Customer Reviews

Writing to Change the World

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Deep down, all writers aspire to be what Mary Pipher calls "Change Writers". Mary Pipher gets to the heart, the root of why we write. Whether we are 'liberal' or 'conservative', republican or democrat, athiest or 'fundamentalist', we write because we understand that we can influence people with our words.

This is not a book on "How to Write". This is not even a book of inspiration for curing "Writer's Block". This is a book that brings to light the things which the heart of every writer knows, yet often forgets.

Pipher separates her book into three sections, "What We Alone Can Say", "The Writing Process" and "Calls to Action". I found "What We Alone Can Say" and "Calls to Action" to be the most insightful and original. I was actually debating whether I liked the book while reading the center section. But, Pipher pulled through. The irony is that she includes a Mickey Spillane quote that says, "Nobody reads a book to get to the middle." I wonder if Pipher struggled with the center section herself.

If you want a book on how to write, or a book for inspiration, pick up Write Down the Bones. Pipher also recommends this book in a thorough list of Recommended Readings. If you are a writer, a performer, a blogger or a poet who is trying to figure out how to make a difference, pick up Pipher's book.

I have found that many of my most treasured books begin with a James Baldwin quote. Pipher chooses, "You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world... The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way... people look at reality, then you can chage it." Pipher offers a guide to changing the world one "Baldwin Millimeter" at a time.

(Side note: Pipher references a song by Billie Holiday "Strange Fruit" While this was the perfect example, the song was not actually written by her, but by a poet who does not receive credit in this book.)

Despite some preachiness at the start, which may turn off those readers who are not "bleeding heart liberals," this is an outstanding book. I mistakenly thought it was a more traditional how-to guide for people who wished to write better with an eye toward getting published. Instead, and I didn't mind the error, it is a book on writing effectively with an eye toward yes, changing the world.

Some of the autobiography and personal philosophy will be familiar to readers of Pipher's books. She didn't begin to write until after having children, having been put off by a teacher who returned a poem with "Trite" on it. Thank goodness, she didn't let that permanently stop her.

One section that you won't find in other writers' guides is on letters to public officials. Having edited thousands of letters to the editor, I thought I knew everything there was to know about composing one. I was wrong. There is also a section on public speaking, which is invaluable for writers who intend to read their work publicly.

As another reviewer pointed out, the tone is strongly optimistic, and readers will come away feeling refreshed and energized. The book even inspired me to check out some of the articles and movies referenced, a rarity for me.

I knew any book with this title would have at least one item of merit within its pages. I found gold immediately - in the recommended readings section. Pipher provided the perfect place to start the quest for my next trip to the library and book store.

There are several things I value highly about Pipher's work in this book.

First, she has an incredibly strong writing voice that literally says, "I am strong and confident AND I am confident enough to use my own shortcomings as examples."

Second, she gives a lot of information coupled with clear, concrete examples. She then hits a home run by explaining the ways you may choose to apply the same technique.

Third, she peppers the book with incredibly insightful quotes, each of which provides even more food for thought.

This is a book I will use again and again and again. I hope many live changing souls find it and use it again and again and again. I have started recommending it to people - perhaps you are another one of them!

Writing to Change the World is divided into two sections.

1) "What We Alone Can Say" addresses why we write and how our unique experiences can give us a different perspective and voice that no one else has. This section is both inspirational and motivating.

2) "The Writing Process" gets down to the nuts and bolts. What are the most effective ways of relating to people - especially those whose opinions we are hoping to change. Pipher addresses the writing process and different genres of writing, including letters, personal essays, speeches, blogs, music and poetry.

Also included is a comprehensive list of recommended reading.

Mary Piphers experience as both a writer and a therapist give her insight on how words can be used to motivate change. This book was inspiring as Pipher illustrates how words have been and can be used to really make a difference in the world. I found her insights very helpful and her practical advice useful.

