The Writing Warrior: Discovering the Courage to Free Your True Voice

by Laraine Herring

Overview

All writers are faced at some point with feelings of self-consciousness and self-doubt about their work. In this invaluable guide, Laraine Herring offers advice to writers who want to become more comfortable with their writing, face their inhibitions, and gain the confidence to release their true voice. Utilizing the breath, a vigorous movement practice designed to break up stagnation with the body and the mind, and writing exercises aimed both at self-exploration and developing works-in-progress, Herring offers a clear path to writing through illusion. Learn how to remove obstacles in your writing and develop techniques to help you relax into your own voice; discover ways to enter into a compassionate, non-judgmental relationship with yourself so that you can write safely and authentically from a place of absolute vulnerability; and discover the interconnectedness of your personal writing process and the community as a whole. The Writing Warrior will not only help you find ways to develop your writing, but also ways to develop yourself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590307960
Publisher:	Shambhala
Publication date:	07/20/2010
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	1,249,057
Product dimensions:	8.54(w) x 5.72(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Laraine Herring holds an MFA in creative writing and an MA in counseling psychology. She has developed numerous workshops that use writing as a tool for healing grief and loss. She is the author of Writing Begins with the Breath: Embodying Your Authentic Voice, Lost Fathers: How Women Can Heal from Adolescent Father Loss, the novel Ghost Swamp Blues, and the short story collection Monsoons. Her short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in national and local publications. Her fiction has won the Barbara Deming Award for Women, and her nonfiction work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She currently teaches creative writing in Prescott, Arizona.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

Part 1 Breaking Ground

1 The Way of the Writing Warrior 9

2 Structure Is Alive 12

3 The Practice 16

The Writing Warrior Practice 24

Part 2 Building Your Foundation

4 Release All Desire for Results 31

5 Direct Experience 34

6 Theory and Practice 40

7 Attachment and Aversion 45

The Writing Warrior Practice 51

Part 3 Dissolving Your Illusions

8 The Writer's Wheel of Suffering 57

9 Illusion of Time 63

10 Illusion of Thoughts 69

11 Illusion of What a Writer Is 72

12 Illusion of Identification 78

13 Illusion of Control 82

14 Illusion of Distractions 89

15 Illusion of Publication, Success, and Fame 92

16 Illusion of Money 97

17 You're Not the Only One 101

The Writing Warrior Practice 106

Part 4 Committing to Your Authentic Path

18 Self-Observation without Judgment 113

19 Absolute Vulnerability 124

20 Soft Eyes 130

21 Self-Study 138

22 Wake Up 143

23 Perhaps You Never Did This, But I Remember It Just the Same 146

24 Stories We Tell Ourselves 157

25 Revision 162

26 Intuition 168

27 Resistance Is Futile 171

The Writing Warrior Practice 175

Part 5 Deepening Your Writer's Roots

28 Alchemy 183

29 Hark! Who Goes There? 185

30 1-10 between Phoenix and Tucson 189

31 Writing Is Not Like Making a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich 194

32 Sand Paintings 197

33 The Beginning Is Not the Beginning 199

34 Sacred Communication 203

35 Characters as Teachers 206

36 Let's Do the Limbo 209

37 Seasons of the Work 213

38 Texas 216

39 Disconnection 220

40 The Mysteries of Fiction 225

41 Tools 230

42 Rhythm 234

43 Papa Don't Preach 236

44 Who Hears You First? 238

45 Loneliness 241

46 Betrayals 243

47 Natural Talent 249

48 Spiral Dance 252

The Writing Warrior Practice 255

About the Author 260

Editorial Reviews

Practical, accessible, and motivational.”—The Washington Post

“In this out-of-the-box handbook for aspiring writers, [Herring] displays her ability to wed spirituality and creativity in vivid and surprising ways.”—Spirituality & Practice 

“A worthwhile and motivating read for all writers. Those who enjoy Julia Cameron’s (The Artist’s Way, etc.) holistic approach should similarly like Herring's work.”—Library Journal

“A terrific writing companion, reminding me of Anne Lamott’s Bird By Bird and Natalie Goldberg’s books on writing.  Herring’s advanced degrees in both creative writing and psychology give her just the right perspective for a book on motivating writers and making the most of one’s writing life. The Writing Warrior fulfills its promise in offering discovery and courage.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer blogger, The Writer’s Block 

“This guide gives readers the confidence to share their true voices with the world without hesitation. Herring maintains a personable, friendly tone.”—ForeWord Reviews 

“The practice is exquisitely clear; breathe and write. This book is an excellent guide and a catalyst for that deep work, and a wise companion for the writer’s journey.”—SARK, author and artist of Fabulous Friendship Festival

“Laraine Herring takes you on a journey toward wholeness as a writer—she not only explores every aspect of the writing process; she also invites you to explore every aspect of your writing self—body, mind, and spirit. Anyone who writes—or wants to—will find this book as essential and inspiring as breath.”—Gayle Brandeis, author of Fruitflesh: Seeds of Inspiration for Women Who Write

“I've read piles of how-to books for writers. This one stands out from the rest. Just as martial arts training is about a way of life as much or more than a way of self-defense, this book is about a way of thinking as much or more than a way of writing. One way to tell that I’ve been engaged with a book is the number of sticky flags bristling from the edges. This book has a lot of flags.”—Story Circle Book Reviews

From the Publisher