Book Review: Writing Creativity and Soul
Here’s my review of Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you’ve read it or plan to read it, or if you have any other book recommendations to share.
Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd is an excellent book for writers, readers, and creatives. I would recommend gifting it to the writer in your life this year, if you still need holiday gift ideas for that hard-to-shop-for writer in your life. It’s an excellent book to read before the dawn of a new year as well, for those who need or seek a bit of inspiration this time of year.
This book reads like an intimate letter but is also well organized and helpful for those looking for easy-to-grasp writing tips and inspiration. I ended up underlining so many passages in this book, making special note of the books and authors Monk Kidd mentions and reveres, and placed it on the shelf above my own writing desk so I can refer to it in the future. Seriously, not a word or sentence in this book is misplaced or extraneous.
Mostly, I appreciated how vulnerable Monk Kidd was throughout this book. She shares tidbits about when and how she became plagued with self-doubt as an author over her decades-long career, and what she did to overcome it. She also shares tidbits about how she developed many of her novels’ characters and plots, for those interested in a behind-the-scenes look at her writing process. She shares poignant notes on what and who inspired her writing, as well.
I also appreciated how Monk Kidd included an entire section in the book on the mysteries behind writing, mentioning how important it is to do things like creatively loiter and remember one’s dreams while honoring everyday empty spaces necessary to the creative process. It will remind writers with deadlines that it’s still okay and necessary to be creatively human, even if they write for a living.
Aspiring writers will especially appreciate the Method section of the book, as it offers useful tips on how to write compelling characters and plots and narratives, and more. Though established writers will likely find the insights offered in this section to be valuable, too.
Overall, I would recommend this book to aspiring and established creative writers alike, especially those who relish taking their time and going deep when they write, read, and create. I would also recommend it to fans of Sue Monk Kidd’s work who want to learn more about her writing process.
Here are some notable passages from the book:
“The writer’s transaction with soul is what brings depth, authenticity, originality, imagination, and emotional reverberation to what we have to say.”
“Every person is fundamentally creative. Natural creative acts are taking place inside you around the clock without you even trying.”
“Writing is more than creating language and story. It also involves the creation of the self.”
“Creativity is an instinct as powerful as the instinct to eat, and it seeks conscious expression in the world.”
“In the broadest terms, the idea is to write from the inside out.”
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