Writing As Adventure

About the Book

Varda One, in reading hundreds of books and articles on writing, found them lacking information that she considered important, such as, for example, how to recognize and deal with various types of inspiration. This led her to develop such ideas by analyzing her own experience. Her insights grew into columns and articles which were (and still are) printed in worldwide writers´ publications. Writing as Adventure is a distillation of those pieces, plus many new ones.

   In addition to the basics--writing the first draft, the revision process, evaluating critiques, dealing with editors and rejection, wise use of time--the book covers many other subjects:

• How to sustain belief in yourself as a writer
• Make fear a friend
• What happens when you´re alone in your writing room
• Create availability and receptivity for inspiration
• Decode the muse
• Achieve clarity of style
• Form a writing team of personas
• Create writing affirmations
• Balance time, energy, and ideas
• How to use routine chores as writing time
• Learn how to encourage yourself
• The inner game of marketing: timing
• Paradoxes of being a writer
• Pinpoint your motives for writing
• Be an experimental perfectionist
• How to make mistakes correctly
• Painless first drafts
• The art of revision
• Coping with envy
• A writer´s minimum support system
• How to pay yourself first
• Informal marketing
• The need to reinvent the wheel
• Create a playroom ("writing room")
• How to use your critics wisely
• Make rejection work for you

   The book is written in an informal style, with Varda sharing her experiences and harvest of wisdom.

   Writing can be lonely, painful, scary, and confusing, but it can also be joyful, empowering, nurturing, healing, exciting, clarifying, and fun. If you want to write but don´t, if you write but find the process unpleasant, let this writer´s companion be your guide to writing enjoyment.

About the Author

Varda One, now retired, has been a teacher, bookstore owner, editor, publisher, and administrator. Blocked for many years, she found a way to write easily and enjoyably. Her publications include books, essays, articles, short stories, poetry, and pamphlets. She also writes a monthly column for several writers’ magazines.