Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear in The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club

Jan 12, 2019 Susan Swiderski rated it it was amazing

Shelves: entertaining, educational, writing

This book was the December-January IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group) book club, and it was a real winner. Or maybe I should say we're all winners for having read it.

Uplifting and inspirational, it offered this insecure writer the gift of self-acceptance and the assurance that creativity is a glorious gift to be cherished. All writers, no matter how talented or successful in the marketplace, harbor self-doubts. (Ergo, the IWSG.) But market success isn't necessarily a measure of talent or val ...more

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Jul 14, 2017 Margo Kelly rated it it was amazing

If you are a creative person, I highly recommend this book! I found it so inspiring that when I finished the last page, I wanted to turn back to page one and start reading all it over again.

Prior to this book, I had never read anything written by Elizabeth Gilbert. After attending multiple writing conferences where agents and editors recommended this book, I had to buy it and read it. My expectations were high, and Gilbert did not disappoint.

BIG MAGIC, by far, is one of the best books I've rea ...more

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Dec 12, 2018 Toi Thomas rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, funny, reviewed, rated, adult, writing

I must admit that I did not expect to enjoy this book. I expected to gain some insights and maybe even be inspired, but enjoyment is not required for either of those. Yet, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. While nothing is for everyone, I think any creative person, especially a writer, seeking insight and inspiration, will enjoy this book.

The central idea of this book is that, “Creativity is a force of enchantment…” Gilbert believes that magic is a major factor in the stories that get tol I must admit that I did not expect to enjoy this book. I expected to gain some insights and maybe even be inspired, but enjoyment is not required for either of those. Yet, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. While nothing is for everyone, I think any creative person, especially a writer, seeking insight and inspiration, will enjoy this book.

The central idea of this book is that, “Creativity is a force of enchantment…” Gilbert believes that magic is a major factor in the stories that get told and become big hits. She does not belittle or undermine hard work, talent, and skill in the slightest, but she recognizes that something “magical” has to happen before a story can see the light of day, let alone become a best seller. I for one, agree with her, but there’s so much more to it.

One of the main reasons I worried I wouldn’t enjoy the book was my reaction to some of the section headings listed in the table of contents. With such titles as: Courage, Permission, and Divinity, I expected Elizabeth Gilbert to lecture the reader about overthought philosophical concepts. Instead, she spoke plainly about the many facets of creativity and writing.

Gilbert fills this thesis of creativity with honest and heartfelt stories from her own life. Her delivery of each anecdote is filled with whimsy and emotion. She really is a good storyteller.

Gilbert tells the story of her friendship with author Ann Patchett which spans many of the major themes of the book, such as: the loss and finding of ideas, Multiple Discovery, the transfer and transport of ideas through magic, turning an idea into a complete story, and so much more.

I know it sounds like I’m talking about a book of fantasy, but this really is a serious nonfiction book about writing and creativity, but it’s also fun and isn’t afraid to explore different ideas about how stories make their way in this world.

From a more practical standpoint, I found myself respecting Gilbert even more than I already had when she talked about keeping her day job, even after having a best-selling book. Gilbert wasn’t willing or ready to put pressure on her writing and creative process by adding the pressure of providing for her financially. Sure, at that point her writing could support her, but she wanted the assurance that she could write for the sheer joy of writing without the pressure to make all her writing profitable.

There’s so much more I could mention about this book, but I feel that would spoil it. So, from here, all I can do is recommend it. Highly.
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Dec 31, 2018 J. Dorner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, book-on-writing, non-fiction-stuff, iwsg

I didn't really know what this book was going to be about. It was the book club's choice for this month, so I decided to have a go. I liked it far more than I expected to. I would recommend it to anyone who regularly pursues a creative interest. In fact, when I got a copy and read it, I liked it so much that I bought a copy for a friend, who also enjoyed it so much that she too bought a copy for her friend.

I'm not sure I understand the cover, which just looks like splashing various paint to me. I didn't really know what this book was going to be about. It was the book club's choice for this month, so I decided to have a go. I liked it far more than I expected to. I would recommend it to anyone who regularly pursues a creative interest. In fact, when I got a copy and read it, I liked it so much that I bought a copy for a friend, who also enjoyed it so much that she too bought a copy for her friend.

