What do you think?
Rate this book
Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo
Every writer knows that as rewarding as the creative process is, it can often be a bumpy road. Have hope and keep at it! Designed to kick-start creativity, this handsome handbook from the executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) gathers a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career. From tips about how to finally start that story to helpful ideas about what to do when the words just aren't quite coming out right, Pep Talks for Writers provides motivation, encouragement, and helpful exercises for writers of all stripes.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2017
149 people are currently reading
1674 people want to read
About the author
Grant Faulkner
18 books119 followersGrant Faulkner is the co-founder of 100 Word Story, the co-host of the Write-minded podcast, and an executive producer on America’s Next Great Author.
He has published three books on writing: The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story; Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo; and Brave the Page, a teen writing guide.
He’s also published All the Comfort Sin Can Provide, a collection of short stories, Fissures, a collection of 100-word stories, and Nothing Short of 100: Selected Tales from 100 Word Story.
His “flash novel,” something out there in the distance, a collaboration with the photographer Gail Butensky, is coming out in September 2025 with the University of New Mexico Press.
His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines, including Tin House, The Southwest Review, and The Gettysburg Review, and he has been anthologized in collections such as Norton’s Flash Fiction America; New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction; and in several editions of the annual Best Small Fictions and Best Microfiction anthologies.
His essays on creativity have been published in The New York Times, Poets & Writers, Lit Hub, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. He serves on the National Writing Project Writers Council, Litquake’s board of directors, the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Words’ Creative Council, and Left Margin Lit’s Advisory Board.
He’s presented at events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Associated Writing Programs Conference, Book Expo America, the Chicago Humanities Festival, the Oakland Book Festival, the Bay Area Book Festival, Poets & Writers Live, the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Commonwealth Club, the Digital Publishing Innovation Summit, Writers Digest West, the Porchlight storytelling series, Litquake, Lit Crawl, the Mendocino Writers Conference, the Sierra Writers Conference, and the Arizona State Library Association’s YA Summit.
He has published three books on writing: The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story; Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo; and Brave the Page, a teen writing guide.
He’s also published All the Comfort Sin Can Provide, a collection of short stories, Fissures, a collection of 100-word stories, and Nothing Short of 100: Selected Tales from 100 Word Story.
His “flash novel,” something out there in the distance, a collaboration with the photographer Gail Butensky, is coming out in September 2025 with the University of New Mexico Press.
His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines, including Tin House, The Southwest Review, and The Gettysburg Review, and he has been anthologized in collections such as Norton’s Flash Fiction America; New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction; and in several editions of the annual Best Small Fictions and Best Microfiction anthologies.
His essays on creativity have been published in The New York Times, Poets & Writers, Lit Hub, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. He serves on the National Writing Project Writers Council, Litquake’s board of directors, the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Words’ Creative Council, and Left Margin Lit’s Advisory Board.
He’s presented at events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Associated Writing Programs Conference, Book Expo America, the Chicago Humanities Festival, the Oakland Book Festival, the Bay Area Book Festival, Poets & Writers Live, the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Commonwealth Club, the Digital Publishing Innovation Summit, Writers Digest West, the Porchlight storytelling series, Litquake, Lit Crawl, the Mendocino Writers Conference, the Sierra Writers Conference, and the Arizona State Library Association’s YA Summit.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 6, 2018
Insane! Otherworldly! I'm instantly in love with it! This is a book I definitely will be willing to return to again and again and again!
Q:
Let thoughts race through your mind like whippets. Write with hurrious need. (c)
Q:
There’s a certain magic in writing intensely for a 30-minute block. When Ray Bradbury first started as a writer, he had to get out to write away from a house full of children, so he paid a dime to use a typewriter for 30 minutes at UCLA’s library. He was poor, and he wanted to get his money’s worth, so he was forced to focus and write at a frantic pace. He wrote Fahrenheit 451 in such a way and described the novel as an effortless creative experience. (c)
Q:
As the clock is ticking, it’s important not to hesitate. Let thoughts race through your mind like whippets. Write with hurrious need. Catapult over your inhibitions and illuminate every stray, orphaned thought in your mind and allow it to erupt. Drench your page with ink. (c)
Q:
So don’t worry about tripping when you write. Trip on a banana peel. Trip on a plot point. Trip on a character description, a line of dialogue, a single extravagant word. The more improvisational, the more foolish I am, the more likely I am to chase bolder angles, discover unexpected plot developments and surprising character pivots, and open the door to what I call happy accidents. (c)
Q:
Choose a name and create a character background for this new author—this new version of you. Write a story, a poem, even just a scene by inhabiting this new self, and see what different words emerge. If you want to take it one step further, create a Twitter account for your new authorial self. Who does your nom de plume follow? How does he or she comment on the world? Become someone different. (c)
Q:
Let thoughts race through your mind like whippets. Write with hurrious need. (c)
Q:
There’s a certain magic in writing intensely for a 30-minute block. When Ray Bradbury first started as a writer, he had to get out to write away from a house full of children, so he paid a dime to use a typewriter for 30 minutes at UCLA’s library. He was poor, and he wanted to get his money’s worth, so he was forced to focus and write at a frantic pace. He wrote Fahrenheit 451 in such a way and described the novel as an effortless creative experience. (c)
Q:
As the clock is ticking, it’s important not to hesitate. Let thoughts race through your mind like whippets. Write with hurrious need. Catapult over your inhibitions and illuminate every stray, orphaned thought in your mind and allow it to erupt. Drench your page with ink. (c)
Q:
So don’t worry about tripping when you write. Trip on a banana peel. Trip on a plot point. Trip on a character description, a line of dialogue, a single extravagant word. The more improvisational, the more foolish I am, the more likely I am to chase bolder angles, discover unexpected plot developments and surprising character pivots, and open the door to what I call happy accidents. (c)
Q:
Choose a name and create a character background for this new author—this new version of you. Write a story, a poem, even just a scene by inhabiting this new self, and see what different words emerge. If you want to take it one step further, create a Twitter account for your new authorial self. Who does your nom de plume follow? How does he or she comment on the world? Become someone different. (c)
October 10, 2017
It is almost my favourite time of year. Not Christmas, not Halloween, but Nanowrimo!
