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Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers

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Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers is a book designed to give Christian writers encouragement throughout the writing process. The book is divided into four sections: (1) Getting Started. Should I? Can I?; (2) The Joyful Grind; (3) I Give Up! Too Many Rejections; and (4) Getting "It" Right: The Proper Perspective. Each "pearl of wisdom" consists of a thought, a prayer, a reflection, and some quotations. My favorite pearl is called "Rock Collecting" and recommends keeping "stones" or physical representations of accomplishments to help you get through hard times.

There are lots of good quotes and resources here. In fact, it would lend itself well to use as a kind of daily devotional - though it would work better if each of the 250 pearls were numbered. The book design is a little amateurish and there are some typos, but this is well-intentioned book that I would recommend for nondenominational Christian writers.

With open, generous hearts and witty, honest voices, the authors of Grit for the Oyster offer aspiring writers encouragement and Christian inspiration, served up side by side with no-nonsense advice on negotiating the rugged path to publication.

Grit's four authors take turns speaking, so the reader experiences the book as a long conversation among good friends. Fisher, Coty, McDonald, and Bloss probe issues from from understanding God's call to understanding U.S. copyright law; from finding one's writing voice to finding a room to write in; from making effective revisions to making effective writing relationships; from gracefully handling rejection to humbly accepting praise. Readers will feel invited into the warm conversation and will walk away with new confidence, new writing habits, and new writing goals.

An added bonus: Though the book's subtitle identifies an audience of aspiring writers, accomplished writers will find camaraderie and wisdom within Grit's pages.

Suzanne Woods Fisher, Debora M. Coty, Faith Tibbetts McDonald, and Joanna Bloss' Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers is an inspirational writing guide for amateur writers.

This book meshes scripture from the Bible with inspirational quotes from published authors and writers as well as questions writers should ask themselves about their own writing and writing careers. I would equate this book to a writer's devotional. It is broken down into a sometimes personal or inspirational story from the author of each section, a prayer fashioned for writers, a reflection, and a set of quotes from authors, publishers, agents, and others.

There are several references to Anne Lamont, author of Bird by Bird, and other published authors.

A couple of prominent tips in the beginning pages of this book include

1. Outlining the three steps amateur writers can take to become more qualified at their own craft.

2. Seek inspiration in the ordinary world and among ordinary people.

In "No More Detours," Joanna Bloss has some great tips for writers who have ADD, or the inability to focus on one project at a time. Rather than write like type-A personality writers who have set numbers of words to write per day, Bloss recommends ADD writers work on more than one piece of writing at a time and gradually finishing each one by the deadline. Learn to prepare the writing space first, ridding the atmosphere of noises and tasks that are unfinished. Writers also should remember to connect with other writers and hold one another comfortable. (pg. 29)

Here's a sample quote from this section from author Kristin Billerbeck:

"Now get busy, go write and quit making excuses. A badly finished manuscript can be fixed. A blank sheet of paper? Not so much." (pg. 31)

My caveat to this would be that a blank sheet of paper can be remedied as well, you simply have to write!

In "Will Work for Words" by Debora Coty, there is some great advice about writing on a freelance basis for money. I will share this quote with you: "Do not be squelched by low pay rates. View nothing as beneath you, and consider each publishing experience as a step up to the next level." (pg. 35)

Section one of the book is a vast outline of how to start writing and remain motivated as a beginning writer. For me this section of the book was a bit long, but other writers may need this kind of motivational pep talk. The nuggets of information in this section are helpful for Christian writers as well as those of other faiths.

There are some sections of this book that preached to the reader about the righteous path of writing, which could limit the outreach potential for this book. Writing is a way to express oneself and to say that writing about sex in romance novels is not the right path is to limit that self expression. In this respect, this writer's guide falls short for me.

However, some of the tips on how to remain motivated and inspired are eye-opening. For instance, Joanna Bloss indicates that some writers are more productive at certain times than others, but what they accomplish in their off-times is as equally important as what they accomplish when their writing productivity is high. Most importantly, Debora Coty suggests each writer take a Cyber Sabbath or time away from writing and the computer to provide balance to his/her life. I agree, without time away, how will you gain perspective on what you've already written? How will you have gained new experiences to supplement and breath life into your writing? You can't. Take a break. Breathe in the fresh air, then get back to work.

I have had GRIT FOR THE OYSTER for a while now and keep going back to it. Inspirational and encouraging are the two words that pop-up each time I think about this book. I just bought another one to give to a friend. A great book for writers anywhere along the curve--from beginner to seasoned vet. It kept me going after finding rejections in the mail and when I thought I had nothing more to say. That is high praise!

With Grit for the Oyster, authors Suzanne Woods Fisher, Debora M. Coty, Faith Tibbetts McDonald and Joanna Bloss have created an excellent resource for aspiring writers.

The book is divided into four sections: The first deals with embarking on a writing career, the second addresses the daily grind of writing, the third focuses on dealing with rejection, and the fourth section centers on keeping your perspective as a writer.

The four authors take turns with short devotional essays. Each essay includes a related Bible verse, pertinent quotations from established writers, questions for deeper reflection and introspection, and a suggested prayer. The authors tackle issues such as dealing with distractions, handling both success and failure, honing and using your voice, balancing faith with writing, and persevering in the face of self-doubt.

While I believe that the advice contained in Grit for the Oyster would be helpful for any writer, it will be especially beneficial to Christians. The format lends itself perfectly to use as a daily devotional.

I particularly enjoyed the carefully selected quotations that accompanied each essay. The insights of industry professionals and successful authors such as Dr. Gary Chapman, Terri Blackstock, Liz Curtis Higgs, Tricia Goyer and David Kopp are an inspirational addition to the book.

The presentation is a bit bland, and I would have liked an index for easier reference to specific issues, but the excellent advice and encouraging message outshine these minor flaws.