Customer Reviews

Writer As an Artist: A New Approach to Writing Alone and With Others

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There are so many different writing books out there -- but this one, along with Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind -- is my absolute favorite.

The author, a founder of the writers group Amherst Writers & Authors, is direct, supportive, and a strong believer in the idea that "a writer is someone who writes". She believes that art belongs to the people, and that every human being is born an artist. These values are the bedrock of every chapter in the book.

The book contains 50 writing exercises, chapters on getting started, feeling and facing your initial fears, the necessity of putting writing first (if a writer you want to be), finding your own voice, and the form your writing takes. (That's the "writing alone" part). The "writing with others" part is covered in two chapters dealing with the benefits of writing with others, how to start a writing group, what to watch for and avoid, as far as keeping the group "healthy" (i.e. focused on writing).

The author has an engaging and direct style. Each chapter is filled with anecdotes from her writing life, and that of her writing groups, and is sprinkled with samples from her workshops. I cherish my dog-eared copy, and peruse its chapters when I am in need of a shot of "feel-good" inspiration.

As a writing teacher in a maximum security women's prison, I meet with great reluctance from students when it comes to writing. Many of them have had terrible school experiences wherein they've suffered humilation and failure. Who doesn't remember having an essay returned with a zillion red-penned corrections? Thus, it's essential to create a safe environment before students can even begin to find their voices. Pat Schneider's gentle technigues ensure an atmosphere where trust develops, and marginalized women can begin to share their stories. The exercises in The Writer as an Artist are appropriate for a wide writing population, and Schneider provides step by step suggestions for establishing a writing community where self-expression can flourish. As a teacher and writer, I am grateful for the book's practical advice, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in writing alone or in a group.

This book won't give the same results for everyone precisely because of the approach it takes. Like so many other writing 'how to' books, it straddles the line between instruction and self-help therapy. In the same vein, Schneider chooses to focus largely (but no exclusively) on would-be writers who are damaged and female.

The AWA method (pioneered by Schneider) is an established and sometimes incredibly useful way to workshop for many people. But it's not for everyone. This book unfortunately will be too touchy-feely for a lot of writers who are looking to simply strengthen and improve their craft. The exercise ideas are good, often great. But the text itself slides toward the 'writers must bare all their private pains and anguishes to be able to write anything worth the effort' philosophy so popular these days.

The truth is, this is just one way of looking at writing, and I would say it is an approach that's counterproductive in the long run. It is capable of sometimes producing extraordinary writing, but far too often produces introspective self-flagellating drivel. Write what you know, write what's inside, yes! But turn outward, too, and write what you see and experience and can describe! Find a nurturing environment, yes! But challenge yourself and visit dangerous places outside your head, too!

I have heard that a second edition of this book is in progress. I am optimistic it will reach further and strive for more depth. Otherwise, it may feel like this first edition: it tries to be a great book about the writing process, but too often succumbs to the temptation to become a poor-man's psychoanalyst.

This book is an invaluable resource for writers and for people who lead writing groups. It's the book I use to help me lead my own writing workshops. It's also the book that I recommend most often to writers in my workshops, both new writers and people who have written a lot already. Everyone always gives this book a rave review and thanks me for telling them about it. The book is full of sensible advice and a long list of writing exercises. The writing suggestions are varied and well-presented. This is definitely a book about writing that should be better known. It's my absolute top pick of all the books on writing that are out there.

This book is outstanding! Out of the many books I have recently read about writing & art, this far the best. The author has a way of inviting you in as an writer of many genres, having you feeling legitimate in your aspirations to write and create. This book is inspiring and nurturing in its content and delivery. Her methodology for writing is one that I personally plan to pursue (The Amherst Writers and Artists Method). This is a must read book for the spoken word artists!

This book is an invaluable resource for writers and for people who lead writing groups. It's the book I use to help me lead my own writing workshops. It's also the book that I recommend most often to writers in my workshops, both new writers and people who have written a lot already. Everyone always gives this book a rave review and thanks me for telling them about it. The book is full of encouraging advice and a long list of writing exercises. The writing suggestions are varied and well-presented. This is definitely a book about writing that should be better known. It's my absolute top pick of all the books on writing that are out there.