The Muses Among Us: Eloquent Listening and Other Pleasures of the Writer's Craft (Paperback)

~ Kim Stafford (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Son of poet William Stafford, Oregon writer Kim Stafford offers a brief, gem-packed primer on the writer's craft, drawing largely from his experiences as writer, teacher, and "professional eavesdropper." Stafford's book is drenched with spirituality and seeking: he sees himself as a kind of scribe "resting near the prophet, ready to rise up at once and write what speaks." Ways of gathering material from the world around us--in snippets of conversation and song, in bits of printed or handwritten found items--account for a substantial portion of his advice giving. The process he delineates is far from mechanical, however: Stafford supplies a wealth of creative suggestions for locating the muses among us, and he throws in (somewhat surprisingly?) solid advice on handling submissions and rejections in the literary marketplace. A rich resource for any writer, but particularly for those who value writing as a path to personal fulfillment. Trygve Thoreson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"A delightful invitation to listen to the unlikely. And although it can be read as a "how-to" for the writing instructor or writing student, it is more in that it inspires through Stafford's personal anecdotes and thoughtful and philosophical reflections." -- North Dakota Quarterly, Summer 2007 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press (March 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0820324965
• ISBN-13: 978-0820324968
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,773 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh Perspective and Insight, March 24, 2004

By	Sandra Russell "gypsyfires" (Salem, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

I came across this book at the local library in the new book section, had the book six weeks total and decided I had to buy it. There are simply too many subtleties, suggestions and insights to explore. If you aspire to be or if you are a writer, you'll treasure the ideas and admire the warm, personal tone of a man who invites you to open yourself to others, to the world around you and the world within. I didn't realize until part way through the book that Kim Stafford is an Oregon writer. It was good to see familiar places in fluid prose and through another's eyes.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite, Life-Enhancing Prose, June 17, 2004

By	Harmony Colleen Adkins (Northern California Sierra) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Muses Among Us: Eloquent Listening and Other Pleasures of the Writer's Craft (Hardcover)

As a writer, I love this beautiful little book.
As simply a reader, I still would have loved it!

Son of outstanding poet, William Stafford,
Kim Robert Stafford has his own unique and beautiful writing style.
There is a succinct eloquence in his prose that,
at times, is so poetically breath-taking ~ one must stop,
go back and re-read the given passage to savour the
hidden nuance of deeper meaning.

Stafford never rambles or drifts, he does not dwell
in the shallows of trite meaningless verbosity ~
each word he writes carries depth and insight,
each chapter enriches perception.

This is pure literary kindling for any writer
who feels their creativity needs a little spark...
Serving to remind you, with every page,
of the original joy to be found in artistic craft.