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Reviews
Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo by Grant Faulkner
lauraschhh's review
2.0
Exactly what it says on the tin. Read when you feel particularly down about your stupidity.
toniclark's review against another edition
5.0
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
antisocial_auntie's review against another edition
4.0
Short audiobook that didn't feel overwhelming with lots of exercises. Just short talks about different areas of frustration.
reickel's review
2.0
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!
xandraanneww's review
5.0
I love this book. There are a lot of very good ideas in it. Many things a lot of writers need to hear. Things I wish I could get the writers around me to understand, even. It's a book of self-fulfillment and motivation and breaking out of the mold, and I love it.
willwork4airfare's review
5.0
Audiobook. I listened to this casually over the course of two weeks and wrote more than I have in a few years. For that alone, 5 stars :)
tx_sandwich's review
5.0
This is a great book, as a new writer it gives a lot of practical activities and mindsets which are good! Will listen again in October to get me ready for NaNo!