Customer Reviews

The Writer's Portable Therapist: 25 Sessions to a Creativity Cure

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This book is a gem. And it really is what it claims: a portable therapist for writers.
For every challenge a writer faces, Ballon has answers. For every day that a writer
wants to give up, Ballon has a suggestion. But most importantly, for every problem
a writer faces, Ballon has a solution.

In too many situations we talk about problems and how they affect us or make our lives
difficult. But rarely do we focus on solutions. Why? Because solutions are too
straightforward. They deprive us of the ability to wallow in self pity. Somehow, we, as humans,
want to go 'round in circles about problems. But a solution would cut the
problem to a quick.

Indeed this is the answer: to SOLVE the problems quickly - to keep us moving on and
to keep us producing - sometimes against insurmountable odds.

Ballon takes this brave step and offers many solutions - the most important tools we need to
grow and evolve as writers. She understands the difficulties and the sometimes bizarre and
complex problems writers face. For this reason, this book should be a requirement for every
writing program in the country.

This little book packs a big wallop -- exploring those internal nooks and crannies and helping the writer to make sense of the emotional challenges many writers face when it comes to penning a screenplay, article, novel or short story. There's a reason Rachel Ballon is called "Doc Hollywood" and once you read this helpful and insightful book, you'll know why!

Rachel Ballon sure understands the challenges so many writers face. Her latest book is packed with gentle yet practical suggestions that will guide all writers out of their creative stumbling blocks towards completion of their project.

This book is wonderful. Rachel Ballon adddressed every issue I've ever had as a writer and then offered such imaginative solutions. Ballon seems to really understand writers and their process. Other books simply offer pat structures to writing. If you are blocked, it doesn't matter what structure you have in front of you. I'll read this book again and again.
MGE

Off and on for the past several years, I have been trying to develop a writing routine without much success. When I sit down to write creatively or to write about the past, emotions and memories weigh so heavily that I give up.

I worked through the 25 sessions. I've made profound progress. Time will tell if it is a breakthrough, but I have joined a writing group and stuck with it for over six weeks now, having my exercises ready for each meeting. This doesn't sound like much, but for me it is a great step.

Does a book substitute for a real therapist? Of course not, but I don't like paying thousands of dollars and whining to somebody who is just getting paid to listen. On the other hand, Dr. Ballon has invested a lot of her exeperience and therapeutic wisdom into this book. She shares insights of her own and tightly summarized case histories. As a reader, I have no therapist to talk back to, but I don't think many therapists would have more to say to a "patient" if that "patient" were actually in her office.

A few of the middle chapters feel a bit cliched, but that is in part because our society has made the concepts of psychological counselling such a big part of our news and entertainment media. As a whole package, as a ridiculously cheap one-month program to help deal with the pain of writing creatively and tapping sensitive memories, THE WRITER'S PORTABLE THERAPIST is very helpful and should be tried by anybody struggling desperately with writer's block. It has helped me, and if I ever get published, I will remember this book with gratitude.

If you're a writer...you need this book. It inspires. It picks you up when you're lower than aardvark excrement. It's not just a collection of quotes. It's a book of writing exercises. It's a book of one-on-one advice. It's like Rachel Ballon, Ph. D., is there with you listening to your frustrations as a writer. I keep it by my computer like a baby keeps a blanket.