Writing as a Way of Life: A Book About Art, Craft, and Devotion

by Brian Morton

In Writing as a Way of A Book About Art, Craft, and Devotion, novelist and memoirist Brian Morton (Starting Out in the Evening) provides writers with a guidebook for finding the psychic equipment they'll need to remain committed to their craft over the long haul. Drawing on a rich and varied career as a writer and teacher, Morton gives writers at every level of experience a masterclass in how to deepen their tenacity and resilience.


Weaving together stories from the lives of literary masters like Virginia Woolf, Henry James, and Anton Chekhov and lessons gleaned from a surprising array of artists and thinkers including Joni Mitchell, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Miss Manners, Morton reveals writing to be a calling akin to meditation or prayer. Filled with practical, actionable tips for developing and sustaining a habit of writing that will last a lifetime, Morton has written a generous, funny, humane, and friendly guide for anyone who writes and anyone who wants to write.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

204 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.


BRIAN MORTON is the author of four previous novels, including Starting Out in the Evening, which was a Salon favorite book of the year and was made into an acclaimed feature film, and A Window Across the River, which was a Book Club selection on the Today show. He is the director of the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence and teaches at New York University and the Bennington Writing Seminars.

Reviews

[Jared Gulian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember who recommended this book. I'm glad they did. It's an incredibly pragmatic, kindhearted book with some excellent advice. Three standouts for me are: 'Trust your stuff' (follow your own imagination and idiosyncrasies), 'It's a hurtin' business' (getting your ego punched is just part of the job), and 'Five hundred words a day can save your life' (making small goals you do often is better than punishing yourself). There's heaps more in the book. If you're a writer, read this.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this! Brian Morton has written a fantastic little book for writers who want to make a writer’s life for themselves. The emphasis isn’t on craft, or making a buck; it’s on the desire to make a creative environment for yourself and on developing your art. There are a few words about plot and how to reframe it (which I’m definitely going to use in my writing), along with a healthy dose of caring for your craft, how to protect it, and how to keep going. If you’re reading this, stop and buy this book now. And then, before you start reading, write something!

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK! Every page is filled with wisdom, I now have lots of screenshots on my phone or else everything would have been highlighted... and I'm sad I have to return it to the library because I want to refer back to it when I need a kick in the butt...
A writer is someone who writes! Get to it! :)

[Amelia Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and an encouragement for this aspiring author. Each page encouraged me to put it down and write something, but I also wanted to not put the book down and finish reading it. So I did. And I can’t wait to put into practice some of the pieces of wisdom from this book as I continue writing.

[A. _____ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing as a way of life is filled with such humour and kindness and empathy that I’m a bit jealous of people who get to attend Morton’s classes and workshops. I’ve read a fair few books on writing now, and this one might be my favourite.

[Alex Templeton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: the author was my college advisor/professor. HOWEVER, it still deserves five stars. Brian has a way in person of making every writer feel skilled, valued, and trusted; he replicates that on the page.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever with admiration.

[Colleen Alles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful meditation on what it takes to keep going as a writer! Thank you for this lovely book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust your stuff.

[Sidik Fofana · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIX WORD REVIEW: Will have you recommitted to persevering.

[Jordyn Lackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

almost too beautiful, almost too sharp