Customer Reviews

Women Writing for (a) Change: A Guide for Creative Transformation

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Perhaps I should have more closely read the other reviews before agreeing to review this book myself. As a psychologist, I had been hoping that author Mary Pierce Brosmer's work with women writers would provide me with ideas for writing exercises that I could use with my clients. Unfortunately, I found only to be a small portion of the book to be potentially useful in this area.

Let me explain. Women Writing for (a) Change, or WWf(a)C (does anyone other than me find this to be extremely awkward terminology?) is a concept founded by poet and teacher Pierce. What started out as a small writing group eventually went on to become many different entities, including a school, a radio program, a foundation, and a consulting group. In Part I of this book, Foundational Stories, Pierce reviews the development of WWf(a)C, sharing the connections to her own childhood by weaving in her poems, dreams, and journal entries. Part 2, Groundwork, continues to tell the story of WWf(a)C, but here the focus is on the writing classes themselves, addressing topics such as rituals, class agendas, and "soul cards." Pierce also provides examples of how to share writing within the small group setting (i.e., read-arounds). Parts 1 and 2 do include brief, reflective-type exercises at the end of each chapter. Here is one example: "Write about listening and being listened to in you a) family of origin, b) current family or friendship circle, c) workplace."

Part 3 is what I would consider to be the heart of the book. The theme here is "Change Writing," and this is where Pierce finally begins to offer more specific writing exercises. Many of these instruct the reader to set a timer for a certain period and then to respond to a prompt. For example: "Set the timer for five minutes and write: I remember...I remember..." Pierce defines the exercises in this section as either "personal writing practices," which are designed to be performed alone, or "connection practices," which include the involvement of others--one of these, meant to be used with colleagues, involves asking each person in the group to write a story a day for five days. The final section of the book is titled Conscious Feminine Leadership. Here Pierce directs her attention to caring for all aspects of the organization; in her introduction, she says this is "not for the faint of heart." Pierce includes some Appendices in the book as well, but I saw little use to these, other than perhaps the Sample Class Agendas, which might be helpful to someone looking to hold a similar writing class or workshop to what is described in the book.

In summary, although this book is well-written and clearly heartfelt, overall, I feel that it has somewhat limited utility. I believe that it would be most useful for those engaged in teaching exploratory writing courses, perhaps college professors or others who incorporate read-arounds as part of their teaching. I think that this book will probably be less useful to individuals who are looking for ideas to stimulate their own writing, although those who do pick up the book for that reason may derive some benefit from skipping directly to Part 3, an option which Pierce herself offers in her Introduction.

Women Writing for (a) Change: A Guide for Creative Transformation is a much needed resource for the female writer - I wish I had known about the workshops and community that Mary Pierce Brosmer had laid the foundations for. It would be a much safer environment for those moments when we face hard truths or need a nurturing word. Based on her nationwide organization that teaches women and girls to nurture the conscious feminine voice within them.

Through the use of exercise and example Brosmer leads you on a pathway of exploration..."not just as a means of individual self-examination and expression, but also as a way to create and effect positive social change."

The exercises run from the intimately complex to the sublimely simple - my favorite is:

"Write Now: Take your calendar or day planner, and commit to a series of regular writing appointments with yourself. Keep them."

As women writers our stories are sometimes similar, but told from a different viewpoint and set of life experiences - I like the poem Brosmer quotes by Lisel Muller:

"Why We Tell Stories

Because the story of our life
Becomes our life

Because each of us tells
the same story

but tells it differently

and none of us tells it
the same way twice."

Destined to fill in the shelf of every woman writer...mine sits between The Artist's Way and Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within.

As someone who runs a writing prompt community, I was more interested in the actual prompts that Ms. Mary Pierce Brosmer had in this book. I was fairly impressed with the structure of the book as it was not only intended to be an exercise in getting women to think about feminist writing and learning their own voices, but also exorcising those exeriences that have been traumatic in ideally a community-type of setting. I found Chapter 6 which deals with Rituals to be of particular interest. We create rituals around creativity and give sacred space to those parts of ourselves that we seek to honour in the self and each other. Of course, not every woman has the luxury of being around other women or having access to such groups, but Mary Pierce Brosmer does make it possible for the reader to gain that experience through "Women Writing for (a) Change". I could see this book being used quite easily and effectively in a University or College level Feminist literature and writing class. Being woman who does not actively seek out feminist writing, I found this to be a very fresh approach to an genre that is all too often excessively angry and quite frankly dysfunctional. This book is neither of these things and really does seek to empower women - anyone realy, through the writing process.

