Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life into Story [Paperback]

Barbara Abercrombie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2007

Have you always wanted to write about your life but wondered how to get started, how to keep going, and whether it's even worth it in the first place? Under the guidance of veteran author and writing teacher Barbara Abercrombie, you'll learn how to turn the messy, crazy, sad, and wonderful stuff of your life into prose or poetry that has order, clarity, and meaning. Abercrombie presents the nuts and bolts of several genres, showing you how to keep a journal, craft a personal essay, or write a memoir, autobiography, poem, or work of fiction. She offers lessons to embolden you as a writer and practical guidelines for working writing into your everyday life, giving and receiving feedback, and getting your work published. In Courage & Craft, you'll find exercises to keep the inner critic at bay, inspiration from writers who've been there, and proven advice for getting your words on the page and out into the world.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is a clear, insightful book about reading and writing by one of the most gifted teachers of writing today. She wrestles the art of good writing from the clutches of the muse and brings it down to earth where we can have a go at it. With humor and generosity, she shares her good ideas and love of craft. It is a nourishing read, second only to taking one of Barbara's classes.” — Linda Hunt, actress “There are too many technical, academic writing texts out there. Barbara gives the writer something far more valuable in this splendid guide — how to write from the gut, from the heart, from the soul of your experience.” — Billy Mernit, author of Writing the Romantic Comedy “Courage & Craft is the perfect guide for anyone who has ever been passionate about telling a story but feels too frustrated, nervous, unsure, unworthy, clueless, or terrified to proceed. Barbara Abercrombie grabs hold of your hand, gently pulls you along, and doesn't dream of letting you go until you're steady on your own two feet.” — Jennie Nash, author of The Victoria's Secret Catalog Never Stops Coming --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Back Cover

"Informative, delicious to read, and extraordinarily user friendly; perfect to read on your own or as a text in any good creative writing class. Abercrombie's generosity and sweet spirit shine through on every page."
-- Carolyn See, author of Making a Literary Life

"This is a clear, insightful book about reading and writing by one of the most gifted teachers of writing today. She wrestles the art of good writing from the clutches of the muse and brings it down to earth where we can have a go at it. With humor and generosity, she shares her good ideas and love of craft. It is a nourishing read, second only to taking one of Barbara's classes."
-- Linda Hunt, actress

"There are too many technical, academic writing texts out there. Barbara gives the writer something far more valuable in this splendid guide -- how to write from the gut, from the heart, from the soul of your experience."
-- Billy Mernit, author of Writing the Romantic Comedy

"Courage & Craft is the perfect guide for anyone who has ever been passionate about telling a story but feels too frustrated, nervous, unsure, unworthy, clueless, or terrified to proceed. Barbara Abercrombie grabs hold of your hand, gently pulls you along, and doesn't dream of letting you go until you're steady on your own two feet."
-- Jennie Nash, author of The Victoria's Secret Catalog Never Stops Coming

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: New World Library (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577316010
• ISBN-13: 978-1577316015
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Abercrombie has published thirteen books, plus essays and articles in many national publications. She teaches in the Writers' Program at UCLA Extension where she recently won a Distinguished Instructor award. Her most recent books are Courage & Craft and CHERISHED: 21 Writers on Animals They Have Loved & Lost. Her next book, A Year of Writing Dangerously, will be published in 2012 by New World Library. She lives in Santa Monica, California and Twin Bridges, Montana with her husband Robert V. Adams, and their rescue dog Nelson.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for All Writers, May 25, 2008

By 

Hal-Zina Bennett, Author-Writing Coach "Halbooks" (Northern California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life into Story (Paperback)

As an author and writing coach, I'm always on the lookout for good resource material to recommend to clients and students in my workshops. This one particularly got my attention because it tells how to give real depth, authenticity and meaning to our writing by drawing from our own life experiences. As every successful writer knows, without that ability even the most exciting "thriller" sounds flat and unconvincing. This book tells how to draw from our life experiences while not actually being biographical, that is, by capturing the essence of an experience--the emotion and spirit of a moment--and putting it into proper context with a character you may have created. No matter what your chosen genre--fiction, non-fiction, autobiography, or poetry--this is a book you should read and keep on your reference shelf. --Hal Z Bennett

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent., January 14, 2008

By 

K. Peterson (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life into Story (Paperback)

I bought this book on a whim. I'd always loved writing and was looking for a guide to help me get started and to point me in the right direction. I definitely found exactly what I needed in Courage & Craft. It's full of exercises designed not only to get you thinking and seeing the world as a writer, but also to get you into the actual habit of writing (if you aren't already). It's supportive and inspiring. So much so, that I barely got through the first chapter before I was itching get going with her first exercises.

Thanks for this fabulous kickstart. I'm so happy to have purchased this book.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practice For The Sake of Practice, October 21, 2009

By 

Carmen Matthews "The Serene Samurai" (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life into Story (Paperback)

Barbara Abercrombie says, "Courage doesn't mean sudden, miraculous strenth of character: it means doing something difficult despite the fear."

And, through teaching her students to use their daily life experiences to develop their writing skills, she is also teaching readers and writers to explore the deepest parts of their psyche.

Early on in "Courage & Craft," as I read about Ms. Abercrombies' students saying that they didn't know how, or didn't feel comfortable writing journals, I was taken back to when journal writing became a significant part of my life. Years after college and after leaving the army, I went on a quest to discover my life's purpose.

I decided to read what I wanted to read, and to look for the meaning in everything that I read, based upon the questions that rose up, from within my soul. I chose to be, as the authors of "How to Read a Book" suggest, "a demanding reader."

A demanding reader asks questions before, during and after reading a book. And the type of questions are different, depending upon the type of publication you are reading. Questions for periodicals include, "What does the author want to prove?" "Does she know what she is talking about?" and four other questions.

Reading poetry starts with reading it out loud, and looking for the connections.

Where as reading a novel, some questions to consider might be, "Is Rhett Butler narcissistic? Does Scarlett O'Hara represent the unspoken rules for women, of her time?"

In "Courage & Craft," Ms. Abercrombie anticipates and answers some interesting questions:

"What if you don't like to read? My friend, if you don't like to read, don't write. There's no reason
to.... if your heart doesn't start thumping with anticipation when you walk into a library or a bookstore,
if you don't rationalize all the reasons why you must absolutely order all those books online and damn the
expense, if your idea of hell isn't being stuck on a plane without a book to read, then quite simply: don't
write."

This book is for anyone who wants to write, be that an essay, a journal, memoir, biography, or anything else.