The Write Type: Discover Your True Writer's Identity and Create a Customized Writing Plan

by Karen E. Peterson

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

Genres: Writing

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Mariam Mord'Sith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love her down-to-earth writing style; it's almost as if I'm having a heart-to-heart with a friend. Though I haven't "discovered" what my "true writer's identity"is - mainly because I didn't do the exercises (consequently, no "customized writing plan either"),there are still a lot of interesting ideas and some valuable practical advice which I plan on re-visiting & implementing.

[Ilena Bickley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and enjoyable read.

[Annabel Townsend · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unimaginative, repetitive horse manure.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just the kind of writing therapy I've been looking for.

I came upon this book by chance, looking for books in my library's collection to put on the table for our "Come Write In" program this past November. I read through the first few pages in my down time and decided I was going to check it out; now that I've read the whole thing, I'd like to buy my own copy! I was immediately hooked by how practical and forgiving Peterson was in terms of the writing process. Her message is simple and clear: no matter who you are, no matter what your life looks like, no matter what your quirks and psychological hang ups, you can be a writer.

I recently started working my first full-time professional job. I had been worried about how I was going to fit writing in with everything else in my life - not just my job, but the commute to it and quality times with my boyfriend, family, and friends. Then after reading this book, I realized most of my anxiety stemmed from what I had been told over many years by well-meaning creative writing teachers, books, articles, and authors all the things a real writer "should" do. They should write every day. They should write a certain amount of words every day. They should never start anything while they're in the middle of something else, they should write even when they're both intellectually and physically spent. I would always feel guilty and disappointed in myself if I set a word count for myself to do every day and then failed to meet it after the first few days. What's more, it made the process feel more like a chore and the work certainly suffered for it. Ever since I was little if I was bored or stuck or not in the mood for one project, I'd play around with another for an indeterminate amount of time. Karen E. Peterson dismisses the notation that there is one right way to be a "writer" and helps guide the reader into developing a "writing plan" that both works with their natural creative inclinations but is also flexible enough to be conducive to the less-controllable parts of their lifestyle. (Not all of us can "retreat" into a cabin in the woods for long periods of time when we want to work on a writing project.) She also encourages experimentation. One plan's not working for you? Try another.

Definitely the most valuable take-away I got from this book was a better understanding of myself as a writer. I've stopped trying to entirely erase who I am in favor of haphazardly trying to morph myself into some ideal I'm not even sure actually exists. I have preferences, I have my own methods, and they can be developed and shaped to help me live life as a happier, more fulfilled writer.

Part of Peterson's technique involves engaging in an internal dialogue with "both sides of your brain" in order to figure out your writing identity and, essentially, what's holding you back. I liked the concept a lot, but I will say the "exercises" she offers to help initiate these conversation can come across as a little flimsy. (They consist of writing answers to the same question using your dominant hand and then the non-dominant one - one is supposed to your conscious, self-aware "left brain" and your more child-like, uninhibited "right brain". Again, the concept behind the exercise is really good, but for me personally these exercises didn't exactly achieve that desired end.) This is the only thing that keeps it from being a full five-stars for me. Otherwise, I wholeheartedly recommend it to my fellow writer friends, especially those who I know are in a similar boat, lifestyle-wise, as I am.

[Ilze · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was determined to make my way right to the end of this book (doing the exercises, the whole bit). Somehow, once you've been exposed to Dorian Haarhoff's techniques and read enough of Julia Cameron, this book becomes unconvincing. The idea that you can "talk" to the left and/or right side of your brain (and write to them as well), just didn't do it for me. My unconscious needs a lot more coaxing than that!

[Alikokinav · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the things in this book.

It was a book that helped you realize things about yourself and it also teaches you things about yourself and your writing style. There are activities spread throughout the book to engage you as well.

However, the activities felt a bit repetitive after a while and trying to engage my right brain was a tough mission. I don't know if that was my right brain's response or my brain just giving a random answer to it all.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While reading the Procrastination book, I took this one up thinking maybe it was better. It was better written so I finished this rather quickly, but it followed the same stupid formula: this is the problem, this is what we do and this is what comes about from the problem. It's as though showing us the outcome of our behaviour is enough, perahsp Dr Peterson believes it is, but I think I found that reasoning was wrong and did not enjoy or appreciate the method.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Figuring out what kind of writer you are - where and how you work well, what you want from writing (the first place I have seen it acknowledged that not all writers want to be published authors)

[Amy Grunewald]

I am sure I should read it as its wrote such a talanted professor Karen E. Peterson. I would love to meet her but at least I am able to read some of her ideas)) such useful books can help me in my work as I help students via custom written essays at essaysduetomorrow.com and have to plan my writings properly