Minding the Muse: A Handbook for Painters, Composers, Writers, and Other Creators

by Priscilla Long

"Minding the Muse" is a practical handbook for the artist or writer--highly experienced, aspiring, or somewhere in between. Long draws from her extensive background as a poet, writer, and master teacher, but also gathers the insights and practices of a wide range of high-achieving artists, including mystery writer Raymond Chandler, choreographer Twyla Tharp, poet and performance artist Patti Smith, and the painter Joan Miro. Beginning with the first sparks of artistic creation--"Gathering, Hoarding, Conceptualizing"--Long moves through the various stages to "Completing Works" and "Poet as Peddler, Painter as Pusher: Marketing." Every creative worker will find something here to take to heart and into the studio or workroom."

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published June 24, 2016

About the author

Priscilla Long is author of Minding the Muse: A Handbook for Painters, Composers, Writers, and Other Creators (Coffeetown Press), a book of essays titled Fire and Stone: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (University of Georgia Press), and Crossing Over: Poems (University of New Mexico Press). She is also author of The Writer's Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life (Wallingford Press). Priscilla is a Seattle-based writer of poetry, essays, creative nonfictions, fictions, science, and history. Her awards include a National Magazine Award. Her rigorous and extremely popular classes are always full for the good reason that her writers routinely become more skilled and get more published. Her scholarly history book is Where the Sun Never Shines: A History of America's Bloody Coal Industry (Paragon House). Author's website: www.PriscillaLong.com. Photo by Tony Ober."

Reviews

[Elana Zaiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t be fooled by this slender volume. It’s full of abundant tips and amazing advice delivered in a gentle, loving and generous way to enable us to become the creators we long to become. An additional benefit: Her words pertain to our work not only as artists, but as human beings seeking to live meaningful and deeper lives. Long encourages us to go out of our comfort zone, take ourselves seriously, and push ourselves forward, while at the same time being kind and compassionate to ourselves along the way. A must read.

[Alison Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as thoughtful or thought-provoking as I was hoping it would be, but fairly good. I think this book works best as a kind of reference book — each chapter includes numerous references to other books and resources on the creative life, as well as prompts for journaling that can serve to lead you into deeper reflections on your work.

Unfortunately, the chapters themselves don’t really provide a good model of what that deeper reflection might look like. And so the book doesn’t provoke the kind of engagement that leaves you wanting to pick up your own pen to see what you might discover. Instead, each chapter sort of skips along the surface of a few good ideas, sprinkled with a handful of quotes and references to other writers/artists. Not a bad book, just not a lot to it.

[Adrienne Scanlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Minding the Muse" is Long's gift to creators of all stages - - from the beginner to those who have brought their work before the world. Science-based but infused with Long's experience as a writer, poet, and teacher of writing, "Minding the Muse" explores the entire creative process, from first idea to marketing the completed work, all the while looking at what she calls "...the choices and strategies of effective creators..." This slim but weighty book deserves a place alongside Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's "Creativity" and Steven Pressfield's "Turning Pro" and "The War of Art."

[Katherine Ozment · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim volume is very practical and inspiring. I especially loved the suggestions for further readings and the skillful way Long weaves so many artists' voices into one book. A great read for anyone who writes or otherwise creates.

[Josephine Ensign · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I didn't know I needed until I read it—well, actually devoured it, page by delicious page. My favorite chapter (the one I needed the most right now) is titled "Taking Time, Making Space."Long includes a list of questions to contemplate at the end of each short chapter, and there are these three questions that have begun to guide my day: 1) "How well does your workspace serve the creative work you do?"; 2) "How do you sequester time to do your own work, particularly during the busiest times when other demands impinge?"; and, 3) "If you teach, how can you better shape your teaching so that it serves your own creative work as well as that of your students?" (p. 61)

[Kerri Lukasavitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Priscilla Long's books. She is so encouraging to those of us pursing a creative life. It's like she's right next to you as you make your way across the written page or use other mediums to express your vision. I have my copy of "Minding the Muse" tucked into my most-used writing reference books that line up along the upper left corner of my desk. This is a truly an inspirational, must-have volume for artists.

[Sumit · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny, brilliant guide and salve for embarking on, growing into, and staying the course for the creative life. Short enough to (re-)read in an afternoon, but powerful enough to rekindle the spirit. A worthy companion to "Art and Fear," and chock-full of references to many related work (including that one). Highly recommended.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to using some of the writing prompts to help me continue to work out the kinks in my writing process. She packed a lot of useful info in a short book, and I think it will be a good reference down the road.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a handy little book about creativity with lots of great questions and prompts to help cultivate better practices as a writer/artist. Something I’ll keep on my shelves to return to from time to time.

[Allen Herring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great practical advice for engaging with one's craft. Loved it.

[Leanne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reminders and inspiration for writers.