Every November thousands of individuals, across the globe, take part in a month-long challenge to each write 50,000 words of their current work in progress. This has become known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. This is not only a hugely popular online phenomenon but has a slew of well-known and best-selling authors - including Donna Tartt and Erin Morgenstern - who have cited NaNoWriMo as the place where they honed their craft and completed their manuscripts.
So, with just one month left to prepare until this year's event kicks off, I am in need of all the help I can get! And help comes in no better form than a book penned by the NaNoWriMo executive director himself, Grant Faulkner.
52 Pep Talks for Writers does exactly as the title suggests. This features 52 short essays to kick-start creativity and motivate your writer's mojo, and is suitable for any writer on any stage of their creative journey. This is a complete guide to mentally motivating yourself for the chaotic month to come but, with timelessly solid advice suitable for any creative individual, this is also a good resource to be pored over at any time of the year.
This handy book's universal appeal is furthered by the broad topics covered inside this relatively short but waffle-free guide. Gathered is a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career and featured is a plethora of handy tips for writers on any stage of their manuscripts.
Not only is this hugely helpful, but it is also a great physical asset to your bookshelves. This slim volume is full of fully-coloured and glossy pages that retain your focus by its use of illustration, bold text and vivid shades. With nothing to fault and a lot to gain, this is a book that should be packed into any writer's arsenal.
Every November thousands of individuals, across the globe, take part in a month-long challenge to each write 50,000 words of their current work in progress. This has become known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. This is not only a hugely popular online phenomenon but has a slew of well-known and best-selling authors - including Donna Tartt and Erin Morgenstern - who have cited NaNoWriMo as the place where they honed their craft and completed their manuscripts.
So, with just one month left to prepare until this year's event kicks off, I am in need of all the help I can get! And help comes in no better form than a book penned by the NaNoWriMo executive director himself, Grant Faulkner.
52 Pep Talks for Writers does exactly as the title suggests. This features 52 short essays to kick-start creativity and motivate your writer's mojo, and is suitable for any writer on any stage of their creative journey. This is a complete guide to mentally motivating yourself for the chaotic month to come but, with timelessly solid advice suitable for any creative individual, this is also a good resource to be pored over at any time of the year.
This handy book's universal appeal is furthered by the broad topics covered inside this relatively short but waffle-free guide. Gathered is a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career and featured is a plethora of handy tips for writers on any stage of their manuscripts.
Not only is this hugely helpful, but it is also a great physical asset to your bookshelves. This slim volume is full of fully-coloured and glossy pages that retain your focus by its use of illustration, bold text and vivid shades. With nothing to fault and a lot to gain, this is a book that should be packed into any writer's arsenal.
January 6, 2018
I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Where was this book 10 years ago when I was starting out?! The good news is that it exists now, and people are still in desperate need of its perspective. Written by Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo, this book is the perfect stepping stone for writers who thrive on NaNo and want to stay motivated to keep writing the other 11 months of the year (NaNoWriMo, in case you don't know, takes place each November, as writers worldwide bond as they fight to complete 50,000 words of book in a thirty day span.) but I'd argue that it's good for authors at all levels. I mean, heck. I'm an author with Harper Voyager with 4 novels out. I know impostor syndrome, depression, crippling doubt. Those difficulties have evolved over time; they don't go away. This book still spoke to me in a profound way.
The book is organized like a devotional. Its 52 pep talks are only about 2-4 pages each, easy to read in a few minutes, with each one capped off with a 'Try This' task designed to inspire writing and/or the writer to look at things a different way. It'd be easy to read this book, solo or in a writing group, over one year--or to read it as I did, in a matter of days.
I loved the book even more when I reached the end and found a "Where Do You Need Help?" special index organized by topics like Starting a New Project, Feeling Stuck, and Nourishing Your Muse.
