A Year of Writing Dangerously: 365 Days of Inspiration and Encouragement [Paperback]

Barbara Abercrombie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2012

In this collection of anecdotes, lessons, quotes, and prompts, author and writing teacher Barbara Abercrombie provides a delightfully varied cornucopia of inspiration — nuts-and-bolts solutions, hand-holding commiseration, and epiphany-fueling insights from fellow writers, including Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners and Abercrombie’s students who have gone from paralyzed to published.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“If you are a writer — and go on, be brave, say, ‘I am a writer’ — then this is the book you will turn to every morning, noon, or night when you sit down to write.”
— Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series

“When you open Barbara Abercrombie’s brilliant A Year of Writing Dangerously, you are in a house full of writers, each of whom wants to march you over to a corner to tell you something important about the writing life....Prepare yourself for a wonderful party!”
— Phyllis Theroux, author of The Journal Keeper: A Memoir

“Funny and full of comfort (and the company of writing rock stars), this book is as essential to any writer as a verb.”
— Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You

“There is something necessary in these pages for everyone, from the beginning writer to the widely published author.”
— Naomi Benaron, author of Running the Rift, winner of the Bellwether Prize for Fiction

“Candid and inspiring. Full of the kind of wit and wisdom her students have come to expect.”
— Dennis Palumbo, author of the Daniel Rinaldi mystery series

“A tremendously useful book for anyone who wants to write.”
— Janet Sternburg, author of Phantom Limb

“I loved this book. Every entry is a new adventure, followed by a quotation that illuminates and stimulates the mind.”
— Abigail Thomas, author of A Three Dog Life

“Filled with wisdom about the writing process and sound counsel for those who engage in it.”
— Ralph Keyes, author of The Courage to Write

About the Author

A widely published author and editor, Barbara Abercrombie teaches at the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program. She lives in Santa Monica, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: New World Library (June 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1608680517
• ISBN-13: 978-1608680511
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1.1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Abercrombie has published fifteen books, plus essays and articles in many national publications. She teaches in the Writers' Program at UCLA Extension where she won an Outstanding Teacher award as well as the Distinguished Instructor award. Recent books are COURAGE & CRAFT; CHERISHED: 21 Writers on Animals They Have Loved & Lost; and A YEAR OF WRITING DANGEROUSLY. Her fifteenth book, KICKING IN THE WALL, exercises and prompts for writers and teachers, will be published May 14th, 2013 by New World Library. Barbara lives in Santa Monica and Lake Arrowhead, California with her husband Robert V. Adams, and their rescue dog Nelson.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I desperately needed help and I got it! July 13, 2012

By Samantha A. Childs

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was having such a hard time writing- mostly do to anxiety- and this book helped me so much. It is very inspiring and relatable and I love how each tip has both words from Barbara and quotes from other authors. I highly recommend this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Year of Writing Dangerously July 24, 2012

By Sheri Newton

Format:Paperback

A Year of Writing Dangerously by Barbara Abercrombie is a book that all writers should use to help them write 365 days out of the year. It is filled with fun anecdotes, quotes, writing prompts, and much more!

A Year of Writing Dangerously is a seriously useful tool to help with writing, even dangerously if you so desire. Each day has an anecdote or inspiration to some degree for you to read. Beneath that is an inspirational quote from an author, which I always found to be highly encouraging.

The days aren't listed by days of the month, they are numbered 1-365, so you can start your year of writing on any day of the year you wish. I really like the whole idea of this book, and hopefully in a year from now I'll be finished with my very own novel.

I found this book to be an incredibly helpful writer's tool. It inspired me to not only come up with a new idea for a novel, but also pushed me to go back and look at one I started writing a few years ago. Barbara Abercrombie is an excellent writing coach just from this book alone, and I'm sure I would be amazed by what her actual in-person writing classes are like.

I highly recommend this book for all writers to have in their writer's space, especially if you suffer from any form of writer's block.

* Thank you to the publisher of A Year of Writing Dangerously, New World Library, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 365 tips to keep your writing moving June 14, 2012

By Mike Grant

Format:Paperback

Writers are a unique bunch. They stake everything on being able to cover a blank page or screen with words. If they can't do it, they fail. Writing is not really a question of inspiration. It's a question of habit: putting the hours in, day in and day out.

Still, sometimes a writer needs something to "shake the words loose." To get the words flowing. And waiting for inspiration won't cut it. That's the one sure way to stop being a writer. And that's where this book comes in.

A year of writing dangerously provides 365 entries designed to get a writer's juices flowing, and to boost a writer's flagging spirits. Every entry includes around a paragraph of helpful or encouraging advice, and a quotation to put the day's writing in perspective.

Sometimes, a little bit of writing- or word-related distraction can be helpful when you're trying to write. (Spend 5 minutes with Parlett's THE Book of Word Games and you'll see what I mean.) So refer to it when the words just won't flow. Allow it as a "helpful" distraction during your writing time. And keep it on your writing desk at all times.