This book with its focus on the feminine energy has the power to change our thinking about our writing and the role it plays in our lives. I surely can understand why their workshops are so popular!

I particularly liked the writing exercises and writing prompts in this book. I feel that it would be very useful to anyone who has contemplating writing but has wondered about what to write about or where to start. This book is more like a compassionate companion guiding your writing rather than a stern exacting teacher.The story of how Women writing for a change began and has taken shape over the years is a fascinating read. I loved the personal stories and anecdotes.

First of all, anyone who thinks this book is supposed to be a textbook for writing, or a textbook for teaching writing, or a textbook of any kind, hasn't read the title. The author clearly states that it is "A Guide for "Creative Transformation." So complaining that there are few writing exercises in it to use in your own classroom environment, etc., doesn't make any sense.

Secondly, this book was given to me, so I had no preconceived notions on what it would or would not do. I had a completely open mind to what it could offer, and as a result of that openness, I was able to receive the incredible gifts the book offers without being disappointed in what it didn't give me, based on my own expectations.

...and that is exactly what I would recommend to anyone who reads it....read it with an open mind and without preconceived expectations that it will be some kind of cut-and-dried manual on how to teach writing. It is exactly what it purports: "A Guide for Creative Transformation," and I have to say, wonderfully so!

This book, and the personal sharing of the author, touched me deeply, and helped me to unlock the writer within....not as a lesson on writing, but as an example of setting yourSELF free to write....through your own pain, tragedy, triumphs, joys, losses, etc., and WITH your own gifts that you have to offer yourself and your own little corner of the world.

The book would not have been the same WITHOUT the author's personal story, because her story is the story of many women. Unlocking and releasing your own pain and joy, writing from your soul and your heart, for (a) change in YOU, in YOUR world, and by extension in THE world, is exactly how you can creatively transform yourself, your life, your world.

Through this book, Ms. Brosmer is not a teacher in front of a classroom....she is your supportive mentor, in the heartfelt way that a woman can be, holding your hand, as you cross the threshold into being the woman YOU are meant to be, by releasing the story inside you. It doesn't mean that anyone ever even has to read it (your own story) but you...that's the point, as I humbly see it: that by "Writing for a Change," and by "Writing for Change," you are transforming yourself (creatively, as the title says) and as a result, the change in YOU ripples out to the rest of your world.

This book is inspirational, deep, and so full of heart that you can't help but let it touch YOUR own heart, IF YOU ARE OPEN TO IT. I felt like I was sitting in the author's living room, listening to her tell me her story, and by doing so, with the quiet strength of her own example, encouraging me to examine my own story.

I'm glad to see several reviewers had the same reaction to this book that I did. Women writing to encourage creative written reflection and self-expression in other women, what's not to like about that? I wanted to enjoy this book, try out the exercises and discover my own writing (and self) in new ways.

Maybe this expectation was unrealistic, but that's what I thought Pierce was promising. So I was disappointed that instead of a book encouraging women to explore, discover and write, this book seemed more like a celebration of Pierce herself--her founding of the awkwardly-worded, "Women Writing for (a) Change" (which, sadly, I found very boring to read about after a page or two, much less page after page after page).

It seemed that so much of that biographical exposition could have gone into an introduction, "This is who I am and what I've done". But I guess that wouldn't be very poetic and I think the author feels her arrangement of prose--and, imo, over-reflection on/celebration of herself, her talents and courage, and group she began, is crucial to the message of this book).

They always tell writers, "Know your audience". I would be the right audience for a book on reflection and exploring your writing as a woman. That's what I thought this book was -supposed- to be, and the audience it was -supposed- to be for, but it wasn't. There were some good questions and writing prompts, but they were few and far between and by the time I reached them, I almost didn't care any more, I was so irritated by all the verbiage along the way.