I purchased this book based on the title alone. The more I read, the more I underlined, the more frequently I exclaimed "Yes, that's it." Mary Pipher's book speaks to my soul, it speaks to all of the reasons I write, it validates my firm belief in the transformative power of words. Her writing is passionate and persuasive without being preachy. Several times I put the book down and grabbed my ever-present writing notebook. As I neared the end, I slowed my reading down, re-reading sections, reluctant to be finished with a book that has become a wonderful friend.

Mary Pipher does an excellent job with this book. Her ability to use to story to convey her message is powerful. It is packed with solid examples and yet it is not overly academic. Any writer, change agent, human being who wants to use their writing to change the world should read this book.

I've read a lot of books on writing, but never have I read one that inspired me as much as this one. Writing to Change the World has a bold title, but one that Mary Pipher, of Reviving Ophelia fame, more than lives up to. For anyone who gravitates toward writing but is looking for a bit of direction and inspiration, I urge you to check this out. Pipher reveals her own path toward writing later in life, and gives numerous examples of authors, poets, playwrights, and others who, in various forms, used words to inspire others. She means this both in the political sense of campaigning for a cause, but also in a wider way, giving us a way to look at the world around us and see the potential for change and connection. I especially liked that, while her own liberal politics are in full effect, this is not a manifesto or a guide to writing propaganda. In fact, it's the very opposite. "Writing to connect is `change writing,' which, like good therapy, creates the conditions that allow people to be transformed. Its goal is not to evoke one particular set of ideas, feelings, and actions, but rather to foster awareness and growth," Pipher writes. Through this lens, I was able to see the power of nuance, of not necessarily trying to know or say everything in any given piece of writing, but simply to reach readers, whether they're on "your side" or not.

Pipher makes this kind of writing accessible; she's not urging you to write the next Gettysburg Address (though that gets mentioned) or landmark social history, but to write something that feeds the world, and your soul. She also gives concrete advice about how to choose details to illustrate your points, how to be concise, and when/where you'll have the most impact (such as contrasting her letter with a friend's letter written to a board to save a local prairie from being turned into a motocross track).

Without overdoing it, Pipher brings her therapist training to work here. The very concept of "change writing," is, as she points out, daunting and difficult, but as she also points out, very worthwhile. When she write at the end, "The finest thing we can do in life is to grow a soul and then use it in the service of humankind," I was completely won over. These more philosophical parts of the book aren't only about writing, but when applied to the task, make perfect sense, because in order to want to change the world, you must first be aware of what is around you. Especially for those of us who often write out of duty or routine, or perhaps for whom writing has lost some of its initial magic, this book, with its many ways into the task, will get you back on track and believing in the potential for writing to, indeed, change at least a world, if not "the" world.

Pipher inspires the reader to write, not for writing's sake, but to make a difference in the world around us. She presents a thorough examination of the writing process reminding us about the perspectives and assumptions that inform the writer and those people she/he is representing in her/his writing.

A woman in my writing group said she wanted her writing to change the world. Right away, I knew that was possible. I remembered Nelson Mandela's speech for instance, written by Marianne Willliamson; the words of Martin Luther King; and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. I thought of poetry like Mary Oliver's Wild Geese: "Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination..."

I also thought of "writing to change the world" in another way. As we observe the world inside us and around us, we are also changing the world. In becoming aware of who we are and how we affect and are affected by people and events around us, we are conscious and in tune. With all these mind deliberations and imaginings on the subject of saving the world through words, I was pleased to hear Mary Pipher had written a book on the subject. Reading Writing to Change the World affirmed my belief that stories and the written word are healing and necessary.

As a therapist and a writer, Pipher's listening and observational skills are especially acute. As she points out, "Psychotherapy has a great deal to teach us about making connections and fostering change." Very often, we can label people different from ourselves as "other" and set out to proclaim our way as the only way. "A writer's job," Pipher says, "is to tell stories that connect readers to all the people on earth, to show these people as the complicated human beings they really are, with histories, families, emotions, and legitimate needs. We can replace one-dimensional stereotypes with multidimensional individuals with whom our readers can identify."