Where was this book 10 years ago when I was starting out?! The good news is that it exists now, and people are still in desperate need of its perspective. Written by Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo, this book is the perfect stepping stone for writers who thrive on NaNo and want to stay motivated to keep writing the other 11 months of the year (NaNoWriMo, in case you don't know, takes place each November, as writers worldwide bond as they fight to complete 50,000 words of book in a thirty day span.) but I'd argue that it's good for authors at all levels. I mean, heck. I'm an author with Harper Voyager with 4 novels out. I know impostor syndrome, depression, crippling doubt. Those difficulties have evolved over time; they don't go away. This book still spoke to me in a profound way.
The book is organized like a devotional. Its 52 pep talks are only about 2-4 pages each, easy to read in a few minutes, with each one capped off with a 'Try This' task designed to inspire writing and/or the writer to look at things a different way. It'd be easy to read this book, solo or in a writing group, over one year--or to read it as I did, in a matter of days.
I loved the book even more when I reached the end and found a "Where Do You Need Help?" special index organized by topics like Starting a New Project, Feeling Stuck, and Nourishing Your Muse.
December 21, 2020
"Making art tells you who you are. Making art in turn makes you."
June 2, 2020
3 ⭐️
I’m glad I didn’t pay full price for this.
This book isn’t anything new. If you need a boost of confidence on a certain subject, or are a beginner writer and aren’t sure where you’re going yet, it might be just what you need.
It wasn’t for me. I didn’t need anpther middle-class white man’s perspective on writing. And if you wonder why I just brought up the author’s class, race and gender, know that he announces loud and clear in his tips that he wanted to write a book about Thailand, so he ate in Thai restaurants and watched a Thai tv show he didn’t understand... that’s why we keep seeing whitewashed version of every goddamn culture and cultural appropriation in so many books. And on another chapter about travelling, he mentions how we see life differently when we travel, as if most tourists aren’t taking advantage of and destroying the places they visit.
I am also wary of non-fiction books where authors cite numerous sources but never give a proper bibliography or even add the full source at the bottom of the page. If you’re going to talk about a study that says this and that, I need to be able to find it. Otherwise I’ll just have to trust that your paraphrasing is perfect – and I doubt it is if you don’t give me the source.
I did highlight from every chapter. Will I do the exercises? Maybe some of them. But the one thing I appreciated most was the “Where do you need help?” section at the very end. At least that’s somewhat useful (because that contents table in the beginning is just messy).
I’m glad I didn’t pay full price for this.
This book isn’t anything new. If you need a boost of confidence on a certain subject, or are a beginner writer and aren’t sure where you’re going yet, it might be just what you need.
It wasn’t for me. I didn’t need anpther middle-class white man’s perspective on writing. And if you wonder why I just brought up the author’s class, race and gender, know that he announces loud and clear in his tips that he wanted to write a book about Thailand, so he ate in Thai restaurants and watched a Thai tv show he didn’t understand... that’s why we keep seeing whitewashed version of every goddamn culture and cultural appropriation in so many books. And on another chapter about travelling, he mentions how we see life differently when we travel, as if most tourists aren’t taking advantage of and destroying the places they visit.
I am also wary of non-fiction books where authors cite numerous sources but never give a proper bibliography or even add the full source at the bottom of the page. If you’re going to talk about a study that says this and that, I need to be able to find it. Otherwise I’ll just have to trust that your paraphrasing is perfect – and I doubt it is if you don’t give me the source.
I did highlight from every chapter. Will I do the exercises? Maybe some of them. But the one thing I appreciated most was the “Where do you need help?” section at the very end. At least that’s somewhat useful (because that contents table in the beginning is just messy).
April 11, 2020
I was in need of some writing inspiration and this totally hit the spot. As a NaNoWriMo participant (many years over!) I've been a fan of Grant Faulkner for a while. I totally enjoy his podcast and his nuggets of writing advice and this book was filled with even more great takeaways.
There are so many books of writing advice out there and what I loved about this one is that it's accessible and actionable. He gives direct, down to earth advice, and gives some 'to do's' at the end of each chapter. It was like chatting with a good friend.
My only bummer about the audiobook is that Grant Faulkner himself didn't narrate it. No disrespect to the narrator (he was great), but I think Grant has a great voice and always love a non-fiction read by the author. That said, a totally worthwhile listen and read. It's also the kind of book you can dip in and out of, but if you need a little writing inspiration, don't wait until November to give this one a listen.
FYI - This book is for sure targeted toward writers vs. creatives in general.
There are so many books of writing advice out there and what I loved about this one is that it's accessible and actionable. He gives direct, down to earth advice, and gives some 'to do's' at the end of each chapter. It was like chatting with a good friend.
My only bummer about the audiobook is that Grant Faulkner himself didn't narrate it. No disrespect to the narrator (he was great), but I think Grant has a great voice and always love a non-fiction read by the author. That said, a totally worthwhile listen and read. It's also the kind of book you can dip in and out of, but if you need a little writing inspiration, don't wait until November to give this one a listen.
FYI - This book is for sure targeted toward writers vs. creatives in general.
