of completing a work. An excellent, easy to follow and compassionate guide.

This book had lots of good advice for new writers, or writers trying to get back into a practice. She presents a six-week plan for getting and keeping a writing habit. The number one suggestion is "morning pages," three handwritten pages of stream of consciousness that you do when you first get up in the morning, which the author and many other people find life-changing. "Writing morning pages, we notify the universe of our dreams, wishes and desires."
I tried it, and didn't really give them a full chance (maybe wrote like this a dozen times but not daily.) I decided if I was going to open up the computer with my first cup of coffee, I might as well work on my darned book. Other suggestions I found useful were:
"If I didn't have to do it perfectly I'd…" list of 5.
For procrastination, write all your fears and angers about the project.
"What I'd really like to write about is…"
To consider the contrast between originality vs authenticity - so important in a world so FULL of books already written!

Obviously, Julia Cameron has a carefully developed a set of practices that will help many. Also, it was interesting to watch her meta-write the book, constantly commenting on her progress in writing and how she felt about it, mixed in with prescriptive text and corny case studies. I found her tone a little condescending as she repeated what a successful writer she was, often, and described her four separate writing stations in her fabulous home overlooking the mountains.

My reading on the craft of writing has tended to be of the formulaic "save the cat" type, so I benefitted from taking it up a level, thinking about how to empower creativity, and will use some of her practices, but probably not morning pages.

I encourage readers to look at a few of the reviews (which so far are very positive) and decide if they want to read it. Thanks to #netgalley, author and publisher for the advance e-copy.

I'm no writer or artist but from what I read this could be very beneficial to those who do.
Cameron has created a very informative book here with Write for Life.. the art and practice of writing..
This six week journey will inspire and give you that drive to writers success.
Full of information, advice and answers to questions.
I believe this is the perfect kit to help writers open that door to their creativity.
And push you toward the goals you have set for yourself.

St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Essentials,
Thank you for this eARC to title.

I've read Cameron's "The Artist's way" and loved it. I am happy to say that I immediately fell in love with this one, too. Cameron has a very descriptive, conversational way of writing and I found it an easy, informative read. I also fell in love with her pen-stealing dog Lily. My Daisy isn't a pen thief but she is also part of my daily routine.

Routine is an important element of being a writer. Cameron describes hers early on in the "Prime the Pump" section, so to speak, and I found myself wishing my dog and I could join her on their daily walks as she detailed the colors, views, and smells, even the dust that cars might kick up along the way. At the very least, she had me wishing I could be one of those receiving her regular notes and cards. I imagine I could find more than a few from here in Alaska to share.

In any case, on to the book. Since the book blurb did a wonderful job detailing the contents, I'll simply add a few thoughts as I read. First, I liked the seeming simplicity and that Cameron seemed to be talking directly to me as she shared writing experiences and what she's learned. There's something to be learned here whether you're tackling the next great novel or simply writing a note to friends. Each section ends with a list of things to ask yourself at the end of each of the six weeks suggested. I found those interesting as all too often we tend to think of the writing process being a "do this" and "do that" routine, thinking when we complete on step, we can forget about it and move on. Sorry, doesn't work that way. You'll note there is much repetition in the checklists, for instance.

Bottom line, written in a friendly, conversational tone, this book is packed with practical information on writing and examples from both Cameron's own experiences and those of others. I got a chuckle out of her humorous, poetic response to one critic of her book, for instance, a reminder that no one is immune to criticism. More importantly, she takes us from getting the first words on paper through the moment a copy of the book is in your hands, giving both suggestions and support. Cameron believes anyone can write and it shows.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for reminding me of the joy or writing, not to mention simply enjoying your life and goofy dog. My Daisy sends Lily a lick and suggests pencils are better than pens for chewing. That's a whole other story.

I personally own everything by Julia Cameron and cannot wait to have this one in print as well. It's a wonderful step-by-step guide to getting your mindset where it needs to be. Application is often the hardest part, but she makes it easy! Highly recommend!

Always wanted to write and not sure where to begin? Well, Julia Cameron’s Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer will take you on a 6 week journey from start to finish. Filled with information from a lifetime of experience, with each chapter Julia builds upon the lessons from the previous chapter. Included in these chapters are not only Julia’s advice but helpful tidbits she’s curated from other authors. And at the end of each chapter you’re presented not only with a list of tasks, but with her ‘check in’ questions where she asks a list of questions which makes you look back at what you’ve done and is meant to hold you accountable. This is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to be a writer. Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Write for Life.

WRITE FOR LIFE: CREATIVE TOOLS FOR EVERY WRITER
BY: JULIA CAMERON

3.5 Stars!

Julia Cameron has said she has written over 40 items. Whether they be poetry, screenplays, non-fiction or novels. What I got the most out of this short book on writing, that can be quickly read, is her exercise on writing "morning pages." From which she swears by taking an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper and writing three pages in a stream of conscious way. Much like the way Virginia Woolf wrote. In fact she brings up Virginia Woolf. This Author swears by these morning pages as unlocking writers block. She describes her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico as a place outside as being a place where she writes sometimes describing the view as well as the local floral and fauna. This is one out of four places she says that she writes from in her home. The other three are her library at her desk. An uncomfortable couch beside her treadmill that she will jump off from to quickly jot down ideas. Her love seat in her living room with a coffee table with aromatic giant roses, that I'm assuming she picked from her yard. She mentioned taking five or six mile long walks. That is one that I can say that I found helpful, when I used to run at least that, but I do agree that long walks for the amount of miles when I do it, improves my creativity. She mentions taking yourself out of the house and doing something enjoyable for yourself as "artist retreats," is another device she does. I was expecting more from this, I'm not exactly sure, but I'll see if the tools that she has incorporated into this book make me a better writer.

Publication Date: January 10, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Julia Cameron and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WriteForLife #JuliaCameron #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

Years ago, I went through “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron and it help me me a lot. Then life interfered and I forgot about the lessons I learned. While I could go back to the beginning, I found this book more than enough to get me back into the practices she recommended, along with some new ideas. Plus, this book is not just for writers, but for creative person, whether it be art, music, or writing.

In this six-week program, Ms. Cameron encourages you to “prime the pump” by doing morning pages, taking a walk, setting goals, and taking artists dates. There’s a lot more here too, but these are her basics that she builds on. At the end of each chapter, she has a set of “check-ins” – did you do these things type of lists as well as recaps of what you should have done.

Recommendation: Highest of recommendations. I’d have given her ten stars if I could. And this is definitely on my “to be purchased” list (though waiting until the end of next January will be a challenge). I guess I could always go back to the beginning while I wait.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in hopes of a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by anyone or anything.

A necessity for the writer's arsenal of inspiration and instruction. Julia Cameron never fails to deliver when it comes to make life as a writer feel possible and also necessary. It's a calling, and she shows how to follow it. Will definitely share with my writer friends. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed reading this book and found it practical and easy to follow. Julia Cameron writes to not just the accomplished writer but also the beginner. I have started “morning pages” and actually look forward to it daily. I would recommend this to anyone needing a little extra nudge to expand their creativity or writing of any kind. Easy to follow and full of anecdotes.