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The Right to Write - Book Review |
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Book Reviews -
Writing and Other Creative Topics
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Written by DivaTribe Member Lara
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 The Right To Write, by Julia Cameron
Award winning writer, Julia Cameron is back with a wonderful book called, The Right To Write, An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life.
If you haven't read any of Cameron's books I recommend just about all of them and The Right To Write is at the top of the list.
Writing is like breathing. I believe that. I believe we all come into life as writers. Julia says in the beginning chapter of her book.
This book entered my life at the perfect time. I believed I once was a good writer and through the years had somehow 'lost' my ability. I blamed my environment, my pregnancy, and most of all me but Cameron helped me realize writing needs to be cultivated as much as any other skill. If you don't practice your tennis game on a regular basis you will become rusty. Such is the same with writing. The Right To Write is laid out with basic lessons you can practice to get those creative juices flowing. You can read this book and gain insight or practice the philosophies in the book along with the author and unleash the writer within you that was either not tapped into before or tapped into once and long forgotten.
The Time To Write
Cameron explains that one of the biggest obstacles to overcome is falling into the trap of not having the time to write. After reading this book I agree that there is always time to write. There is no need to sit down and write a 20 page essay or a 200 page novel. If you write just a little each day you will be training yourself to add this activity to your daily life, just as you would add a shower or night-time routine.
Let go of the perfectionist inside you! Cameron helps us let go of our innate desires to create something perfect at our first try. This was a particularly hard lesson for me to learn. I want to sit down and write out my memoirs in perfection as they pour out through my pen. I learned it was possible to let go and write something straight from the heart and then go back to fine tune - or to not fine tune at all. Maybe some of my greatest inspiration is looking back on heartfelt - but not quite perfect pieces I've written.
I began this year suffering from what I thought was an indefinite writer's block. I have now broken free from those boundaries I placed on myself and realize whether I'm writing well or not - at least I'm writing.
Whether you want to consider yourself a writer or just let loose through the power of pen and ink this is a must read before you get started. Follow the lessons and then months later follow them again. Keep a journal of your writing progress and keep a tattered copy of a much read The Right To Write next to your most creative place.
We should write, above all, because we are writers, whether we call ourselves that or not ~ Julia Cameron, The Right To Write
Other books by Julia Cameron read and recommended by DivaTribe:
The Artist's Way
This review is available for reprint.
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