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Sister Fox’s Field Guide to the Writing Life
The best stories, Sister Fox knows,
are truest when they come trotting slantwise
loping towards you as if they’re going away.
Sister Fox knows so many secrets: why the chickadee sings in the lilac bush, where the best places are to bark at the moon, how to see an owl on a winter night. And Sister Fox knows the secret of how to catch poems and stories. She knows how to tell from their plumage where is coming from and where it might be heading. She’s learned through long practice when to chase her tail and when to scan the sky for a song. And in this book, Sister Fox will whisper those secrets to you—if you believe her.
Bestselling author Jane Yolen brings us this delightful new collection of poems on the art and craft of writing. Sometimes whimsical, often amusing, and always a wonder and a delight, Sister Fox’s Field Guide to the Writing Life showcases Yolen at her finest poetic form, ably complimented by Laura Rae’s sensitive illustrations. From the good-humoured, earthy wisdom of ‘The Muse Speaks’, to the snappish introspection of ‘Keep on Singing’, to the sparkling magic of ‘The Storyteller’, these poems enchant and dazzle and amuse. They linger in the mind and colour the imagination long after Sister Fox has closed the book. This is a collection no writer, poet, or lover of words should be without.
What Readers are Saying:
Reading Sister Fox was like watching a master magician explain exactly how each trick is planned and executed during their performance. And even though you have been shown the secrets; peeked behind the curtain and seen the ribs and blood and sawdust of craft, you can’t help but marvel and delight in the skill and then, blinking ever so briefly, the moment of magic happens, and your heart fills with wonder and astonishment. Jane Yolen—wordsmith—has written art disguised as Instruction Manual.
–Richard Michelson, Poet Laureate of Northampton, Mass.
Jane Yolen, beloved by generations of young readers, invites us all in this beautiful, generous book to be: “You at your leisure now reading my heart.” Her poems about the writing life “crack open the common world | like a walnut struck with a hammer.” She does not speak “the coarse, cruel, easy lies | a poet must never speak” because “Truth sits uneasy on any horse | [. . .] breathing in the dust, | and like God, breathing out life.” This is familiar Yolen magic: terror and delight, breathing out this time poems for grown-up readers and a wise “field guide” for writers.
–Pat Schneider, Author of How the Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice, &c.
are truest when they come trotting slantwise
loping towards you as if they’re going away.
Sister Fox knows so many secrets: why the chickadee sings in the lilac bush, where the best places are to bark at the moon, how to see an owl on a winter night. And Sister Fox knows the secret of how to catch poems and stories. She knows how to tell from their plumage where is coming from and where it might be heading. She’s learned through long practice when to chase her tail and when to scan the sky for a song. And in this book, Sister Fox will whisper those secrets to you—if you believe her.
Bestselling author Jane Yolen brings us this delightful new collection of poems on the art and craft of writing. Sometimes whimsical, often amusing, and always a wonder and a delight, Sister Fox’s Field Guide to the Writing Life showcases Yolen at her finest poetic form, ably complimented by Laura Rae’s sensitive illustrations. From the good-humoured, earthy wisdom of ‘The Muse Speaks’, to the snappish introspection of ‘Keep on Singing’, to the sparkling magic of ‘The Storyteller’, these poems enchant and dazzle and amuse. They linger in the mind and colour the imagination long after Sister Fox has closed the book. This is a collection no writer, poet, or lover of words should be without.
What Readers are Saying:
Reading Sister Fox was like watching a master magician explain exactly how each trick is planned and executed during their performance. And even though you have been shown the secrets; peeked behind the curtain and seen the ribs and blood and sawdust of craft, you can’t help but marvel and delight in the skill and then, blinking ever so briefly, the moment of magic happens, and your heart fills with wonder and astonishment. Jane Yolen—wordsmith—has written art disguised as Instruction Manual.
–Richard Michelson, Poet Laureate of Northampton, Mass.
Jane Yolen, beloved by generations of young readers, invites us all in this beautiful, generous book to be: “You at your leisure now reading my heart.” Her poems about the writing life “crack open the common world | like a walnut struck with a hammer.” She does not speak “the coarse, cruel, easy lies | a poet must never speak” because “Truth sits uneasy on any horse | [. . .] breathing in the dust, | and like God, breathing out life.” This is familiar Yolen magic: terror and delight, breathing out this time poems for grown-up readers and a wise “field guide” for writers.