So, I clearly wasn't the right audience, which was a disappointment.

Can an author's introspection and over-sharing create a worthwhile journey for a reader, and most of all--inspire a reader's own creative journey? Yes, of course.

Does Pierce succeed in doing this here? Sadly, she didn't, at least not for me.

I am not familiar with Mary Pierce Brosmer's program where she sets up workshops for women writers to write for change. I have to confess that this book wasn't what I expected it to be. It really is dry reading and it's perfect for writers who are serious about honing their craft. If I was taking a writing class in college, this book would be the perfect book for it since it is written more like a text-book, not as an easy reading guide that seems to populate the How-to shelves in bookstores. I am a writer but I have a harder time staying focus reading this book. It is not meant to be a book that one reads for pleasure ... it is really a guide book for writers and those who want to be inspired to write. This book is inspiring and I love her poetry in this book (it has been some time since I've read any poetry let alone write it.).

The chapters cover issues like creating rituals to writing on different issues such as family and friends. She offers writing suggestions/questions at the end of every chapter. She shares details of her life with the readers in hopes to inspire them to write more deeply of their own experiences. She offers tips for people who want to teach writing. This book goes into depth about how to write and edit and to create one's own space in this world. It is fascinating to read and sometimes, it is a bit dry and long. Since I got the ARC of this, I am hoping that there have been some editing done to make it a bit more readable.

When I picked this book, I actually thought it was a series of essays written by a bunch of women writers. I love essays. This book is not it. It really is a writing exercise book that have been prompted by women writers. It is helpful in that respect.

10/5/09

I have to say that I was disappointed by the text itself. The author is trying to create an atmosphere for women to write freely without the conformities in a man's world. While the text is filled with exercises that might be useful, it also has a bunch of poetry by other women writers like Adrienne Rich and the author itself inserted in places. I felt like the author was trying to help other women develop their own writing group or support group in freelance writing. At times, I felt the author's message was being misused in the book itself. I didn't find this book to be a guide at all and was disappointed by it in it's layout. I was hoping that it would help me become a better writer. While the author shares her experiences and her dealings with being a feminist in today's world, I felt that she was holding a lot back. Her writings weren't free enough to explain the author to me and how she evolved into a writer and free from the financial constraints of today's world.

There are some things that I disliked about this book but it has some strong points. Let me get the negatives out of the way first.

Odd punctuation in a title is off-putting, especially since the title is repeated throughout the text. While the parentheses in the phrase "for (a) change" have a meaning, they stop the flow of words and are plain annoying. Personally I don't care for creative punctuation in a how-to book; spare me your cleverness when I am searching for information. Also, the author is doing several things at once and that is confusing at first. She is presenting a valuable guidebook but she is also publishing poetry. While the two tasks are not totally incompatible, they slow down the reader and make you go "Huh???"

Once you get past that, you find that this book contains a wealth of information on how to conduct a group for writers. The approach can also be useful to those who organize or teach other groups such as self-help groups.

Persons who are irritated by feminists should probably not spend their time reading this book. If you cannot forgive a chapter title of "Conscious Feminine and Linguistic Leadership in a Time of Planetary Crisis," you probably won't care for Brosmer's writing style. Still, she presents solid principles on creating a teaching and sharing atmosphere that builds confidence for all participants. So for a limited audience, this can be very useful.

I'm all for writing and especially writing to help us change, evolve and grow as women. I think I missed the boat here - I was expecting more lessons about writing. Quite frankly, this book didn't match my expectations.

I'm one who enjoys poetry, literary works and interruptive essays but the material in this book was a little over my head. It's taken me months to read through the materials and write this review. Honestly, I don't know what to write because I don't know what I read. There were many examples of poetry and essays and they were quite good but reading them I felt as if I were back in school learning how to become a great creative writer.

Part Three: Change Writing was probably the section with which I could connect most. There were exercises that I could try myself and begin on my own writing for a change. As I began working this section, I discovered that my writing is less creative and more basic. I fully realized in reading this book that I'm not a great creative thinker - I'm more of a nuts and bolts thinker and writer.

I'm sure this is a very good book for the right audience - I'm not the right audience.