Review: Pep Talks for Writers

I’ve talked with you a bit already about what I’ve learning from this interesting book called “Pep Talks for Writers”, the most recent one being “Accept the Mess“. This book gives you 52 insights and actions to boost your creative mojo, so basically one insight you can work on per week for a year! What a way to increase your skill set eh?

So, like always, I assume you want to know what you get!

You get a well made, what I consider, attractive little book with 52 chapters, one for each topic. The chapter lengths are three pages each with a “try this” exercise at the end. Some of these activities are very short, others will take you a whole weekend if not more, but it’s all in the pursuit of being a better writer eh? Questions to answer, decisions to make, changes to encourage, writing to do. All things we as writers are encouraged to make.

Some of the Chapter Titles

you don’t need permission to be a creator
goal + deadline = magic
you are what you wear
fail often…fail better
new experiences = new thoughts
trusting in the absurd
know thyself

Does that just make you want to dive you? For instance… why SHOULD you trust in the absurd? How can you fail better isn’t failing, failing? Deadlines = magic.. I thought they equalled stress…..so yes, I want to dive into these chapters and I want my questions answered… don’t you?

My Thoughts:

I love the set up of this book, the short chapters, the interesting chapter titles, the call to actions that close off each chapter. It’s a method that works well for me, and I think would work well for you. After all, a call to action helps to cement the learning doesn’t it? The writing style is engaging and the points made, make sense. Do you want to be a better writer? This book will help.

Pep Talks for Writers
  - 52 insights and actions to boost your creative mojo
Grant Faulkner
Chronicle books
trade paperback, 255 pages
Adult, writer, writing, resource, how-to

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Where to find: Amazon Link.