The Writer's Process: Getting Your Brain in Gear

Janzer provides an insider’s view of the inner battle between natural adversaries – the creative versus the disciplined sides of any writer – and offers help on reconciling them to achieve writing success. Her concise prose, precision word choice, and effective use of clever metaphors throughout her book bring clarity to the abstract and a pleasurable reading experience. The Writer’s Process delivers an interesting slant on the craft of writing to aspiring and experienced authors alike.

No. This is an insulting book. There are far better writing books. You'll get more from reading the psychology and drawing your own conclusions. This is shallow and cursory. DNF at 15%, barely into part one.

Here is the paragraph that ejected me from this waste of time:

"Consider the tortured novelist, forever toiling in obscurity on a manuscript that never finds its way into readers’ hands. This writer lives almost solely in the domain of the Muse (the intuitive and impulsive), without the discipline of the Scribe."

Consider, author, that 'tortured' is a harmful cliché and you are an awful human for putting it here.

Consider that obscurity is not damming for many writers. MANY writers.

Consider that a if there's a manuscript, writing show more is happening, which means both your scribe and your muse 'characters' are at work BY YOUR OWN DEFINITIONS, thus contradicting the last sentence. Did you edit this at all? You conflated writing and being published. They are not simultaneous, nor are they at all the same thing, and here is where I will never read anything you write ever again.

The more I think about this, the angrier I get. show less

I found this book to be fantastic. I have read a number of books on the writing process as a creative writing teacher. I feel though that Janzer's book is the most accessible while still also providing really good information. I especially respect that she has re published a new edition that has updated information regarding using or not using AI in writing and how to do it well. As an English teacher I plan to recommend all my colleagues at the very least review the section on AI as Janzer has some of the most succinct and well written advice on how to use AI ethically and responsibly. I highly recommend this book!

The Writer's Process more validation than revelation

I came to this book, The Writer's Process, Getting Your Brain in Gear, with extreme prejudice. I find it hard to believe creativity can be taught. After reading Anne Janzer's book I still feel that way, but she's made me believe that creativity can be nurtured and maybe even enhanced.

Janzer's approach is scientific and it's backed by experts in the field of psychology and cognitive study. But understanding the mental process doesn't tell us how to activate it. What the author sets about to do is "label groups of mental processes that we can activate when needed."

The book is divided into three parts.

The first part, The Inner Gears describes how the brain works using the term Scribe show more for areas of focus, discipline and writing craft. Processes like intuition, creativity and empathy are the domain of The Muse.

The second part, The Process, Start to Finish, sets forth and elaborates on the seven steps of the writing process beginning with research and ending with publication. The chapter on Revision in itself is worth the price of the book.

Part three, Writers in the World, has some practical advice on how to address problems all writers face including finding time to write, dealing with criticism, and working through writer's block.

If you're a creative person, specifically a writer, you're likely incorporating many of the suggestions Janzer puts forth in The Writer's Process. If that's the case this book will not be so much revelation as a validation.

And what's wrong with that? show less

One of the best

I love this book! One of best writing books I've read all year. I nearly highlighted the whole thing! The seven step process, research, book reference, inspiration, experience and cognitive science blend are invaluable. Thanks Anne!

Not bad. Mostly dealt with non-fiction concerns.