Pipher's advice is gentle and understanding, yet firm. If we are to proclaim our stance on something, there probably will be people opposed. To approach the subject, we need to relate to the people opposed so as to find some common ground. I kept thinking of Pipher's words in relation to my own city, where downtown residents were opposed to a breakfast program in their neighbourhood. As I composed a letter to the editor of our daily newspaper, I wanted to put a human face on the individuals who could use a free meal and some companionship to begin their day. That heart opening was natural to me. It was the opposing neighbours I needed to find the common ground with, and that common ground, I realized, was fear.

"Writing to connect is 'change writing,' which, like good therapy, creates the conditions that allow people to be transformed. Its goal is not to evoke one particular set of ideas, feelings, and actions, but rather to foster awareness and growth."

Therapists have been described as purveyors of hope. Pipher sees change writers as purveyors of hope as well. Fostering awareness and growth is really key to this book, and when you think of it, key to our own writing life--for ourselves and for the people who read us. One of Pipher's suggestions in her chapter, "Know Thyself," is to take inventory of "your own early lessons about the world, your hopes and fears, your life themes, even your sense of calling" so as to think about how you came to be who you are today. She shares her story of being the oldest child "in a big, complicated family." Pipher is like the mentor you may not have had, encouraging you and reminding you that your particular life experiences mean you have something to say that no one else can. She offers assignments to help you find your voice. And she poses the question... What needs doing that only you can do?

"The Writing Process" is described in Part 2 of the book, wherein Pipher shares tips for getting started. It's all very helpful advice and reassuring to writers. You're not alone in having to face your internal critic for instance. She also discusses getting organized, doing research, and conducting interviews.

Part 3 is all about calls to action. It describes the approaches you can take to get your particular message across most effectively, whether it's in the form of letters, speeches, personal essays, blogs, music, or poetry. I was reassured and inspired by this book, even more so as I made my way through it again to write this review. "The finest thing we can do in life," Pipher says, "is to grow a soul and then use it in the service of humankind." What a beautiful call to action.

__________________________

Mary Pipher, Ph.D., lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her husband, Jim, near their children and grandchildren. She is the author of seven books, including the New York Times bestsellers Reviving Ophelia, The Shelter of Each Other, and Another Country. Her work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages, and she has lectured to groups and conferences around the world. Dr. Pipher is interested in how American culture affects the mental health of its people; her writing has been influenced by her rural background, her training in psychology and anthropology, and her years as a therapist.

by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
reviewing books by, for, and about women

I admit, every once in a while, I'll kiss a book. This was one of them. It's a feeling of kinship and gratitude beyond words. If you've ever felt like a 'radical' or been called 'fanatical' this book will give you inspiration to keep going. Mary Pipher encourages the reader to be bold giving her own examples of how she used to write sentences like, "Based on previous information, we could tentatively conclude for certain populations..." That kind of writing changed to sentences like, "We live in a girl-poisoning culture."
Having such clear examples will help any reader be more direct and honest in their writing.

She quotes people like Adrienne Rich who said, "That which is unspoken becomes unspeakable." Lately I've become aware of unspeakable acts by humans. It makes me wonder if more of us had spoken up, could have we stopped the suffering? There are guiding quotes throughout - another one by Marion Dane Bauer who said, "Never think of revising as fixing something that is wrong. That starts you off in a negative frame of mind. Rather think of it as an opportunity to improve something you already love."
It's a great reminder. What do you love?

Mary Pipher helps the reader determine his or her point of view to set the stage for writing about their cause. Are you an intimate insider, an outsider or a connected critic?
Do you want to encourage kindred spirits or change from one point of view to another?

She has an easy to read style with just the right amount of personal stories. Mary writes... if the most important thing for restaurants is 'location, location, location; then what's needed for persuasion is 'connection, connection, connection.' I felt a deep care and commitment as I read this book. If you have a cause that needs to be brought to people's awareness, do it skillfully with the tools included in this book.