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Phil Kenney

The Writer's Crucible: Meditations on Emotion, Being, and Creativity Paperback – January 12, 2018

by Philip Kenney (Author)

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The Writer’s Crucible provides a map for navigating the turbulent, emotional waters of a creative life. It does so by helping writers understand the psychology of vulnerability. Perhaps the most common vulnerability we face is the persistent sense of not being good enough. This troubling insecurity is often present in even the most successful writer, who, despite success, is subject to episodes of self-doubt that undermine creativity. To help authors manage this core experience, The Writer’s Crucible offers an in-depth exploration of the psychological underpinnings governing the internal narrative, “I am not enough.” That knowledge enables readers to begin undoing emotional constrictions and connect with an inner source of spiritual nourishment, allowing creative energies to move with greater freedom.

The Writer’s Crucible is not a book that tells you how to write—it is one that shows you how to be a writer.

Print length

286 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Inkwater Press
Publication date

January 12, 2018
Dimensions

6.14 x 0.64 x 9.21 inches
ISBN-10

1629015245
ISBN-13

978-1629015248
See all details

Editorial Reviews

Review

THE WRITER'S CRUCIBLE BY PHILIP KENNEY★★★★★
Make no mistake: The Writer's Crucible is not a writing guide; it's a writer's guide. Perhaps the best part of Kenney's book is that it seeks to connect writers over a common problem--this nagging and unflagging feeling of not being good enough. Kenny encourages breaking down barriers not just when it comes to our own craft, but also in our day-to-day interactions with everyone we meet. The Writer's Crucible is an excellent tool for authors that encourages a return to human connectivity. Its message is strengthened by the book's meditative exercises, which ask you to set aside your sense of self and to think about your place in "the big picture."
The Red City Review

The Writer's Crucible: Meditations on Emotion, Being and Creativity offers a psychological examination of obstacles that thwart the creative processes.
Other creative writing books have addressed these issues; but Mr. Kenney's approach is different. It tackles self-reproach and the emotional challenges of putting pen to paper by discussing vulnerabilities from a psychotherapist's clinical viewpoint, providing assessments and insights that crack perfectionist tendencies and creativity-thwarting negativity.

The Writer's Crucible digs deep and promises no quick insights or exercise-based guarantees of success. Of course, this means that there are no easy answers or solutions. Writers anticipating a course of miraculous exercises that can magically unlock creative impulses will discover instead that This book is actually a call to action on many levels, advocating taking charge of one's spiritual, psychological and social self-discovery process.

The fact that The Writer's Crucible holds much more than exercises or mediations and addresses the heart of what keeps a writer from being effective and meaningful makes it a top recommendation for writers who struggle to achieve their best against the barriers of anxiety, self-deprecation, and fear.
Diane Donovan Senior Reviewer for The Midwest Book Review

From the Back Cover

The Writer's Crucible provides a detailed map for navigating the turbulent emotional waters of a creative life. Writers will come to understand the psychology of vulnerability, perhaps the most common of which is a persistent sense of not being good enough. This troubling insecurity is often present in even the most successful writers; they too are subject to undermining episodes of self-doubt. To help manage this core experience, The Writer's Crucible offers an in depth exploration of the psychological underpinnings governing the internal narrative, "I am not enough." Readers will learn to undo emotional constrictions and connect with an inner source of spiritual nourishment, allowing inspiration to move with greater freedom.

The Writer's Crucible is not a book that tells you how to write--it is one that shows you how to be a writer.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Inkwater Press (January 12, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 286 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1629015245
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1629015248
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.64 x 9.21 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,357,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,158 in Writing Skill Reference (Books)
- #7,306 in Creativity (Books)
- #40,005 in Motivational Self-Help (Books)

Customer Reviews:
10 ratings

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gary mac smith

five stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is written by an accomplished writer with decades of experience as a psychotherapist. The author provides wise, modest encouragement and direction to all who are engaged in or considering engaging in creative work. He acknowledges that no one is exempt from internal demons to constantly battle in the attempt to allow creativity and imagination to emerge.

In describing the process, Mr. Kenney provides a framework for living as well as writing in a manner that allows us to some degree to free ourselves from our egos. This book is fun to read, and there are multiple passages that truly sing, reflecting the author's talent that he has refined over the years by a constant willingness to struggle with and stare down his own demons while he continues to search for the elusive fountain of creativity.

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

A gift of encouragement to any writer!

