[Previous entry: "Day Off"] [Next entry: "Failing"]

01/13/2005: "Book Recommendation – Page After Page"

I’m reading a really great book on writing. It’s called Page After Page and is by Heather Sellers.

I bought it because it professes to be about how to “start writing and keep writing no matter what”. All writers want to learn that, right? I was hooked. Out came the visa check card.



Some writing books I’ve read don’t live up to their hype. Some just aren’t what you’d thought they’d be. (Strangely Sellers deals with that very phenomenon in her book. Hmm. That’s an unexpected connection that just happened there. What’s that about?)

Anyway, Sellers delivers. I should note that I haven’t finished the book yet. I’m only on Chapter 5 but I love this book already.

My favorite part so far is the chapter titled “Lover on the Side, Lover in the Center.” (Sounds pretty scandalous doesn’t it?) The chapter talks about writing as a lover – one that must be wooed and courted and paid attention to. She talks about how when you’re with your lover (writing) time melts away. You’re not watching the clock. You’re not forcing yourself to be there, not begrudgingly spending time with your lover so he/she/it won’t leave you. You want to be there. It’s a pleasure.

She also talks about the common yet strange phenomenon of writers who don’t write – who instead find time for everything in their lives except writing, yet complain that they don’t have time to write. (Yeah, I’ve done that. Who of us hasn’t?) Sellers reminds us that everyone gets the same 24 hours a day. She says “It’s the single fair thing in life.” She suggests we look at how we spend our time and ask ourselves “What job are you qualifying yourself for?”

There’s an exercise at the end of the chapter where you’re supposed to write down all your excuses, why you can’t write, why you don’t have time, all your special circumstances, the “busy-drugs you are addicted to.” Then ask yourself these questions: “What job are you qualifying yourself for? What is at the center of your life? Are you in the mood to fall in love with writing?” And more.

I have a confession to make. I haven’t done that exercise yet. I’ve been strung out on busy. My comfort zone’s been complaining. I had to work.

But I’m gonna do it today. I swear. No excuses. Actually I’m gonna do it right now.

Edited to add:
Just discovered that Heather Sellers has a website. It includes an excerpt of Page After Page. Check it out at
http://heathersellers.com/

P.S. I did that exercise. Very enlightening and helpful. My comfort zone is sulking in the corner.