–Pat Schneider, Author of How the Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice, &c.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Jane Yolen
945 books3,218 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 27, 2022
I love this collection of Jane Yolen's poems. A gorgeous book, complimented by Laura Rae's whimsical artwork. A pleasure to return to long after first reading, and that's one of the joys of poetry. Was it William Carlos Williams who once said: "If it ain't a pleasure, it ain't a poem"? Well, for me, Sister Fox's FIELD GUIDE is a perfect pleasure. And as Sister Fox herself muses, it couldn't work "without the secret ingredient, astonishment." And with the sly fox I agree that it "...causes writers like me to sit silent, covered in a lap-robe of envy and awe." (But it is a good envy, I'm inspired!)
Update 2022: Each re-reading reveals new insights. As if you can’t step into the same poem twice. Fresh truths spring from the page, and I find myself in a new place.
“a story must be worn again
before the magic garment
fits the ready heart.” ~ “The Storyteller.” Page 52.
Update 2022: Each re-reading reveals new insights. As if you can’t step into the same poem twice. Fresh truths spring from the page, and I find myself in a new place.
“a story must be worn again
before the magic garment
fits the ready heart.” ~ “The Storyteller.” Page 52.
January 17, 2015
A must have for lovers of poetry, writing, and foxes! Darling illustrations at the beginning of each section. Writing inspiration and companionship delivered in poetic form.
"My at my desk slowly scribbling story.
You at your leisure, now reading my heart."
— "Our Natures"
"Art is our reply to weariness.
Gather it to you, emulate the tulip,
shed your petals one by one,
and dance." — "Saturday, Sunday"
"Let my heart of ink be rivers
feeding the landscape
where a thousand flowers
spill over river's banks,
and animals as yet without names
drink deep of the water."
— "Wings of Paper, Heart of Ink"
"My at my desk slowly scribbling story.
You at your leisure, now reading my heart."
— "Our Natures"
"Art is our reply to weariness.
Gather it to you, emulate the tulip,
shed your petals one by one,
and dance." — "Saturday, Sunday"
"Let my heart of ink be rivers
feeding the landscape
where a thousand flowers
spill over river's banks,
and animals as yet without names
drink deep of the water."
— "Wings of Paper, Heart of Ink"
April 27, 2018
I loved this writing guide! I was totally surprised to find it is written in poetic form. Don't let that discourage you. I discovered many parallels, metaphors, and life lessons about writing in the captivating lines of the poems by Jane Yolen. A good read and a great reread!
March 24, 2021
This collection of poems about writing and creating are lovely. They are not dense, neither are they too simple or easy. Most are funny. The image of the Fox being the storyteller is a nice touch that holds the disparate poems together.
August 21, 2017
This lovely book of poems about writing and the creative life is absolutely lovely, both charming and sharply insightful. Definitely worth reading!
March 14, 2018
I usually don't care for poetry, but I loved this book and most of the poems. It describes various aspects of the writing life. One of the few books on writing that touched my heart.
January 4, 2020
If you are in love with trickster and consciously-applied chaos ... oh, and a budding poet and lover of foxes, this book is your bible. How ADORABLE.
January 7, 2014
My experience with this astonishing poetry collection began with the thrill of a package sent via Royal Mail from St. Andrews, Scotland -- not a common occurrence at this address.
On a chilly evening, I curled up to slowly savor this delectable treat: a series of poems carefully crafted by a master wordsmith. By turns sassy, wrenching, candid, sly, mournful, mysterious and funny, each poem's melodious ease belies Yolen's assertion that writing poetry is hard work.
Laura Rae's delicate art served as a lively companion with its own tale to share during my journey through the chapters: Musing; Ars Poetica; Storying; And After; and Closing, following the process of writing from idea through post publication.
Laden with intimate insights into this prolific author's writing process and life, Sister Fox's Field Guide to the Writing Life weaves a magic spell of inspiration for writers of all kinds, but especially poets.
On a chilly evening, I curled up to slowly savor this delectable treat: a series of poems carefully crafted by a master wordsmith. By turns sassy, wrenching, candid, sly, mournful, mysterious and funny, each poem's melodious ease belies Yolen's assertion that writing poetry is hard work.
Laura Rae's delicate art served as a lively companion with its own tale to share during my journey through the chapters: Musing; Ars Poetica; Storying; And After; and Closing, following the process of writing from idea through post publication.
Laden with intimate insights into this prolific author's writing process and life, Sister Fox's Field Guide to the Writing Life weaves a magic spell of inspiration for writers of all kinds, but especially poets.
January 18, 2014
It was an exciting exciting package from England, filled with poems crafted by a master writer. It is a slim book to read and reread.
Read
June 27, 2017A gem for any creative person. I will return to this book often.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews