Monday, October 27, 2014

Dancing on the Head of a Pen


The Practice of a Writing Life

By Robert Benson
www.robertbensonwriter.com
Publisher: Waterbrook Press                   174 pages
Rating:  3 stars


There are many other books available for writers that are similar to this book, yet much more enjoyable. Even though it is a small book, Dancing on the Head of a Pen was a slow read for me and I didn't learn anything new.

On the positive side, though, the book is a good inspirational read for a writer. Benson says that we study the habits of those who inspire us. On his list of examples is the late Graham Greene. Perhaps Robert Benson will make it onto the lists of those who read this book.

One piece of advice that I found dear to my heart is found in chapter 9. The author recommends that writers be pack rats. Collect stuff that moves you. Also, keep your old journals and try reading through a couple each year. Benson says his are "reminders of forgotten bits of my life."

A piece of advice writers hear all the time is "a writer should always be writing." My favorite quote from the book is when Mr. Benson says, "I want to write. I may even need to write. But I want to be read as well. I want to be heard."

Me too!

 
I received this book from the Blogging For Books program in exchange for this review.