Worlds within Words: Writing and the Writing Life

by Sharon Darrow

In Worlds within Writing and the Writing Lif e , Sharon Darrow shows that a writer, through the process of discovery and revision, not only revises the work, but the self as well, and that through this creative process grows as a human being and becomes more capable of writing what must be written. She brings the knowledge and wisdom her years of experience writing for children, young adults, and adults has given her to this compilation of essays taken from a selection of lectures she presented during her twenty-year teaching career in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program of Vermont College of Fine Arts. Some topics covered The Writing Life --Source of voice in place and memory --Living in "Negative Capability" The Craft and the Art --Choosing point of view --Getting to the emotional core of character --Melding the character's emotional journey with the action of the plot --Strategies in sentence-making --Some ideas about poetry--lineation, word choice/placement, and white space The Teaching Writer --The process approach to writing --Can stories save lives and change the world? Imagination, Revision, and Self-Making --Goals, themes, and purpose --Developing a personal Writer's Statement --Discovery through revision --How revision changes the writer Going Forward --"Risks to be Taken, Dreams to be Dreamed"

Genres: Writing

296 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Sharon Darrow is the author of THE PAINTERS OF LEXIEVILLE and THROUGH THE TEMPESTS DARK AND WILD: A STORY OF MARY SHELLEY, CREATOR OF FRANKENSTEIN, illustrated by Angela Barrett. Sharon Darrow lives in Vermont.

Reviews

[Lynn Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books on the craft of writing give instructions. Some give examples to learn from. Darrow's book does far more: it offers a warm, knowledgeable friend, who instructs by example and who reminds the reader the root of fine writing is to be found in an openness to living and to learning. Writing and the Writing Life, the subtitle, describes the two strands within this volume: how to grow as a writer, learning concrete skills and developing powerful ambitions, and how to manage the pressure of daily life while maintaining a creative life as a writer. These two strands weave together to enhance the other. This is a book to turn to learn specific tactics to improve your writing like, how to find better words, how to develop fresh metaphors, how to determine what point of view would be best. It's also a book to turn to when you want the company of a wise, experienced, and warm friend. Darrow is that: a friend to writers just starting out, and a friend to experienced writers who want a companion to point the way forward.

[Melissa Lindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wasn't sure this one was for me - but she really managed to deepen my understanding of the revision process, and that was very enlightening. I enjoyed much of this book, even if I do not aspire to write for young adults or children - her personal stories were great, as was much of her insight.

[Mindy Hardwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Darrow's collection of essays is inspiring for writers of any level. The book is a great one for those who teach writing to share with students as well as writers looking for craft technique and help with the writing journey.