Helpful

John

The Writer's Crucible -- An Extrordinary Guide to the Writing Life

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2018

Phillip Kenney knows writing. "Radiance," 2013, his courageous first novel is brilliant in its challenges to the conventional. Kenney, the writer, is also a psychotherapist with more than three decades of experience. He brings the insights and wisdom of his profession to bear in all his work but especially in his latest, the delightfully readable "The Writer’s Crucible, Meditations on Emotion, Being, and Creativity." This exquisitely presented book should be on the shelf of every writer seeking to find inspiration, consolation, or comfort in coping with the challenges of the writer’s life.

Kenney sees writers struggling in two different worlds. First, there are the expectations of our culture, uppermost among which is being strong. Never show weakness. Larger homes, sleeker autos, and other trappings of wealth proclaim success. Acquiring more we believe will draw us closer to securing a “sense of emotional safety and self-worth.” The finish line keeps getting moved, of course, but at least our progress can be measured. Our accumulation of goods, memberships, and degrees constitute what Kenney calls our Self-project, the persona we want the public to see with all the badges of achievement that denote success.

The rewards are less tangible but far more frightening for the writer. Those saddled with aspirations to express themselves, to be creative at some endeavor, artistic, literary, or otherwise, often struggle in isolation. No audience cheers them on. No acclaim follows announcing that you are a writer. It’s a matter of how you keep score. Self-Project answers may include critical acclaim, best-seller status, etc., and Kenney insists by invoking these standards, writers will rarely, if ever, find their works “good enough”—a phrase he repeats for emphasis. “Enough?” A relative qualifier, certainly. Or worse, a subjective one accepting input from all quarters including many outside a writer’s consciousness. Even deceased parents can register in from time to time.

In opposition to the Project-Self, Kenney sets up the True Self. That’s right. The writer’s most private, most vulnerable, most guarded self. And he invites the writer to open up. It’s enough to strike terror into a consummate extrovert. But Kenney asserts that peering into the special, protected, unique True-Self leads us to discover what is precious and special about us, and paradoxically, helps us see what we have in common with others. Kenney urges creative people to change their reward system. The joys are in the thrill of revelation. Writing becomes a journey in self-discovery. The creative effort frees itself of doubt and other constraints. It becomes play again

With his premise established, Kenney is at his best leading the reader with humor and insight into how to explore the inner life. His experience as a psychotherapist shines here. He knows the landscape of the psyche. Where the traps are hidden. The dodges and dips of self-sabotaging. Once the reader begins the journey, the intrinsic rewards become more obvious and more compelling. Trust Kenney in the later chapters to guide you step by step, deeper and deeper, into an understanding of how much more rewarding creative life can be.

This is a book to own and keep with in arms reach of your keyboard, easel, or design table. Once you have read it, you will find you can open it to any page and Kenney will be there waiting there with understanding, at your side once again, with the warmth in his caring words and his gentle wisdom on every page.

- John J. Hohn, Author of "Deadly Portfolio" and "Breached."

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

David Lundberg

An Outstanding Weapon Against Writer's Block

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2018

Philip Kenney’s book, “The Writer’s Crucible,” is a Godsend for all writers who occasionally struggle with not feeling worthy of the contributions they can make. His book thoroughly addresses the issues that are so important for writers (really, for everyone) of self-doubt and self-image. His book includes effective exercises to overcome these challenges. In addition, the book acknowledges our true identity as sons and daughters of God—who have unlimited potential.

The insights and techniques within The Writer’s Crucible have helped me do a better and faster job toward completing my next book. The reader can feel Phil’s love of writing as well as his love for his reader. He makes it easy to embrace his practical suggestions to face the doubts and challenges all good writers need to confront. There is so much practical wisdom in it that it serves as an important reference work to revisit whenever any form of writer’s block emerges its ugly head.

For example, the book explains the importance of creating quality work over time. How writing is an incremental process…we don’t have to feel bad when we reread our first drafts and realize much of it could be written significantly better! We don’t have to feel bad about our mistakes. We are not idiots if our first drafts are not superb.

Philip Kenney has made a very important contribution that will benefit all his readers, and writers.

C. David Lundberg, author of "Unifying Truths of the World's Religions"

Helpful

Gail Karvonen DC

Reading Philip Kenney's book "The Writer's Crucible" is like taking a long drink of the self

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2018

Reading Philip Kenney's book "The Writer's Crucible" is like taking a long drink of the self. He lovingly describes the characteristics of being, the essence of the True Self that fuels the creative impulses of any writer, artist or person seeking the authentic life. He shines light on the underbelly of emotional life ' "I am not enough" that can erode and upend creative and personal work and offers pathways through the darkness with exercises, reflection and a call to meditation. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of writer's block, artistic deserts or impediments to personal growth.

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The Writer's Crucible: Meditations on Emotion, Being, and Creativity Paperback – January 12, 2018

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