The Writer As an Artist: A New Approach to Writing Alone and With Others

by Pat Schneider

"The Writer is an Artist" is for anyone who has felt the impulse to put words to paper, for monetary gain, or as a means of expression. With an unusual, gentler view of discipline, this book guides you toward your own distinct, colorful voice and show you step-by-step how to make that voice heard among other writers and in the world.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

(Please note that I do not use Goodreads actively: my blog posts here are updated automatically from my website. If you would like to get in touch with me, please visit www.patschneider.com. Thank you.)

I am a writer of poetry, plays, libretti and non-fiction, and I am the founder of Amherst Writers and Artists. For thirty-four years I have taught writing in Massachusetts and around the world.

My two best-known books are about writing, both from Oxford University Press. My new book, HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN: WRITING AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE, offers seventeen chapters that engage the connection between writing and spirituality, regardless of one’s religious tradition or one’s level of expertise in writing. Chapter one takes Einstein’s statement, “There is a spirit,” as inspiration, and the book then moves through chapters that explore what to do with one’s own tradition -- tradition in writing and tradition in religions – as well as “The Dark Night of the Soul,” “Forgiving,” “Being Forgiven,” “The Body,” “Freedom,” and ending with “Joy.” The Library Journal review from February, 2013 says this: “Her book will have wide appeal to both amateur and seasoned writers and spiritual seekers whether or not tied to any tradition. The book is also useful as a tool for growth through reflection and writing. Highly recommended.”

My earlier book, WRITING ALONE AND WITH OTHERS, offers guidance and help to the writer working alone, and in the second half details the Amherst Writers & Artists method of creative writing workshops and writing groups. It is used widely and internationally in classrooms and independent workshops as a method that develops the craft of writing without doing harm to one’s original voice. The method it describes is also widely used as a tool for the empowerment of under-served populations, in prisons, shelters, and with youth-at-risk.

Reviews

[Frances Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be referring to this regularly as I begin conducting my own workshops.

[Sigo Paolini · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of exercises in here. I did two, and I realized they are something one must persevere with to get a hold on one's psyche — she's very Jungian though to be honest many of these tasks are right out of Freud— and move on. She uses every technique out there from Progoff's well & Elbow's freewriting to Hugo's letters. The book is divided into working alone or working in groups, but the group area has exercises you can do even if you are flying solo.

One of my favorite exercises was #4, Remember a photograph, where you remember a photo and discuss it. She is big on journals, not because you are going to be a writer, but as an artist thinking and creating are highly related, and keeping a journal allows you to track your progress, your thoughts, and life. Even if you never write a short story or a novel, a journal is a healthy outlet — which of course brings us back to the Yellow Wallpaper where that was forbidden because of the worry that our gal would end up like Jack in the Shining and just scribble that same things repeatedly and encourage their illness with an unhealthy mantra. Watch for that.

Yes this can help wannabe writers, but I think diarists or journallers could benefit from these exercises too...and I have 34 more to go. Let me add, you can either use Penzu or paper. I like paper.