September 18, 2020
I found this book to be great for new writers and those who need more inspiration or direction. There are many things inside that are said in multiple marketing books, but as they say, there are no new ideas, just different ways to say the same thing! There were a few personal anecdotes that I really enjoyed, like Faulkner's practice of setting three writing escapes that are easily attainable each year—a way to escape the monotony of everyday life and challenge yourself without breaking your bank or pushing you too far out of your comfort zone. There are also some quotes and observations about famous classic authors that are actually interesting factoids and fun to take in. Overall, a good book, but your mileage may vary based upon your own experiences within the industry.
January 10, 2018
Definitely a book to add to my personal collection! Every writer or would-be writer needs to read this book.
December 18, 2017
f you’re looking for something to boost your writing mojo, grab a copy of Grant Faulkner’s Pep Talk For Writers.
Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month, so he knows his shit! More relevant to creative writers and, in particular, those embarking on November’s #NaNoWriMo (write 50,000 words in 30 days), there’s still a lot of useful info here bloggers/non-fiction writers.
He touched on something that I think of a lot and have trouble saying out loud: you don’t need permission to be a creator – you’re a writer because you write, regardless of whether or not you’ve actually been published. I still find it hard to refer to myself as a writer.
There are a lot of writer life lessons here that I can easily embed into my life as a blogger (in fact, I ditched the dishes in order to write this!), such as identifying your own creative process and making it a routine, building a creative community and focusing on what inspires you.
Faulkner also touched on two big issues in blogging: comparison and imposter syndrome, something which I think a lot of us struggle with.
I have to admit, I was expecting something a bit more like Creative Pep Talk, which I reviewed earlier this year, but I suppose it makes sense to have something more focused on copy and less on the way things look – although I think the book would have benefited from more firsthand accounts and top tips/inspiration from other writers.
It’s easy to get stuck in a writing rut or to lose your way a bit in terms of content and/or scheduling but I’ve found the trick is to paraphrase one of Jenson’s favourite films and just keep writing!
If you’ve just kicked off Blogtober and are wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into, or are planning ahead for Blogmas, there’s a lot to inspire you in Pep Talk for Writers (out on Tuesday). I’ve also got a separate post coming next week on how I find the time to blog daily, so pop back soon!
*I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own
This review first appeared on A Cornish Geek on 4 October 2017
https://acornishgeek.com/2017/10/04/p...
Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month, so he knows his shit! More relevant to creative writers and, in particular, those embarking on November’s #NaNoWriMo (write 50,000 words in 30 days), there’s still a lot of useful info here bloggers/non-fiction writers.
He touched on something that I think of a lot and have trouble saying out loud: you don’t need permission to be a creator – you’re a writer because you write, regardless of whether or not you’ve actually been published. I still find it hard to refer to myself as a writer.
There are a lot of writer life lessons here that I can easily embed into my life as a blogger (in fact, I ditched the dishes in order to write this!), such as identifying your own creative process and making it a routine, building a creative community and focusing on what inspires you.
Faulkner also touched on two big issues in blogging: comparison and imposter syndrome, something which I think a lot of us struggle with.
I have to admit, I was expecting something a bit more like Creative Pep Talk, which I reviewed earlier this year, but I suppose it makes sense to have something more focused on copy and less on the way things look – although I think the book would have benefited from more firsthand accounts and top tips/inspiration from other writers.
It’s easy to get stuck in a writing rut or to lose your way a bit in terms of content and/or scheduling but I’ve found the trick is to paraphrase one of Jenson’s favourite films and just keep writing!
If you’ve just kicked off Blogtober and are wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into, or are planning ahead for Blogmas, there’s a lot to inspire you in Pep Talk for Writers (out on Tuesday). I’ve also got a separate post coming next week on how I find the time to blog daily, so pop back soon!
*I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own
This review first appeared on A Cornish Geek on 4 October 2017
https://acornishgeek.com/2017/10/04/p...
November 16, 2017
This book deserves a place on all writers' bookshelves, right between Lamott's Bird By Bird and King's On Writing. Many such writing manuals too often rehash the same old axioms: write what you know, kill your darlings, silence your inner editor. Faulkner blessedly avoids this trap. When he does cover an old axiom, he dissects it, inverts it, turns it inside out, or simply comes at it from a new angle. Instead of admonishing the reader to silence the inner editor, Faulkner instead shows us how to make that editor work for us.
Of course, the book is more than revisiting old advice. Faulkner, as Exec. Director for NaNoWriMo, knows writers don't need more tips, more advice, more admonishments. They need encouragement, news they can use in a way they can use. They need pep talks from someone who's been there and will be there again. For this reason, the book is delivered in short, focussed chapters.
Faulkner doesn't get lost in long-winded anecdotes about his experience, but does, very surgically, use his own struggles to illustrate and enliven the pep talks. Rather than coming off as an old master casting his pearls from on high, Faulkner feels more like a peer sharing to-the-point war stories over a beer.
I strongly recommend this book for writers of all levels of skill and success. For beginners, it will help through the most typical difficulties and disappointments. For veterans, it will refresh your spirit by reminding you of where you've -- and are maybe finding yourself again. Because that is how writing is. We are all beginners, regardless of where we stand in our development as writers.
Of course, the book is more than revisiting old advice. Faulkner, as Exec. Director for NaNoWriMo, knows writers don't need more tips, more advice, more admonishments. They need encouragement, news they can use in a way they can use. They need pep talks from someone who's been there and will be there again. For this reason, the book is delivered in short, focussed chapters.
Faulkner doesn't get lost in long-winded anecdotes about his experience, but does, very surgically, use his own struggles to illustrate and enliven the pep talks. Rather than coming off as an old master casting his pearls from on high, Faulkner feels more like a peer sharing to-the-point war stories over a beer.
I strongly recommend this book for writers of all levels of skill and success. For beginners, it will help through the most typical difficulties and disappointments. For veterans, it will refresh your spirit by reminding you of where you've -- and are maybe finding yourself again. Because that is how writing is. We are all beginners, regardless of where we stand in our development as writers.
January 28, 2018
Although the book is aimed primarily at novelists (both beginning and published), I found so much here that applies to poetry or any kind of writing — indeed, to any creative endeavor. Faulkner gives us inspiration, encouragement, and gentle wisdom without the typical advice we’ve all read in other writing guides: e.g., write what you know, kill your darlings, silence your inner editor, blah, blah, blah. I found Faulkner refreshing and interesting. The book consists of 52 short chapters, each one easy to read whenever you need a little kick in the pants. I wanted to read the whole thing in one setting, but it’s probably better consumed more slowly, taking time to think about your own process and to try some of the exercises that cap each chapter. I’ll be dipping into this often. I really loved this book and am searching out some interviews with Faulkner (i.e., on various podcasts, such as Joanna Penn’s “The Creative Penn Podcast.”
“Inspiration is a funny thing. It’s powerful enough to move mountains. When it strikes, it carries an author forward like the rushing torrents of a flooded river. And yet, if you wait for it, nothing happens.” — Grant Faulkner
“Inspiration is a funny thing. It’s powerful enough to move mountains. When it strikes, it carries an author forward like the rushing torrents of a flooded river. And yet, if you wait for it, nothing happens.” — Grant Faulkner
January 14, 2018
I received this book as a door prize for attending a Nanowrimo kickoff party. I've not been impressed with Grant Faulkner's pep talks when he fills in for a Nanowrimo weekly, but thorough editing of his essays for a book has done him good. These essays are great. Much better than I expected.
December 3, 2023
A fun way to prep for NaNoWriMo! Listened to this in audiobook form while doing housework.
December 29, 2018
A quick e-read, I'm glad that I read it but equally as relieved to not have purchased a copy of it for myself. Here are the biggest takeaways, if you are into the Reader's Digest version of following along.
1. Aha's:
Ray Bradbury's kick start? Make a long list of nouns to trigger ideas. They'll be disjointed, sure, but find a way to bring all of them to the surface, recognize their patterns, and you're off. Don't believe it works? Check out his list that jump started Something Wicked This way Comes: The lake. The night. The crickets. The ravine. The attic. The basement. The trapdoor. The baby. The crowd. The night train. The fog horn. The scythe. The carnival The carousel. The dwarf. The mirror maze. The skeleton.
Find your people, your writing community, for "none of us is as smart as all of us."
Help your readers give you feedback by providing a framework of questions: --What would you cut? --What would you add? --If this was your piece, how would you revise it?
Vulnerability in writing is so difficult to overcome. We are conditioned to be accepted, to not step on toes. Don't be.
Continuing that line of thinking, he quotes Brene Brown's work when she states that creatives can usually point to a "creativity scar." This is "a specific incident when they were told they weren't talented as artists, musicians, writers or singers." The way that most people heal that scar is to clam up, but he urges against this, warning us that "a stoic show of invulnerability can feel stronger than the weakness of openness."
On the inevitability of rejection, he shares the Japanese word Osu. Loosely translated, it means to have patience, determination and perseverance.
And this little gem too good to paraphrase that I simply must quote the whole paragraph: "The world in general disapproves of creativity," said Isaac Asimov, and that's because creativity disrupts the norms of the status quo. Defiance isn't an easy thing: it's a lonely pursuit. So any people love saying, "That's not the way we do things." or "We've always done it this way," and if you listen to them you've decided to live by their rules, whether it's the rules of storytelling or of life.
2. Mmm hmms:
Other snippets that felt validating included the fact that creatives are slightly frenetic, that the dishes can wait (I feel better already) and that "ff a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then is an empty desk a sign?"
3. Uh. Nope.
Then there were little tidbits in there that I just can't saddle up to. One in particular? Dressing the part of a writer. Yeah, I get his point. We all need to make sure we are presentable. But donning garb reflective of the genre you are writing? Nah. Not my speed.
1. Aha's:
Ray Bradbury's kick start? Make a long list of nouns to trigger ideas. They'll be disjointed, sure, but find a way to bring all of them to the surface, recognize their patterns, and you're off. Don't believe it works? Check out his list that jump started Something Wicked This way Comes: The lake. The night. The crickets. The ravine. The attic. The basement. The trapdoor. The baby. The crowd. The night train. The fog horn. The scythe. The carnival The carousel. The dwarf. The mirror maze. The skeleton.
