This book is a great resource for writers of all kinds, beginners or veterans. The author uses her love of all things Japanese to explore writing in a very original way. She includes lots of journal exercises which are encouraging the writer to think about things in a different way. Kempton talks about the three gates theory and how it applies to writing. The author tells you how to write without having a set purpose in mind, how to put together your writing in a way that makes sense to you and how to shape your writing to publish or sell. I really enjoyed all of the little pieces of advice such as writing down some objects and your thoughts around them and creating a sacred space for yourself to write.. The author also encourages movement and exposure to nature as natural writing inspiration.

Some of this advice mirrors what is said in other writing books like Julia Cameron's morning pages and Anne Lamotts Bird by Bird approach, but this author gets more specific which is very helpful. The author has led an exciting and amazing life and while most of us cannot just get on a plane to Costa Rica when we need a creativity break, we can all find ways to bring our attention to our writing in a meaningful way. I fully attend to purchase a hard copy of this book so I can dip in and out of the journal prompts. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you Net Galley for the eARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book. The writing was easy to follow and I'm excited to implament the exercises into my daily life.

This book is more than just a book of writing. Even if you don't consider yourself a writer, you will be moved by this book. It is so beautiful written that it felt like reading poetry. The flow was so easy, like listening to waves. I felt free, present, and grateful the entire time I was reading it, as if I was just immersed in nature. This book was honestly therapeutic and empowering. A nature bath for my artistic, creative mind. I love the exercises and can't wait to explore them. So many more things I love about the book... the reminder that everything exists because of everything, all is interconnected and one. The relationship between writing and living. The spirituality and sacredness of writing. How we write today is influenced by everything that has every happened to us, everything that we've ever experienced or witness, and everything we've ever learned. So grateful to have read this book and am looking forward to buying a physical copy. A beautiful, beautiful book.

Much gratitude to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Essentials and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is a very helpful and positive look at how we can create routines/habits around writing that will inspire, help us to work through moments where we feel we have nothing to write, and even to just be better observers of our world.

A quick read that really got me motivated to write. Thankful for the opportunity to read!

I absolutely loved this book! Beth Kempton is so well versed in the Japanese customs, traditions, and language that I literally thought it was her own heritage! She brings a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to this book in hopes of inspiring future passionate writers.. Her exercises are creative which helps to expose the reader to a variety of styles of writing. I, personally, will be referring back to this book as I continue my fearless writing journey. Way to go, Beth!

I was predisposed to like this book because like Kempton, I'm also a fan of all things Japanese. This would be an excellent reference book to a writer that wanted to create a routine that was thoughtful and grounded. Some of it seemed "atarimae" to me but with reference books that's always bound to be the case, so your mileage may vary.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'm sure it will find its place on many an aspirational writer's shelf!

I have been trying for several years to establish a more regular writing discipline. This work helped me refocus some of my thinking both about writing and how I can regularize it as a practice in my life. Very valuable.

I was very happy to accept an advanced copy of this helpful book from NetGalley for the purpose of this review. I desire to publish more of my writing and Beth’s steps are amazing for helping one to do so. She incorporates a lot of personal anecdotes to step by step processes for writing.

I would give this to ladies in my writing circles and would desire a copy to keep at home for my reference.

This review is for an ARC ebook version of Beth Kempton's The Way of the Fearless Writer: Mindful Wisdom for a Flourishing Writing Life (Kindle Edition) provided by NetGalley.com Thanks to NetGalley.com and St. Martin's Press for making this copy available.

As a writer and aspiring author (readers of The Way of the Fearless Writer Mindful Wisdom for a Flourishing Writing Life by Beth Kempton will understand the distinction), I've stumbled across more than a few guides to writing. Most, ultimately, offer the same advice: if you want to be a writer, write. Some offer suggestions on how to approach the craft, how to succeed at writing, and often, how to market and sell your work. Some offer writing exercises and prompts to help stir the imagination and get the reader writing. Author Beth Kempton does all of this and does it well in her book. What's most successful in The Way of the Fearless Writer, and perhaps what will be most useful for an aspiring author like me, are Kempton's writing exercises, which are presented frequently and generously throughout the book.

Where Kempton really differentiates herself from other authors in this space is that her approach is rooted in her passion for Japanology, or the study of all things Japanese. Her approach to writing takes on a particularly Asian influence, specifically Japanese, and it's something this reader hasn't seen in previous writing how-to books. Kempton's approach may not be for everyone. What's actually an age old tradition influenced by ancient Japanese teachings and methodology will strike some readers as perhaps a bit too new agey for their tastes. I found it a refreshing change from the style and approach offered by other authors of books that might be found alongside Kempton's on a bookstore shelf and one that I found surprisingly effective. It took me a while to get there, I'll admit. I chased away a fair amount of skepticism before finally becoming comfortable and, ultimately, embracing Kempton's approach.

Will Kempton get me from writer to author? Probably not. I need to do that hard work myself. But her writing exercises and unique approach to becoming a fearless writer are things I can see myself returning to from time-to-time, even if just to page through (electronically) her book looking for passages that might inspire or help ignite any stagnant creativity.

"It's the same thing with writing. Moving a pen across a page, or hitting keys on a keyboard is simple, but that does not mean writing itself is easy."

Kempton's way of writing and speaking about writing is admirable and intoxicating. I have not devoted quite much time to a craft of writing, but hearing about the methods and techniques Kempton speaks about in her book makes me want to take up the art. The practice she describes is melodic and inspirational, with a pesky twinge of writer's block preventing the heart from exploring greatness and devotion. Through tactical practice writing segments inserted throughout the novel, self-exploration is encouraged as Kempton guides the reader throughout a series of methods to learn to open yourself up to the writing that your heart desires to write. Cleverly added anecdotes to add to the experience gave an even more personable impression on me, and certainly allowed for a humble amount of reader-writer connection through shared emotions, frustrations, and life experiences. This is a book I'd highly recommend to the struggling writer, aiming to unleash what they know their soul possesses to write. I also believe this book would intrigue the interested reader, even without an interest in writing, such as myself. The comfortable and casual colloquial, combined with helpful tips and investing insights into what it truly means to write is something that should not be limited just to the writing-interested audiences of the world.

This is a refreshing and timely book about mindfulness and writing. There are exercises and insights into the ways writing can help us connect with life. Highly recommended for writers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a quick read--it really flew by--but as a creative person myself who’s studied the region Kempton is talking about, it feels like something I’ve procrastinated on for a long time but shouldn’t have. I was familiar with a lot of the concepts that Kempton brings up, but never thought about it outside of a superficial way that didn’t connect it beyond “oh, that’s the history and what people believed in.” I do think I want to utilize some of the topics she talks about in my own life, as it connects back to simple living, minimalism, and being more intentional about how one lives their life. Writing, too, should be very intentional and connected, and I was starting to lose that. Plus there’s some fun knowledge I wasn’t aware of scattered throughout these pages, so I think there’s something in here for everyone, not just writers.

I haven’t finished this book yet, but I do find it intriguing. The beginning seemed a little “woo woo” to me, but I’m eager to begin the exercises with an open mind. I’m looking forward to seeing where my writing goes with Beth Kempton’s help!

This writing book centred on the practice of mindful writing. Referring to various mindful practices, this book highlighted a way of doing things based on going at your own pace and not based on pressure and productivity.