Tag: writing

Book Review:   Writing on Empty, by Natalie Goldberg

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: Writing on Empty  
Author: Natalie Goldberg        
Genre:  Nonfiction
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Natalie Goldberg has been writing for the past fifty years. But at the beginning of the pandemic, she suddenly wasn’t able to write anymore. Her imaginative wellspring had dried up, and she was forced to ask herself: what do I do when what has always worked for me doesn’t work anymore?

In this beautifully written, inspiring personal account, Natalie shares her harrowing journey out of creative paralysis and back onto the page. When all of her tried and true methods – meditation, sitting still, writing practice – stopped working, she had to take drastic action. She got into her car and left New Mexico in search of a new inventive source. In her journey through the western states, she visited famous literary sites, searching for the spark that would reignite her ability to write.

If you’re looking for something to inspire you to write, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for something about fear, whining, and lots of self-absorption, you’re in luck. There were no tips to get you past a creative block, just…yeah, whining. Sorry, this was beyond a disappointing read to me.

Natalie Goldberg is a bestselling author. Writing on Empty is her newest book.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #284

This was a good writing week! I got in five fiction sessions and three book reviews, Right Where We Left Us, by Jen Devon, The Rom-Commers, by Katherine Center, and 15 Summers Later, by RaeAnne Thayne.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #283

This was a tough writing week. It was a tough week in general. I had to alter my Monday-Friday writing schedule, and just now finished up my fifth fiction session for the week. I also wrote one book review, The Seaside Sisters, by Pamela M. Kelley.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #282

This was a decent writing week: I wrote one book review, All’s Fair in Love and War, by Virginia Heath, and five fiction sessions. I finally finished going through my original draft and cleaning it up/getting everything switched over for the genre change, so This next week I’ll be back to actual new writing.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #281

This has been a solid writing week: I got in five fiction sessions and two book reviews, Loyally, Luke, by Pepper Basham and The Way of the Hermit, by Ken Smith. That last book was a surprisingly interesting read to me, and I really loved the descriptions of the Scottish wilderness.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #279

This was a good writing week! I got in five fiction sessions, and four book reviews! The Backup Princess, by Kate O’Keeffe, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, by Helen Simonson, The Keeper of the Irish Secret, by Susanne O’Leary, and Summers at the Saint, by Mary Kay Andrews.

Happy writing!

Book Review: A Burden of Ice and Bone, by Kyra Whitton    

Image belongs to Sword and Silk Books.

Title: A Burden of Ice and Bone  
Author: Kyra Whitton       
Genre:  Fantasy    
Rating:  4 out of 5

In the village of ice and darkness, Dira Cloon’s entire existence relies on her ability to pull the trigger. But when she faces a majestic white bear, her resolve falters. The bear’s presence stirs something deep within her – a force stronger than her love for her family, who believe that the only safe polar bear is a dead one.

It goes beyond the village legends of a lost world and a vanished civilization, the whispered tales of magic, and the ursine king’s enchantment. This force resonates with Dira’s heart, shattered and lonely. If she shoots the bear, her life will continue as it always has, with a piece of her soul and dreams forever lost. But if she lays down her weapon and follows the bear into the vast, frozen realm of snow, she may transform her people and their bloodlust.

This was an interesting dystopian/fantasy read. More than a bit depressing, frankly. I don’t like cold weather, so that was a me thing, but the society itself was pretty bleak—and I wasn’t a fan of the people. The author did a great job with the setting, though, and I enjoyed the story itself. What happened when Dira broke the curse wasn’t surprising at all, but I did enjoy this read.

Kyra Whitton is from Georgia. A Burden of Ice and Bone is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Sword and Silk Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #276

This was a great writing week—and I was out of town Monday-Friday for training. I wrote three book reviews: The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple, by Joanna Davidson Politano, What’s Eating Jackie Oh?, by Patricia Park, and The One That Got Away with Murder, by Trish Lundy. The first and last books are worth reading. The middle one…not so much. I also got in five fiction sessions.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #275

This was a solid writing week: I got in five fiction sessions, and two book reviews, The British Booksellers, by Kristy Cambron and The Reappearance of Rachel Price, by Holly Jackson. Busy week with family in town, a birthday party for my nephew, and my aunt in the hospital, so I’m pleased I stuck to my writing.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #274

This wasn’t a great writing week: I wrote one book review, Love, Unscripted, by Denise Hunter, and four fiction sessions. This is the first week all year I haven’t met my goal of five fiction-writing sessions each week. :/ Work was tough this week, though, and I was exhausted. Hopefully next week will be better!

Happy writing!