Find your people, your writing community, for "none of us is as smart as all of us."
Help your readers give you feedback by providing a framework of questions: --What would you cut? --What would you add? --If this was your piece, how would you revise it?
Vulnerability in writing is so difficult to overcome. We are conditioned to be accepted, to not step on toes. Don't be.
Continuing that line of thinking, he quotes Brene Brown's work when she states that creatives can usually point to a "creativity scar." This is "a specific incident when they were told they weren't talented as artists, musicians, writers or singers." The way that most people heal that scar is to clam up, but he urges against this, warning us that "a stoic show of invulnerability can feel stronger than the weakness of openness."
On the inevitability of rejection, he shares the Japanese word Osu. Loosely translated, it means to have patience, determination and perseverance.
And this little gem too good to paraphrase that I simply must quote the whole paragraph: "The world in general disapproves of creativity," said Isaac Asimov, and that's because creativity disrupts the norms of the status quo. Defiance isn't an easy thing: it's a lonely pursuit. So any people love saying, "That's not the way we do things." or "We've always done it this way," and if you listen to them you've decided to live by their rules, whether it's the rules of storytelling or of life.
2. Mmm hmms:
Other snippets that felt validating included the fact that creatives are slightly frenetic, that the dishes can wait (I feel better already) and that "ff a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then is an empty desk a sign?"
3. Uh. Nope.
Then there were little tidbits in there that I just can't saddle up to. One in particular? Dressing the part of a writer. Yeah, I get his point. We all need to make sure we are presentable. But donning garb reflective of the genre you are writing? Nah. Not my speed.
October 9, 2022
Historically I've had mixed luck with any sort of writing guide / book about writing. I always *want* them to offer some sort of epiphany, or even just a new perspective, especially because the few books on writing I've read that I have enjoyed often end up being literally life-changing for me (shoutouts to King, Brown, Crawford, Nabokov, Le Guin, et al. there). But this was thoroughly uninspiring. I'm glad that it's been helpful for others - it was recommended to me by someone who swears by reading it before she starts literally any project (sorry J if you see this, I still really did appreciate the rec) - but I found the insights fell into one of three categories: 1) obvious [set goals! make a routine! don't give up!], 2) covered in better detail by other sources of writing advice [steal! find a community! give yourself a permission!], or 3) ...stupid [play dress-up! exude gratitude! culturally appropriate!]. Speaking of that last one, parts of this book are also quite dated now, even just five years from its publication.
I did appreciate that it was framed as "pep talks" and want to be fair to that framing: it's not claiming to be a how-to guide, it's offering encouragement to in many cases aspiring writers. But even with that consideration, it seemed insubstantial to me. I write/plot/create/agonize over words daily both professionally and personally, and across a wide variety of media too, but sadly I can't even come up with one insight from this book that I'll take with me into any of it. The best thing I can say about it is that it's well-organized, and that it might be much more useful to someone else than it was to me.
I did appreciate that it was framed as "pep talks" and want to be fair to that framing: it's not claiming to be a how-to guide, it's offering encouragement to in many cases aspiring writers. But even with that consideration, it seemed insubstantial to me. I write/plot/create/agonize over words daily both professionally and personally, and across a wide variety of media too, but sadly I can't even come up with one insight from this book that I'll take with me into any of it. The best thing I can say about it is that it's well-organized, and that it might be much more useful to someone else than it was to me.
May 4, 2020
Some great advice. I listed to the audiobook format and enjoyed it.
February 25, 2021
This book was great! It helped boost my confidence about writing and made me excited to create. There were so many great quotes and pieces of advice that I found myself highlighting more than I normally do in other books. This will be a book I revist as I continue on my writing journey.
December 30, 2018
I would not have survived my first NaNoWriMo without this book!
November 29, 2017
"One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple." "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." "You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write." "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.”
‘You can make anything by writing’ – C.S. Lewis
Pep talks for writers is an inspiring little book full of empowering quotes, helpful writing advice and inspiration that helps keep you motivated when writing. If you are someone who like me takes part yearly in ‘National Novel Writing Month’ or writes novels as a serious endeavour, then this book is definitely one to add to your bookshelf. Grant Falkner the director of NaNoWriMo has written this helpful collection of insights, tricks and activities for all writers in any stage of their creative process.
Every year I struggle to find books that will help inspire and help me during NaNoWriMo, and this book is perfect. Every month online you are sent pep talks to help boost your confidence and creativity, and this book is packed with simply the best reads that I would highly recommend. One is left feeling bold and confident, excited about creating new work, inspired, empowered and ready to take on National novel writing month.
This book; 52 insights to boost your creative mojo is a must-read for any writer, whether you are studying writing as a student, a NaNoWriMo participant or someone who is novel writing –this is the book for you!
October 6, 2017
By noon today, the one day a week when I am supposed to abjure solving other people's problems and turn to my dreams, I found myself at the bottom of the staircase of "the cluttered basement of (my) daily tasks."
