A Cup of Comfort for Writers: Inspirational Stories That Celebrate the Literary Life

by Colleen Sell

As every writer knows, keeping the faith isn't always easy. On those days when you find yourself literally at a loss for words, you may long for a little writer's TLC. In A Cup of Comfort for Writers , you'll meet more than fifty writers who, just like you, have faced down that empty page and won! From a woman who enters an elite writing program at the age of forty, and proceeds to blow "the pros" away, to a man who wins his wife's hand by writing her countless love letters. Whether you're already published or as yet undiscovered, A Cup of Comfort for Writers will inspire you, motivate you, and fuel the fire that keeps you writing.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Ebooks

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Colleen Sell is a freelance writer and editor with expertise in book and magazine development and a passion for storytelling. Her professional experience also includes content development & management and marketing communications development & management.

Since 1999, Colleen has provided writing, editing, ghostwriting, proofreading, editorial development, content management, publishing consulting, and book-proposal development services to authors, entrepreneurs, publishers, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

Colleen has co-authored eight nonfiction books, including 10-Minute Zen and The Everything Kids’ Gross Cookbook, and ghostwritten more than a dozen books, including the best-selling One Simple Idea: Turn Your Dreams into a Licensing Goldmine and One Simple Idea for Startups & Entrepreneurs. She was editor and anthologist of the bestselling Cup of Comfort™ book series for 10 years, during which she compiled and edited 38 anthologies of essays as well as an annotated cookbook. The Cup of Comfort series, which was retired in 2011, has sold more than 2 million copies to date.

A proficient developmental editor, line editor, and copyeditor, Colleen has edited more than 150 published books, both fiction and nonfiction, in a wide range of categories.

Colleen is currently Editor-in-Chief of GRAND: The Digital Magazine for Grandparents (a part-time freelance position), and was previously Editor-in-Chief of two award-winning consumer magazines and an associate editor of a national business journal. In addition, her articles and essays have appeared in dozens of consumer and trade periodicals.

Reviews

[Aida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked out this book imagining that it'll get me inspired to write as a quote I read somewhere during my teenage years that "Those who reads will write"... or something like that.
I've read not more than 1/4 of this book when I realised that this book is less about the comfort but more about precautions, desperations, rejections and frustrations.
I decided to re-read the book because the first time I read it, I was so frustrated as I thought the book will devour all the tips and tricks of becoming a writer... however, it was very far from what I have expected.
Re-reading it for a second time, I have a different perspective of it. Well, maybe age is catching up with me, but the real life-life events in the book sound very much real-life. It exposed the reality of writer's life... and it's not an easy life and yet, it is really worth to read.

[Ashly Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 Stars

This is a collection of short stories written by writers to help inspire, or more so make other writers feel like they’re not alone in their struggle. Most of the stories are very short, on average 5 pages, so there are quite a few contained in this small volume.

I don’t have a whole lot to say about this book, so I guess really I probably shouldn’t be writing a review to begin with, yet here I am writing it.

There’s no way I can go into detail about each story because there are like 50 in here. (I can’t remember exactly how many there are.) However, in order to get the rating of 3.75 stars, something that may look strange to my usual followers, I added up all my ratings and divided that number by how many stories there were. I thought that would give this book a realistic and un-biased (by me) rating.

Overall, 3.75/5 is a good rating for this book. I’m not singing this book’s praises from the mountain tops, but I will say that I enjoyed nearly every story in some way. There are some great moments of inspiration, sympathy, and empathy. These are stories from writers who never made it big, but that doesn’t make them writers any less.

I did really enjoy many of the messages that these authors were trying to get across. Most of them discuss how easily life gets in the way of the things we want to accomplish and sometimes it takes a long time to get around to our hopes and aspirations when there are so many other things to get around to.

The idea I liked most is that just because your work is not widely published, or maybe not even published at all, you are still a writer. I liked this message because I know I am a writer even if I’m still working on becoming a published writer.

I definitely recommend that other writer’s check this out, especially if you need a little pick me up. Many of these stories are inspiring and heartwarming. There are a few flukes that didn’t resonate well with me, but most of these were lovely to read.

I noticed that this book is a bit hard to find, but if you do come across it, pick it up and give it a chance.

Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Dreaming Through Literature.

[Sarah Joyce Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I began my journey into the writing life, I went in search of books that would inspire me - especially when I felt like giving up. This book did exactly that and more. Some of the essays addressed the follies experienced by new writers when sending their work out into the world and others addressed the feelings associated with the inevitable rejections letters that follow. What I gained from reading this book was a sense of camaraderie with other writers that have blazed this trail before me and have experienced what I am experiencing now. It is good to know that others have had doubts, felt like giving up, or struggled with finding the time to write. This book will make a nice addition to any aspiring or experienced writer's collection and I believe each will find themselves reflected in these pages.

[Airiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gave this to me as a gift, and it's the first "A Cup of Comfort" book that I've ever read. Writers--professional or otherwise--share their stories about their journey towards their dream of penning their own books, encountering a lot of experiences (most of them life-changing) along the way. This is a great help for me. As an aspiring writer myself, I know that the road to being a successful novelist isn't a well-paved (or a well-paid) path. Reading stories of other writers seemed to ignite my love for writing more, egging me to keep on reaching for my dream no matter what happens. There will be rejections, moments with no inspiration or simply days where you question yourself about the profession you chose, but in the end it all amounts to your love for writing and reading words. This is a very helpful and timeless book for me. <3

[Lisa Glase · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a book that probably only a writer could love - and since I'm a fledgling writer, I loved it! The stories were definitely "comforting" to me as the title suggests and made me feel I'm not alone in my insecurities about my writing. Even seasoned writers run into road blocks (or writer's block!), so all beginning writers should take heart!

P.S. Thanks Suzanne, for the loan!

[Karen Cimms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this little gem of a book at the Last Word bookstore in Philadelphia back in the spring. I started it in the fall, but took my time reading each essay, embracing each story and letting it marinate. I had a book of my own to finish, so days and sometimes weeks went by between essays.

I’m so glad I didn’t zip through it. Each essay touched me in a different way and implanted itself in my writing soul. It was almost as sweet as meeting up at a writers retreat at some rustic lodge, sitting by the fire and swapping stories.

This book will be read over and over. And while I hate to deface a book, I’m likely to highlight and annotate sections I will want to go back to again and again.

My only problem now is where to put it. Should it rest on my nightstand for morning inspiration? Or should I keep it at the ready on my desk for when I need a kick in the ass?

Maybe the best solution is to buy a second copy.

I already know what my writing friends are likely to receive as gifts from me moving forward.

[Nina Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's difficult for most writers to stay motivated and keep encouraged in their writing dreams and aspirations.
A Cup of Comfort for Writers offers up a gulp of inspiration in each of the over fifty stories from authors who write in different genres and come from different levels in their writing journey.
Writers work in seclusion most of the day. Reading A Cup of Comfort made me feel like I wasn't alone. With almost every story, I found myself shaking my head in agreement, saying aloud, "Yes, yes, that is so true." Or, "Oh wow, that happens to me, too." The authors not only share words that boost creativity and purpose, but a writer might find useful tips in the stories.
I totally enjoyed this book. If you're a writer, you'll laugh, cry and find empowerment in the pages that celebrate the writing life.

[Violet Laflamme · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked:

It's what is says on the tin. Nice comforting stories.

What I didn't like:

The quality of the stories varied a lot. None were outright bad, but it was definitely a mixed bag.

Overall:

I got this book as part of a Humble Bundle. It reminds me a lot of a book from the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, except it pulls more punches. In some ways that's unfortunate. I like to read things that hit. On the other hand, the gentle nature of all of the stories do create a sort of comforting overall feel. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this one to people, but if it falls into your lap it's not a bad read.

[Michael Hardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read a quarter of the book but the book wasn't my thing. It's basically a bunch of short stories by female writers and what inspires them to write. Maybe because I'm a guy who likes macho stuff (not to sound sexist or anything) but this isn't my thing. As a writer, I'm more inspired by movies, anime and stuff that I just dislike. I was expecting this book as more of an advice and pointers and a "how-to" for writing but nope, it's just a bunch of short stories which didn't click with me. I'm just not the right audience for it.

[Alex Roma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a lot of anthologies, this was hit or miss. I think it was just a different kind of schmaltzy than I wanted (because I can't say I didn't want schmaltzy when I cracked open a book called "a cup of comfort for writers"). I didn't love that two different essays included the authors talking about the trial of raising an autistic child. But other essays did make me want to get writing, so that was something.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These essays inspire me to think like a writer and to have compassion for all the challenges of getting words down and out there.

[Sabina · Rating 2 out of 5]

5

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming. A gentle read a bit at a time.

[Sherenna Aurafani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and comforting -- knowing that it's never a smooth road, the road is filled with ups and downs.

[Beth Cato · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book on The Writer Mama Blog that was signed by Lisa Romeo, one of the contributors.[return][return]This is a very long anthology - over 300 pages - of essays on what it means to be a writer. This varies greatly depending on the voice and the background of each writer, and some of the stories are excellent. The main weakness in this book is that almost all the authors were women. I believe there were only two male authors at all. I suppose that points towards the gender who participates most in essay writing (and buys the resulting books), but I really would have liked to have seen a few more male authors to balance things.

[Datolong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Supposed to be an inspirational read. Not really. Bought it because the author lives in Eugene, Oregon where I studied 30 years ago! Perhaps I am too cowed by my lack of confidence to write....to really appreciate the renderings by published writers. Just another book on writing for my bookshelf.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great comfort

[Tira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading that these writes had/ have doubt too. However, they push past fear to write again. Very inspiring