I'm not sure I understand the cover, which just looks like splashing various paint to me. The title does make sense after reading the book, but based on just "big magic," I don't know that I would have picked it up if not for the club picking it. I do enjoy reading books about writing motivation though. The book was well edited. Interestingly, the book talks about editing something so that it's "good enough," and figuring out when to stop hunting for every possible error. (*cough* Not that I've ever done that. *cough*) One of the greatest lessons in the book though is the hard truth of living a creative life: That you should quit, unless you can't.

This book does have me interested in the other works by this author. It did inspire me to keep writing. Some of the observations of the book impressed me because I've never thought about them before. It's very informative and entertaining, and it's clear that Elizabeth is an authority on the subject. The lessons absolutely apply to my own life as a writer. I'm sure my fellow writers would also enjoy reading this. The entire book was clear and easy to follow. The author's passion for writing and staying creative absolutely came through. I feel that I benefited from reading this book.

In the "Courage" section, the list of fears, I nodded along several times. "Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them," was a powerful quote included in this book (also in the "Courage" section). I don't know how, exactly, it might apply with chronic illness or family matters, but there it is. The book mentions that projects that don't turn out well can be thought of as just creative experiments -- what a freeing idea that is! The story in the book about the novel that really wanted to be written, the one that Ann ends up doing, that's some serious motivation to write when the Muse comes to call. Very powerful.

Good enough and out there now is better than probably perfect but never out there... that's a lesson I should make my mantra and say daily or something. Pretty good books can sell and be read. Books that are never published aren't selling or giving themselves to the world.

The lesson about needing to love writing (or whatever) with your whole heart, the good and the bad parts, that's an important one. I think that's what weeds out most people. For example, during the #AtoZChallenge in April or NaNoWriMo in November, a lot of people start and make it for the first week. But, by the end of those months, it's only the people who loved doing it enough to keep at it despite the time consumption and dozens of things that inevitably go wrong for anyone who makes plans.

In a post-apocalyptic world, are writers useful? The book suggests that the fact that creativity exists is a gift, proof we are doing well. But I think the worse things are, the more people need the distraction of entertainment. (And if there's no more power or Internet, books and storytellers would go up in value.) That's the one part of the book I disagreed with. Perhaps my ego just wants to feel valuable so I have a fun reason to go on that isn't wholly reliant on another individual?

Being loved by nature and having a place in the world, mentioned in the "Trust" section, perhaps that's a more natural concept for me because of my Lenni-Lenape upbringing. It does seem to be one of the things that separated, or exiled, me from the more "civilized" children. Also in the "Trust" section was the bit about the Martyr and Trickster, which made me think of Batman and the Joker. As for the story of the Court Lobster, that's sort of why I decided to self-publish my first novel. (It was never going to wear the right costume, and I wasn't going to change the mythology just because others didn't know the legends I do. So I went "Court Lobster.") ...more

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Sep 23, 2017 Tom Britz rated it it was amazing

Big Magic is easily one of the best encouragement books on creativity. I'd place it up there with The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield and Zen In The Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury. Elizabeth Gilbert tells anecdote after anecdote on what art and its pursuit means to her and how it should matter to anyone that pursues this vocation.
I've been blocked for a couple of years and this book has me eager and ready to give writing another go round. The big thing to take away from the book, and by far not ...more

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Feb 28, 2017 Juneta Key rated it it was amazing

Shelves: writing-craft

The book was not the perspective I expected. It made me think. It made me look at certain creative aspects that most of us get, differently. This is about the muse of inspiration rather than how to be creative or at least that is how it struck me. It is inspiring but not in the way I expected. It has a light lilting voice to the writing. The author also has a depth to the introspection because she is writing the book for herself. A very enjoyable read.

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Mar 04, 2021 Victoria Sanchez rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, writing, research

I’ve changed my original rating from 3 to 4 stars. I still wish Gilbert had chosen a professional reader because what I find grating about her writing style becomes even that much more so when she speaks it, but pettiness aside, I think I was ready to hear what she had to say this time. As a second time read, it was easier to listen for the nuggets and tune out the rest. Whatever the reason, I got what I needed.

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