Enter Grant Faulkner and a chorus of angels, in the form of writers who have, every one, been there. You know this, Marlena. You don't need T.S. Eliot to tell you that you cannot let yourself be brought to a halt by paperwork from the Library of Congress. Except that you do.
"The life of an artist is filled mainly with rejection," observes Grant Faulkner. What's wrong with us, that we persevere? The miracle is not that we get discouraged, but that day after day, we're back at the keyboard. And who can stop us?
"You don't need permission to be a creator," says Grant. "Write with abandon. . . Cultivate your illusions of grandeur." You must have them, or you wouldn't have read this far.
Desperate writers can turn to the topical index in the back. What's your problem? "Starting a new project?" "Need to go deeper, take bigger risks?" "Riddled by creative doubts?" Sage advice on these topics and more are grouped together for writers on the verge, who need targeted talk fast.
And that's all of us, isn't it? Whether we crave a leisurely soak in affirmation, or strong medicine to snap out of it, we find it here, in "Pep Talks for Writers." Thank you, Grant Faulkner, for this beautifully written and ever-so-treasured volume.
Enter Grant Faulkner and a chorus of angels, in the form of writers who have, every one, been there. You know this, Marlena. You don't need T.S. Eliot to tell you that you cannot let yourself be brought to a halt by paperwork from the Library of Congress. Except that you do.
"The life of an artist is filled mainly with rejection," observes Grant Faulkner. What's wrong with us, that we persevere? The miracle is not that we get discouraged, but that day after day, we're back at the keyboard. And who can stop us?
"You don't need permission to be a creator," says Grant. "Write with abandon. . . Cultivate your illusions of grandeur." You must have them, or you wouldn't have read this far.
Desperate writers can turn to the topical index in the back. What's your problem? "Starting a new project?" "Need to go deeper, take bigger risks?" "Riddled by creative doubts?" Sage advice on these topics and more are grouped together for writers on the verge, who need targeted talk fast.
And that's all of us, isn't it? Whether we crave a leisurely soak in affirmation, or strong medicine to snap out of it, we find it here, in "Pep Talks for Writers." Thank you, Grant Faulkner, for this beautifully written and ever-so-treasured volume.
August 22, 2018
Written by current National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Executive Director Grant Faulkner, this book is made up of 52 pep talks, all about 3-5 pages long, which is great if you want to read all of them at once or refer back to select ones for a boost of confidence. At the end of each one, there’s a short exercise to help reenforce each pep talk, most are not too difficult to implement ASAP. At the back of the book, there’s a reference guide to the chapters based on topics, which really helps if you’re looking for certain categories.
If you’re familiar with the NaNoWriMo event that takes place in November, they send pep talks similar to the ones here throughout, and while many of those I feel are hit or miss, the ones here are just about all hits. Clear, deep enough to understand the basics, but brief enough to get to the point without overstaying their welcome. Unlike other writing books, it’s not preachy about what a writer must do or not do or make the reader feel bad for not following the advice. Instead, Faulkner encourages the writer that all that’s needed is a bit of a positive boost at any stage of the writing process. It’s a great go to when I’m hitting a slump in my writing, which happens quite a bit.
If you’re familiar with the NaNoWriMo event that takes place in November, they send pep talks similar to the ones here throughout, and while many of those I feel are hit or miss, the ones here are just about all hits. Clear, deep enough to understand the basics, but brief enough to get to the point without overstaying their welcome. Unlike other writing books, it’s not preachy about what a writer must do or not do or make the reader feel bad for not following the advice. Instead, Faulkner encourages the writer that all that’s needed is a bit of a positive boost at any stage of the writing process. It’s a great go to when I’m hitting a slump in my writing, which happens quite a bit.
December 3, 2017
While in the grip of NaNoWriMo fever, I saw this book listed in their store. Because I like to sample things before actually buying them, I rented a copy from my local library and found it quite enjoyable. The chapters are very short so it's easy to take them in small bites (which is great when you only have 15 minutes to eat at work) and is encouraging without being unrealistic or cloying. Some of the topics are easier to do than others, but there were plenty of good suggestions. Some I'd heard before in different incarnations and some were new. For me, I found it to be a good reminder that writing is supposed to be fun. It's easy to get lost in the grind, especially if your writing isn't going well, which is a spot I've been in lately. So this was a nice reality check that doesn't downplay the challenge of writing, but also doesn't let you give up either. Since there are 52 pep talks, I'm curious to see what would happen if one tried to focus on doing an exercise with a suggestion each week to cover the whole year. If you're a writer or interested in creativity, you may want to give this a look.
February 3, 2019
We writers want so much to write, and yet many of us have great difficulty in actually writing. That’s what these pep talks are designed for. Grant Faulkner, the executive director of National Novel Writing Month, is an expert on inspiring writers to write, and to write quickly, and to write well. In this book, Faulkner shares fifty-two insights and actions to jolt a writer’s creativity. Some that I loved (and plan to use next year) are:
*building a creative community
*cavorting...wandering...playing
*using your life in your story
*trusting in the absurd
*using the secrets of improv in your writing
And, probably most importantly, *logging in the hours.
