Fear of Writing

Rating:
Summary: From "Fear of Writing" To "Freedom of Writing"
Review: From "Fear of Writing" to "Freedom of Writing," July 22, 2003
Reviewer: Jayni Therkildsen, Santa Fe, New Mexico

At the turn of a new century, I found myself as a restless visual artist seeking to shift into the expressive world of words. With degrees in English Literature and Textile Arts, I had spent a lifetime desiring the perfect marriage of dual creativity. But somehow writing remained technical, journalistic, correspondent. So, as the world plunged into a new millennium, I knew that I could no longer wait to excavate the hidden word paintings from the caverns of my imagination. With this commitment in my heart, I was wandering through a local cafe one evening and noticed an advertisement for Milli Thornton's upcoming Fear of Writing Clinic. A sample copy of her book was available for review. Eagerly opening it, I was struck by its opening question: "Is writing supposed to be fun?" Well...I wasn't sure. I'd long harbored a vision of the writer as solitary, sublime, silently tortured by the intangible. Fun didn't exactly penetrate the scenario.

Browsing deeper into FEAR OF WRITING, I was introduced to the writing exercises, christened: "Fertile Material."

"Fertile:" this spoke of abundance...succulence...ambrosial fantasy...

A culinary delight of the imagination. Delicious ideas simmering; pungent aromas arising. What could be more invitingly comfortable and fun than breaking writer's fear with a group of aspiring wordsmiths?

I enrolled in the clinic, purchased Milli's book and have lingered around for the past two and one-half years participating in weekly writing circles that use Fertile Material exercises as diving boards-catapulting thirsty minds into deep blue pools of creative exploration.

The Fertile Material presented in FEAR OF WRITING is plentiful indeed. It has birthed several notebooks of exploratory writings. It has transformed "fear of writing" into "freedom of writing." It has enabled me to balance visual artistry with word paintings, thus integrating a new tapestry of creative colors.

Striving for balance is my nature and Milli demonstrates that she knows how to use the level! She has written the book in a structure that alternates between passive enjoyment: the stories, and active participation: the fertile material writing exercises. At the book's conclusion, is a gathering of exercises that can be used by the solitary writer and by the companionable writer seeking stimulation for a group.

To facilitate the balance of fun and fertility, a new edition of FEAR OF WRITING was released in June 2003. It features an index of the writing exercises and an enticingly lower price. To enter into Milli Thornton's world and reap the abundant harvest that is struggling to sprout within each of us, click on All Editions near the top of this page.

Delight in its sumptuousness!

Rating:
Summary: Right side of the brain stimulus and much more
Review: I think that it was an email message that caught my eye two years ago. Something about a writing book and a circle of writers having fun and supporting one another without critque;...that hooked me and reeled me in.

I began attending informal, weekly meetings with Milli Thornton and other aspiring writers. Using Milli's book, Fear of Writing and the incredible "Fertile Material," I experienced the delight of writing in an atmosphere of safety and I noticed that the Fertile Material had a magic quality of opening up my imagination and allowing me to write about things that likely would not have occurred to me. The effect reminded me then as it still does of books about opening up the right side of the brain, the more creative, imaginative realm of neuron activity.

Milli's open and accepting approach as well as her attentive listening skill enticed me to go a step further and attend a weekend Fear of Writing Retreat in Taos, NM.

I have continued to attend our writing circle that has changed in numbers over time, but not in enthusiasm exhibited by the writers and their resulting pieces based on the Fertile Material. I also play with the Fertile Material on my own and have enjoyed the Fear of Writing stories that build up to the unique Fertile Material writing exercises.

I highly recommend Fear of Writing to all who want to explore their creative side. Further, I thing that this book could be a boon to classroom writing teachers and their students.

Rating:
Summary: The world's best cure for writer's block
Review: My career depends on meeting deadlines and writing every single day. I can't afford an attach of writer's block. That's why Fear of Writing caught my attention when I stumbled across it a year or so ago.

I have studied hundreds of books on writing, graduated from a university creative writing program, completed a diploma in journalism and presented writing workshops for several years in addition to working full time as a business writer. None of these has helped me to get down and write as much as the material in this book.

No matter how well you are trained or how profoundly talented you might be as a writer it is of no value until you actually write. Talking and reading about writing is fine but it doesn't make you a writer. Only writing does that and this book gets you writing.

It's not your average book. It's deceptively relaxed and makes you feel as though you're chatting with an old friend. Don't be fooled by how much fun you're having as you play with the 'Fertile Material'. This is solid stuff that trips the switch in your brain to turn on your writing generator. You'll actually feel a rush of energy within minutes of getting started.

Whenever I'm blocked and just can't seem to get started on a writing project I now pick up Fear of Writing, randomly choose an exercise and plunge into it. Fifteen minutes later I have a couple of pages of spontaneous writing. Usually it has nothing to do with my current project yet my mind is clear, I'm now focused on the project and so full of energy that the work is done in record time.

Buying Fear of Writing has proven to be the best investment I've ever made in my writing career. It has helped me through many blank hours at the keyboard.
You'll find yourself having so much fun and producing such great writing that you'll never want to part with Fear of Writing. I won't even lend my copy to anyone. It's my security blanket and I won't part with it.
The author, Milli Thornton, has a website... which has a raft of free stuff for writers. Go have a look and discover why this book is so good that you just have to have your own copy...