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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Resource for Writers, February 24, 2009
"As a writer, you already know what it's like to hold the power of creation in your hands. With a few strokes of a pen, you can forge a universe or start a galaxy spinning in space. You can mold brave new worlds and planets, complete with mountains, plains, and seas. You can even establish nations and cities, and populate them with culture and history. Like a living god, you can determine the future of an alternate reality. When you hold a tarot deck in your hands, you have an additional tool at your disposal--on that can make your job as a creator infinitely more rewarding." - From Tarot for Writers
One of the go-to authors for making the cards incredibly accessible, lively Tarot author Corrine Kenner focuses her sparkling wit and breadth of knowledge on equipping writers with a handy tool for their creative endeavors in her newest book, Tarot for Writers.
From mapping out the Hero's Journey with Tarot to producing character profiles, busting through writer's block to constructing that all-important first line, Tarot for Writers serves as both an introductory lesson in fiction writing and a first-rate primer on the cards, especially since Kenner provides detailed information on all 78 cards in the second half of this 358-page book.
With literally hundreds of practice exercises, writing prompts, and helpful lists accompanied by black-and-white card images, Tarot for Writers is the only book on the market showing how the mysterious imagery and symbolism of the cards can be applied to conflict (inciting and resolution), characterization, dialogue, description, metaphor, pacing, scenery, introducing unpredictable elements and so much more.
In fact, one of my favorite tips in this book (in the section on breaking writer's block) is where Kenner suggests writing an impromptu story based on a card's title or keyword. She writes "Feel free to play: you don't have to take them seriously. Perhaps when you see `Stagnation', it's time to send your character to a bar called `Stag Nation'."
I also loved the prompts from the Eight of Cups card, especially the last one:
Write about:
* a pilgrimage
* a return from a hunt
* a shepherd
* a scavenger hunt
* ....or take a break from writing and go for a walk
As a writer, that's a great piece of advice! Many of my breakthroughs come while on the treadmill or spending time outdoors.
Another neat writing practice, Fill in the Blanks, encourages writers to imagine the responses a character might have to simple, fill-in-the-blank prompts, such as "I am _____. You would never guess it by looking at me, but _____" and "I am _____, and I always say _____".
Using card imagery from the Universal Tarot by Roberto DeAngelis (Lo Scarabeo), owning an actual Tarot deck isn't required for using Tarot for Writers, which is fantastic. However, Kenner provides enough tips and prompts to show writers how to cull similar inspiration from virtually any Tarot deck on the market (provided the Minor Arcana contains animation of some sort--people, action, scenery, and so on).
There are a few sticking points with this book, however. For one, Kenner sends writers through the whole "make a sacred space by dispelling negative energy with sage" spiel, including laying out a spread cloth, cleansing, centering meditation, grounding visualization, and so on. Personally, I feel this is highly inappropriate because not all writers are spiritually inclined, wanting only to use the cards as a practical tool for enhancing the writing experience. (Yes, I realize Tarot for Writers is categorized in Body, Mind & Spirit, not Reference, but still...)
Also, Kenner does a great disservice to writers completely new to Tarot by not providing a list decks with imagery that would be appropriate to use with her exercises. As many of us familiar with Tarot darn well know, trying to find a Tarot deck as a newbie can be incredibly overwhelming. And, if a writer is shopping in a brick-and-mortar store--which often doesn't have opened Tarot decks for perusal--how would they know if a particular deck has an illustrated Minor Arcana as she recommends (especially since many Tarot boxes, even box sets, conveniently leave off pictures of the Minors)?
And a Bibliography, showing the books that Kenner referenced when writing? Non-existent. Um, sorry, but no matter how knowledgeable a Tarot author might be, no one has everything memorized to the point of instant recall, especially historical facts, writing theory, traditional symbolism, etc. To her credit, Kenner sometimes says, "Waite says this card..." (This isn't an isolated incident, though. I've seen quite a few reference books spanning various publishers that don't seem to require a Bibliography, which I find inexplicable and exasperating).
Additionally, it would have been nice if Kenner listed some additional books for further reading, both on writing in general (such as excellent Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron), as well as Tarot--especially ones that are more intuitively oriented. (And, as usual with Llewellyn, there are some glaring editorial mistakes in the book that the proofreaders missed--one major one on page 12 that repeats Cups for the Pentacles description--as well as overuse of some phrases, e.g. "dovetail perfectly" used three times before Page 3!).
Having said that, Tarot for Writers is still a valuable resource for aspiring and established writers and would benefit from clever prompts, innovative exercises, and brainstorming techniques for story ideas.
I found Tarot for Writers an exciting read; in fact, it inspired me to begin a novel (in conjunction with another new book I'm reading, The Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes)! The exercises and examples Kenner provides are engaging, clear and stimulating. Even experienced Tarotists will learn a thing or two from Kenner's ideas, advice and writing samples.
As one who wants to flex her fictional writing muscles (er, maybe I need to begin building those muscles first!), I notice that I'm carrying around Tarot for Writers quite a bit these last few weeks. (I think it's visited every space in my twelve room house, actually!)
Do consider putting Tarot for Writers on your desk, too. I think you'll consider it one of the best investments you can make whether writing for pleasure or as a professional.
-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Just For Fortune Telling Anymore...., February 20, 2009
Most people think of tarot cards as a fortune-telling device--but they're also an excellent tool for writing and creative thinking. Writers from John Steinbeck to Stephen King have used tarot cards for inspiration, and novelist Italo Calvino went so far as to call the tarot "a machine for writing stories."
With Tarot for Writers, you'll discover how an ordinary deck of tarot cards can help you break through writer's block, generate story ideas, and develop multi-faceted characters and plots. You'll also learn how tarot cards can help you hone your dialogues and descriptions, whether you're generating new material or breathing new life into a project you've already begun.
Tarot for Writers will guide you through every stage of a writing project, from conception to execution, and later through the rewriting and editing process. You'll even learn how tarot cards can help you market, publicize, and promote your work.
I anxiously waited for this book to be released and bought it the very day it came out. That's not something I usually do. It was due in part to intrigue: I have a tarot deck at home that I am learning about and was curious about this new use for; but mostly to try something new to aid me in my quest for writing a book of my own.
I rushed home with it, got my hot cup of coffee, my blanket, a notebook, my tarot cards and my dog and dug in. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I can say that this book contained a lot more than I thought it would. What an invaluable resource for writers, and a great resource for those just wanting to learn more about the tarot cards themselves!
Corrine Kenner sets out, very simply and thoroughly, how to use one card at a time to develop a story. From creating characters to enhancing dialogue to creating conflicts, this book tackles every conceiveable topic. It will definately give you a new way to look at your project or start a new one.
It's my understanding that Ms. Kenner is in the process of preparing a workbook to go along with this book, and I can't wait for that to come out too. I highly recommend this book to any writer, experienced or not, as I think it will become one of the most valuable tools in your writing tool box.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
'TAROT FOR WRITERS' - the new gold standard for writers and tarot professionals, January 27, 2009
Corrine Kenner has long been known in the world of Tarot Professionals as a superb Tarot Consultant as well as a wonderful writer. Corrine has the singular gift of making the complex easy. Her ground-breaking book, `TAROT FOR WRITERS' brings to those passionately involved in tarot or writing the ultimate gift of combining both worlds. Perhaps you've postponed writing? Stop dreaming and start writing! This is the ultimate text for writers and those wanting to write. `Tarot For Writers' is the only book you will need to solve any issue a writer may face. It is also a wonderful foray into the world of writing for those already familiar with tarot and will expand your skills as a tarot reader.
`Tarot For Writers' by Corrine Kenner explores what any writer needs to know about the complicated world of Tarot in simple, easy to understand language. Topics every writer faces such as how to create full-bodied characters; issues of plot, the development of your story concept, creating rich settings and descriptions, handling writers' block and The Tarot as Your Writing Coach are explored in depth using the cards plus tarot spreads specifically designed by Corrine for the writer. There are also traditional writers' tools every writer may be familiar with explained and re- envisioned by Corrine for the tarot and writer.
Corrine's section - `A Writers' Guide to Tarot Cards' - will quickly encourage any writer to begin an exercise immediately because she is so in love with her subject you will find yourself writing within half an hour of your opening this book! Are you in the middle of a writing project and don't know what to tackle next? `Tarot For Writers' will quickly get you back on track. Do you have a burning desire to start a short story, novel or screenplay? `Tarot For Writers' can help you actualize your dreams!
Corrine was generous enough to give me an advance copy of her upcoming, `Tarot For Writers.' I had been sitting on the fence about re-activating my writers' life so I looked forward to exploring `Tarot For Writers' to see if it could be of help. This has been one of the most productive years of my life as a writer. I completed a novel during the month of NaNoWriMo and finally finished the first draft of a manuscript of poetry. I am thrilled to be writing daily and know that if `Tarot For Writers' helped me - it can help you to expand your options in writing and learn how to read the cards in new ways.
Those who teach the craft of writing will want `Tarot For Writers' to help their students. Those who read Tarot as professionals will want to explore `Tarot For Writers' to find new ways of assisting their clients. For those who write for a living `Tarot For Writers' will expand your options and broaden your daily interface with your craft. Beginning writers are blessed to have `Tarot For Writers' as it will inspire and give them confidence to go for their passion. Those of us deeply involved with the art of writing will not part with our copy of `Tarot For Writers' and will find ourselves buying it for friends and writers' groups. If you buy one book this year on either tarot or writing be sure it is `Tarot For Writers.' I predict `Tarot For Writers' will become the gold standard for both writers and tarot professionals.
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