This is a book I want to keep and reread a month into the year when my writing mojo starts flagging. Thank you, Grant Faulkner, for this book.
*building a creative community
*cavorting...wandering...playing
*using your life in your story
*trusting in the absurd
*using the secrets of improv in your writing
And, probably most importantly, *logging in the hours.
This is a book I want to keep and reread a month into the year when my writing mojo starts flagging. Thank you, Grant Faulkner, for this book.
November 16, 2018
Pep Talks for Writers by Grant Faulkner is a must-have book for writers of all walks of life and skill levels. Each pep talk is unique and motivating and educational. My favorites included:
—Taking a story field trip
—Spending time outside under the stars to enjoy the solitude
—Planning a mini writing retreat
—Showing gratitude to others to heal wounds
—Faking it till you make it when faced with imposter syndrome
I loved this book so much that I did a session on it for my writers’ group. We had a class called NaNoWriMo Halftime, so these pep talks were a huge help to our members. We made it interactive so we were able to solve quite a few problems our members were facing during NaNoWriMo.
Finally, the best part about this book is that you’ll always come back to it when you need a kick in the pants!
—Taking a story field trip
—Spending time outside under the stars to enjoy the solitude
—Planning a mini writing retreat
—Showing gratitude to others to heal wounds
—Faking it till you make it when faced with imposter syndrome
I loved this book so much that I did a session on it for my writers’ group. We had a class called NaNoWriMo Halftime, so these pep talks were a huge help to our members. We made it interactive so we were able to solve quite a few problems our members were facing during NaNoWriMo.
Finally, the best part about this book is that you’ll always come back to it when you need a kick in the pants!
May 9, 2018
This book is full of inspirational stories and talks for the writer in you. It is definitely worth using the "Look inside," feature on Amazon and getting a feel for the writing style and index. If you like it, it may very well be worth diving in head first.
That said, I was spoiled by the NaNoWriMo pep talks of 2014, 2015, and even a few gems from 2016. Those NaNo pep talks came off as much more personal and conversational to me than the ones in this book, and by feeling more personal they still are more effective for me, personally.
It may be a case of wrong time, wrong place for me, and many others grab plenty of inspiration from this book. It is worth a look-see to find out.
That said, I was spoiled by the NaNoWriMo pep talks of 2014, 2015, and even a few gems from 2016. Those NaNo pep talks came off as much more personal and conversational to me than the ones in this book, and by feeling more personal they still are more effective for me, personally.
It may be a case of wrong time, wrong place for me, and many others grab plenty of inspiration from this book. It is worth a look-see to find out.
January 10, 2022
It's not that anything was /wrong/ but oof, reading(/listening to) this was a test of patience. I can imagine, based on the title, this book being [more] effective to would-be writers who don't know anyone else who've ever enjoyed any narratives... at all. Any aspiring writer with even one friend or family member who has a history of enjoying movies and/or TV and/or [graphic] novels can ignore a lot of this. To summarize: if you're trying to write anything, keep trying. People around you may assume writing fiction is stupid and you should ignore them. You may be frustrated if you don't have instant meteoric success but if you're enjoying what you're writing then keep writing. The end!
January 7, 2018
At some point, all writers and want to be writers hit a roadblock and production slowly stops. This book has fifty-two ways to jump start stimulation and break through the dam to let the words flow. Each thought had an anecdote, common sense suggestion, and practice exercise. Although the Table of Contents headings are very descriptive, subject index is included.
I received this book through a LibraryThing giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I received this book through a LibraryThing giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 30, 2018
Maybe it is for a very specific type of people, but I had hard times with this book, cause it is very simple, nothing new and not inspiring. I write a lot for my work and have writer's block, but I am not a writer of novels. Had several attempts to go through this book, and sadly there was nothing that could inspire or teach me a new trick. So, unless you are a real-real writer, the one who earns by writing books and must keep writing pages no matter what, I would check additionally before buying this book.
April 23, 2025
Simply amazing from start to finish. If you're very much into writing and being creative, I recommend reading this.
These little 52 segments of wisdom and advice are very encouraging and useful. It's like having a friend to talk to when you are faced with so many things ranging from your muse inspiring you with all these magnificent ideas to wrestling with your own doubt and creative woes.
These lessons have struck a chord with me. I think it's safe to say that I will refer back to some relevant chapters in the future along my own creative pursuit.
These little 52 segments of wisdom and advice are very encouraging and useful. It's like having a friend to talk to when you are faced with so many things ranging from your muse inspiring you with all these magnificent ideas to wrestling with your own doubt and creative woes.
These lessons have struck a chord with me. I think it's safe to say that I will refer back to some relevant chapters in the future along my own creative pursuit.
June 18, 2022
What a wonderful book. I certainly enjoyed reading every page of this book that is quite well written in a simple and interesting style. I would certainly recommend this book to any beginner writer to read. I think I would re-read this book in the future. This book is easily one of my favorite books ever. *I reviewed the book on 6/6/2018.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews