Inspired Writer: How to Create Magic With Your Words

by Bryan Hutchinson

This book is not what you're expecting. It's a short, little book designed to offer you unique ideas on how to be inspired and find your muse. However, it's not a safe book. It's not about following style guides, grammar rules, and coloring in the lines. Far from it. It's about going to the next level, past the learning stages of basic grammar, past the ruthless and futile determination to appear perfect in one's writing. Although the focus is on writing, one can apply the methods presented to any art form.

Genres: Writing

101 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2016

Reviews

[ariestess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely some interesting info here for writers. Some of it was already known to me, but I did learn a few things.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryan Hutchinson is a freelance writer who shares his views on writing in a blunt, no-holds-barred manner. In Inspired Writer: How to Create Magic With Your Words, he takes the gloves off with some down and dirty advice on everything from overcoming writer’s block to finding your muse (or perhaps it’s better to say, letting your muse find you).
This isn’t a how-to book. It’s a think piece for anyone who wants to write better. Hutchinson’s focus is on YOU the writer, and how to unlock your ability to get your thoughts across in the most effective manner.
If you want to write better, you’re the key, and this book can help you find the right keyhole. It is not the magic bullet that will guarantee your next book will be a best seller; just some no-nonsense advice on how to write what’s inside you in a way that will resonate with readers.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and True

I love how Bryan is raw and honest about his doubts as a writer because I can so relate. This book contains messages I needed to hear.

[Fee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personal stories and a more spiritual approach ( think muses and meditation) Not for me.

[L.A. Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey, are you a pantser? Do you want to be validated like I do? With all the rage now-a-days to plot, plot, plot, what happened to the idea of discovery? Whatever happened to the offerings to the muses, to listen to those voices in your head and write down the muse's whispers?
This book is wonderful, in that it gives you ideas on how to find your muse, not flog your muse. The Artist's Way, and all those other books that basically say, "Put your butt in the chair and write," they've given up on the idea of the magic, the beauty, of inspiration. When you're inspired, nothing, and I mean nothing, can stop you.
And inspired does not mean following a formula. It means creating, doing your own thing, writing your own way, and letting the chips fall where they may. Because the art of creating is more important to us discovery-types than the art of selling.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of books on writing. And I have wrestled with spreadsheets and daily quotas and all the rest. I am rewriting and editing at the moment, and it is not easy. My word-count, that I have been told over and again is my measure as a writer, goes backwards as I clean up that crappy first draft.
Without understanding why I was losing hope. It became harder to sit down and watch that count go up and then slide back as I moved a whole scene to another book, or to the bin to probably be thrown out later.

My brain kicks my butt more times than I care to admit. I'm super sensitive to bullies, haters, and anyone who tears other people down for any reason. The real critic, though— the harshest of them all— is the one that lives inside of my head, and that's the one I deal with every single day. (Kindle Locations 55-57).

I hear you, Bryan.
A podcast person would say they wrote 7-8k words a day, or another guy writes 5k an hour, or Laurie Starkey wrote 46k words (her whole YA book) in one day just to see if she could. When I’m stuck I write by hand; pen and paper. It’s not huge on the word-count, you know?
But I kept comparing myself to these people and deciding I must be a failure.
I’m not; I’m just different.
And that’s what Bryan is too. Different.
http://positivewriter.com/
He has ADD and he’s honest about how it challenges him. He says to be a little easier on yourself. He does believe in a muse, but he says you have to be listening for one.
I’ve been busy counting words, and I’ve forgotten what made me write in the first place. Joy.
It’s the words that matter not the number of them.
4 stars

[Taffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a handy, quick read for writers and artists and any creative types.
Bryan Hutchinson tells the reader right from the beginning that this book is full of contradictions. Find your muse; there is no muse.
Don't write every day: write at least 250 words a day.
Take advice; don't listen to advice.
While I read in the book about being human, letting go of perfectionism and ignoring the critics, a big ah ha! moment came to me about flaws: I find it interesting that we writers are taught to make sure we write characters with flaws to make them more human, but the human writing the characters have to be perfect.
It's kind of freeing to think about.

The biggest gem for me was CREATE ON YOUR OWN TERMS. I have days were I don't even want to open my laptop but I do because I've been told to write every day. Other days I can't wait to work on my story. Maybe I need to listen to myself more. And maybe I'll write 250 words on the days I don't want to write.
I'm going to create on my own terms from now on.

[R.E. Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's nice to read something that says it's okay to be not-so-perfect in your writing and write for the sake of enjoyment and self fulfillment. The author directs the reader to not the business side of writing but to the creative, inspirational, and passionate side, the impetus behind writing as both an art and for the sake of genuine self expression. I found his thoughts on the writer's muse(s) very helpful and informative. His advice and rationale are neither hackneyed nor verbose and make sense in helping debunk the often overused, sometimes dubious, clichéd advice we see so often in other books on writing. His writing style is lively, inspiring, and easy to read. Great read, Bryan. I look to reading more of your works

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find your muse

This book is very encouraging. It applies not only to writing but any sort of creating. As an artist I really appreciated this. I have just as much trouble with artist's block as writer's block, even though I've sold my art worldwide for over ten years now. I have been white-knuckling it through which Hutchinson does *not* recommend. Instead, a breath of fresh air: slow down, woo your muse and your muse will woo you. I have to say, I implemented his advice immediately and have found myself more inspired than I've felt in months, writing away. Thank you Bryan!

[Y.I. Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Bryan

Yet again, Bryan Hutchinson delivers real, moving, authentic advice for writers (and all other artists). Unlike many others who regurgitate the same useless, guilty inducing advice, Bryan speaks from his heart to ours. Ideas such as being yourself, no longer people pleasing, what the Muse is and how to attract him/her/it, not settling for writing crap for the sake of saying you write everyday, and many other gems are included.

Thanks Bryan for yet again inspiring me to believe in myself as an artist/writer.

[Juneta Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a different approach and gives tibbits of encouragement and inspiration. It made me want to write. A good addition for the author mindset theme.