Customer Reviews

A Writer's San Francisco: A Guided Journey for the Creative Soul

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I opened the book randomly to page 33, where the first line of the chapter read, "For a year I dated a schizophrenic poet-- let's call her Carol."

This is a travel guide?!

This essay was about a woman who hallucinated roses and poked strangers in the midriff and ended up institutionalized for some time, but who also wrote and recited poetry when she was "sane." And at one reading, a woman came up to her and said, "You are a real poet." It's the validation every writer craves, and it's the theme of this essay. Sure, the setting is San Francisco, but this is no "You must see this fine little café with the lovely murals" guide.

Having been drawn in by this essay, I flipped back to the first page and began reading. It's even more of a niche book than I imagined. It's written for nonreligious Democrat novelists who consider themselves "artists" and love San Francisco. I am precisely none of these things.

Considering how far out of his target market I am, I probably shouldn't have enjoyed this book. But I did. I enjoyed it despite wanting to toss mackerel at his kneecaps a few times. I enjoyed it partly because of that, maybe. What really matters, above all else, is that he's writing about the lives of writers. And even if I roll my eyes at the idea of "artistes" in coffee houses, we're going to have a lot in common.

The experience of walking into a bookstore and finding out someone else has already written the book you were planning to write, for instance. Trying to write even through tragedy and pressures. Missing a fabulous writing opportunity because you were in the wrong place at the right time. Blowing your first public speaking engagement in support of your book. Having conversations about the meanings of words like "haberdashery."

There are brilliant sentences and paragraphs here, things you'll wish you wrote. There are experiences you'll "get" even if you've never had them. This is part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of writers. The part that believes, regardless of what we write and where we live and what demographic boxes we check on subscription forms, that the merits of our work are still important. That those who try to belittle the craft should have their noses rearranged. That writing matters.

I just finished reading A Writer's San Francisco and I'll be buying extra copies to give as gifts. I think this one is even better than A Writer's Paris (which BTW was also very good). With A Writer's San Francisco, Eric Maisel manages to weave history, his personal connections to the city and the best of his creativity coaching lessons together into a delicious mix. The wonderful illustrations by Paul Madonna were paired with the essays to compliment them perfectly.
A Writer's Paris made me consider it viable to go to Paris for a writing vacation. A Writer's San Francisco is even bigger than that--it's a writer writing for writers and revealing why it's important to write, how connection to place and events can be so meaningful and rich, and how non-fiction essays can be creative and satisfying.
This really is a great idea--I can hardly wait to read the next city that Maisel profiles from his unique perspective and writer's experience.

From Bernal Hill to Washington Square Park, Alcatraz Island to the West Portal Tunnel, Eric Maisel has traveled physically and metaphorically, and in this beautiful new book, he gives the reader a guided tour of heart, soul, and place.

The physical book is stunningly beautiful. Paul Madonna's colorful drawings of buildings, streets, interiors, and still-life scenes add amazing depth to the narrative. A center foldout shows a typically hilly San Francisco street full of narrow houses and flats with a view to the Golden Gate Bridge. Quotations by Imogen Cunningham, Dylan Thomas, Mark, Twain, and Oscar Wilde on the reverse side attest to the strength and attractions of the city.

Those who have followed Maisel's career, read his books on writing, received his frequent newsletters, and participated in his creativity workshops will be further entranced by this book of reflections, memories, and wise observations, but any author or artist who has fallen in love with a city - or, indeed, any place - will find this "Guided Journey of the Creative Soul" irresistible. Highly recommended. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

Every year in December I read a creativity book and take as much time as I can to rejuvinate my creative soul and decide what projects I want to focus on in the coming year. Last year I read A Writer's Paris and this year I read A Writer's San Francisco. Both books are wonderful, inspirational texts that will help any writer find creative energy and meaning through their work. The first book made me want to get out and travel the world, using the opportunity to hone my senses and gather new experiences for my writing. It was wonderful, as far as that goes, but I don't generally have the money to fly off to Paris for a month, or even a week, to feed my creative soul. You can tell Maisel lives in San Francisco, while he himself has been only a tourist in Paris, because the second book brings writing home. It makes you appreciate your own home town, even if it's not as artist-friendly as San Francisco, and it offers an illuminating look inside a successful writer's daily life with out the rules and regulations so often laid out in "a writer's life" type of book. Recommended for all aspiring, struggling, and successful writers.

Never heard of Eric Maisel before but the cover drew me to the book because A) I recently discovered that I am too a writer hiding in corporate smocks and B) The view of the coverart is the exact view from my apt.

Maisel's style resonates with me greatly. The way he chooses to crochet his words is truly an art form and a skill to be admired. Not only are his essays poignant to any San Franciscan, each in itself is truly a love letter to his city reminiscent of a soldier in arms writing back to his betrothed. Excellent read - found myself nodding in agreement throughout the entire book. A must read!

The artist and the author combine their genius to bring the essence of a great city to you. I expect there was always that mysterious "it" enticing the orignal residents even before there was a place with a name there. This book shows and tells how "it" is today and adds history, the people of the past and present and , just as important - where to go for a great walk, a good cup of coffee and some appreciative reflection.
As a small town child from 2 hours north, I recall knowing how very unusual but special it was on a visit in 1954 - I was seven and I never ever wanted to leave. And now, I recall,it felt as though I had been there many times before - somehow,the city adopted me! Taken unwillingly away, called stupid and silly,I cried acid tears in the back seat of my Daddy's '50 Dodge for a long time. But I remembered all I'd seen and done.
More than a few decades came and went before the discovery that everyone has precious and/or distinct feelings regarding "their" San Francisco.
Sadly, busyness and duty has not allowed me to spend more than a few days over a long lifeitme there but this book brought much of it back and I will not need to wander and perhaps waste time feeling uncertain in future explorations - that is, if I am ever able to return.
I want to go where Paul Madonna drew and be where Eric Maisel describes and I want to read his feelings and thoughts then compare and build onto mine....in that way,as an aware adult, I can remember and fill my desire to never leave again no matter where I am...no matter where the future places me.
After all, isn't the mythos of our time on Earth a series of "experience blocks" piling atop one another? Isn't that what life really is?

Armistead Maupin's fictional tales of the city are one long love letter to San Francisco ... and here is why. A must have book for al writers who plan to visit the Bay Area.