Customer Reviews

Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life into Story

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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

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.

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.

Courage and Craft is a phenomenal inspirational guide for aspiring writers and experienced writers alike. I have been a closet writer for many years and recently enrolled in a MFA program. I have the same fears many new writers do and this book has really helped to inspire me. Not only does it give fantastic exercises to help spark your creativity, it gives lots of great advice about the writing process. Every time I feel like putting down the pen and quitting, I read a small section and it helps me realize that those fears come from the critic crawling around in my head. I pick up the pen and start writing again - even if it is bad writing. This book has something for everyone regardless of what genre you are interested in. It is also structured in small sections for quick reading. I don't have a lot of time outside of writing and reading for classes, but I could pick this up and in a few minutes get the inspiration I needed to start my day. Courage and Craft will be a permanent addition to my writing desk so that I can turn to it any time that I need a boost, some advice, or just some suggestions on how to break free from my inner critic.

I am happy to have discovered Barbara Abercrombie's "Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life into a Story." The chapters are easy to read and follow, filled with examples, anecdotes, writing prompts, and helpful quotations from other writers. The 142-pages lead the writer in the reader to make the decision: I can write this story.

Sprinkled throughout are starters, labeled "to do." These range from making a list of your obsessions to writing a scene and then changing the setting. Abercrombie breaks the seemingly impossible and unwieldy task, of writing your life's story, into steps and stages that can be managed. The process becomes a winnable challenge, an exciting adventure. Rather than staring at a blank screen and worrying about where to go and what to start with, the writer is nudged into memory and to get ideas onto paper.

I also found both the recommended reading list and the index to "Courage and Craft" helpful. I've read a number of "how to" guides in the past few years. Abercrombie's work is in the same category of inspirational and helpful as See's "Making a Literary Life" and Lamott's "Bird by Bird." You can make the leap from thinking and planning to actually WRITING. Buy this book.

Barbara Abercrombie has written a book that should help the aspiring writer get started in the right direction. The book has simple exercises to get the writer's juices flowing and, more importantly, to get the writer writing. One major message from the book is that to become a writer you have to write, no matter the circumstances. The perfect time will never arrive nor will the perfect inspiration. You need to sit down and write, even if it's just trash, and then re-write. This process will get you eventually to where you want to be. There is a lot in this book to get the beginner going. Just reading some of the exercises gave me the nuggets of ideas. It's now up to me to start writing.

While reading *Courage and Craft* I devoured this book like a glutton. Starved for new understanding about writing and blind to my own stupidity I read this little book without alertness to my own actions. So, the wonderful words of Barbara Abercrombie did not fully stick to my already faulty memory.

The second time around I'm reading *Courage and Craft*like the French women eat, slowly, and savoring every sentence and stopping at each period. Breathe, admire that marvelous sentence. Appreciate it. Hoping this time it sticks to my bones.

If you're a starved wanna-be writer: Go. Be fed. This book will satisfy.

Barbara Abercrombie's book is a storehouse of information and inspiration. If you aspire to be a writer, this is the book for you. And if you already claim to be one, well, this book will inspire and encourage you to put out your very best work. Loved it!

This as been a great book. I needed something to get me started with my writing again. The reviews helped me pick the right book for me.

I am writing a memoir right now. This book helped me believe that I could do it. Also, that my story had value. It helped me admit that I am a writer. All of the suggestions and exercises are valid and useful. This book is a very real read.For me it was like drinking cold water on a hot day...... I have read it twice on my kindle, then had to purchase the book it self so I could hold it in my hands!! Buy it,enjoy it, and start writing!!!