Keeping the Faith in Writing

Just finished Write with Fire: Thoughts on the Craft of Writing (Borgo Press, 2009; Borgo Literary Guides, Number Eleven) by Charles Allen Gramlich, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Charles' takes on writing are refreshing. Of about twenty to two dozen writing books I've read over the past twenty-five or so years, this is the first one to take into equal consideration writing across genres (and across technologies, too.) It's peppered throughout with a gentle humor, and its drive and ideas are compelling and inspiring.

Write with Fire mixes practical advice with plenty of real-life examples (how to query, how to work on beginnings and endings; how to check grammar; utilizing dreams for ideas); it also deals with philosophy and psychology, even the physical side of writing. Furthermore, Charles provides background and context to his own writing arc; there are chapters and sections about growing up in Arkansas and, in "A Writer on the Run," the personal impact of Hurricane Katrina on his writing and life.

I really enjoy Charles' eclectic perspective, his writing from both inside and outside academia, vibrantly different from the more typical English/Creative Writing pedigree. A basic tenet is: if you want to write, write. But do write. Replace laziness and sporadic work with discipline, and a steady-burning fire. Charles does it all: teaches, reads, researches, writes across genres and styles, blogs and interacts with a wide spectrum of writers of all types on a consistent basis.

Write with Fire will make an excellent gift for anyone who writes, or wants to write. I intend to purchase more copies as gifts for the coming holidays; I know others will enjoy it, and draw inspiration from Charles' work, too. Acquired my first copy from www.amazon.com

Here's a link to Charles' blog. Been enjoying it (and Lana's blog, too) for three years:

http://charlesgramlich.blogspot.com/

Today's Rune: Journey.