The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch (Paperback)

by Julia Cameron (Author) "The small book you hold in your hands was begun in a green eastern spring and written throughout a long, parched summer in New Mexico..." (more)
Key Phrases: creative drought, inner perfectionist, benevolent universe, New York, Morning Pages, New Mexico (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The bestselling author of The Artist's Way draws on her many years of personal experience as both a writer and a teacher to uncover the difficult soul work that artists must do to find inspiration.

In The Sound of Paper, Julia Cameron delves deep into the heart of the personal struggles that all artists experience. What can we do when we face our keyboard or canvas with nothing but a cold emptiness? How can we begin to carve out our creation when our vision and drive are clouded by life's uncertainties? In other words, how can we begin the difficult work of being an artist? In this inspiring book, Cameron describes a process of constant renewal, of starting from the beginning. She writes, "When we are building a life from scratch, we must dig a little. We must be like that hen scratching beneath the soil. 'What goodness is hidden here, just below the surface?' we must ask."

With personal essays accompanied by exercises designed to develop the power to infuse one's art with a deeply informed knowledge of the soul, this book is an essential artist's companion from one of the foremost authorities on the creative process. Cameron's most illuminating book to date, The Sound of Paper provides readers with a spiritual path for creating the best work of their lives.

About the Author
Award-winning writer Julia Cameron is the author of twenty books, both fiction and nonfiction, including The Artist's Way, The Vein of Gold, Walking in This World, and The Right to Write. A novelist, playwright, songwriter, and poet, she has extensive credits in theater, film, and television.

Product Details

• Paperback: 315 pages
• Publisher: Penguin/Tarcher (January 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585423548
• ISBN-13: 978-1585423545
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #578,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine and Wise Counsel for Artists, July 14, 2005

By	Sharon K. Cooper (Oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book focuses on facing the winds of change and challenge in the commitment to fostering artistic creativity. I would have preferred a *Table of Contents* in the beginning of the book which I think would be beneficial to the reader. Cameron is self revelatory in the book, honest enough, shares some deep encouragement for drought and waiting times in the creative day to day process. It is obvious that this author practices what she preaches and is writing from the heart of her own experience.

The middle section of the book between P. 97 and 195 had the most personal meaning for me. Cameron's assertions encourage blooming artists to adhere to practices of discipline and wade out the rough adversarial waters which inevitably rise during the day to day artistic awakening process.

The chapter on "Remembering Who We Are" contains a profound essential truth. On p. 182, Cameron is right on the mark when she addresses the self-sabotaging cruel voice within each human life that completely erects blocks from within and without. She states, "Some of the finest painting gets done on the days when we just show up at the easel because that is our job. In other words, when we practice self acceptance of where we are and who we are instead of striving, always to be better. We are enough, exactly as we are." From this essential truth, the artist is encouraged to take heart and not lose hope.

Most of the writing activities at the end of each chapter are "keep in your hip pocket" types. You may wish to make photo copies of them and tuck them in the inside pocket of your journal to use later. I recommend just reading the book straight through. You'll have a pretty fair idea after reading the entire piece where you want to focus your time and energies. At that time, you can make copies of the *end of chapter activities* which seem most appropriate for where you are in your creative journey.

On p. 213, she clearly has a handle on the essence of art, that it is a process of soul bearing and to engage this process "requires great humility." Art weaving and art making is a quite vulnerable endeavor. When a project is finished it is subject to receptivity, rejection or both. Commitment to the process remains the goal for budding artists whether any project received or rejected. This is often a profound challenge each artist faces. Cameron offers examples of those who remained faithful to writing, to "art making" while day in and day out sifting through reams of very mediocre material before the "ah ha" creative wonder emerged. She offers sound guidance in how to keep one's commitment on steady grounding.

The chapter on "Drama" I found rather humorous and insightful. Cameron absolutely nails the deadly effects of "letting the (...)" of drama get you down. I appreciated reading how absolutely distracting this is to living the life of an artist. The beauty of her solution is to create art straight at the energy flagging dramas that run through the mind. In meditation art we learn to detach from dramas and this is helpful. In the conscious life and in work, I find it important as well to watch becoming entangled in dramatic plays and ploys that occur in any relationship. Awareness of drama magnets assists in the wise practice of detachment and getting on with the art.

There is fine wisdom in "The Sound of Paper" for journal work and delving more deeply to one's daily artistic endeavors.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Other Group, May 28, 2006

By	Gregory A. Kompes "Author of 50 Fabulous Gay-... (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I make a point of telling anyone searching for their inner voice or a sense of self about Julia Cameron. Her work, The Artist's Way changed my life. I was diligent and worked through Ms. Cameron's twelve week program several times over from beginning to end. The book, the exercises, and Ms. Cameron's method worked for me.

As I talk to people about that book there were two recurring themes among those who had also discovered her work. Either they, like me, found it immensely helpful, or they started in and quickly lost interest. The second group is much larger.

There are varied reasons the second group gives, but at the top of their list is the required discipline to make your way through The Artist's Way. Ms. Cameron addresses this problem in The Sound of Paper.

The Sound of Paper is different. The chapters are short and the method and process aren't at the fore. This time, Ms. Cameron writes short essays from a biographical focus telling stories of her life, her failures, her fears and her successes. These short essays are lyrical snapshots of an artist's life. At the end of each essay is an exercise. For those who've skimmed, scanned or experienced her previous book, you'll notice many of the same exercises come up again. There isn't that sense of urgency about the process. Instead, the exercises are gentler and have a random feeling in their placement.

While I will always recommend The Artist's Way as the life changing book that it is, The Sound of Paper is another excellent experience for those interested in discovering their artist within and letting that artist out into the world. Having choices and options is always a good thing and Ms. Cameron has delivered us choice in her latest work.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, December 14, 2005

By	X. Tu "Cathy" (MA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book one chapter a day to get me focused on my own writing and reading for my dissertation. This book brings my soul to where I am. Without this book, I don't know how to get rid of my other worries in life and concentrate on my study. So I strongly recommend this book to others who need some comfort concentrating on what they are doing.