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Write On, Sisters!: Voice, Courage, and Claiming Your Place at the Table
“If you’re a woman and you want to write, you must be prepared to endure.”
Writing is already an endurance test. Add to that the conditioning women internalize as part of growing up in society that propagates double standards and works to marginalize women writers, and the result is an entire class of writers who fight internal battles of self-worth as they struggle through their creative processes, often feeling quite alone in the process.
In Write On, Sisters! Brooke Warner tackles this issue in two parts—first drawing upon research, anecdotes, and her personal experiences from twenty years in the book publishing industry to show how women’s writing is discounted or less valued than men’s writing, and then discussing how to overcome these challenges. In explaining how we got here and why the culture and the industry continue to erode women’s efforts for equal treatment as writers, Warner hopes to give women writers a sanity baseline: if you know what you face, you can work to overcome it. She dedicates the second half of the book, meanwhile, to encouragement grounded in real-world suggestions for how women can thrive as creatives despite these barriers. Inspiring and empowering, Write On, Sisters! is for every woman interested in championing other women writers, cultivating community, and refusing to accept imposed limitations.
Writing is already an endurance test. Add to that the conditioning women internalize as part of growing up in society that propagates double standards and works to marginalize women writers, and the result is an entire class of writers who fight internal battles of self-worth as they struggle through their creative processes, often feeling quite alone in the process.
In Write On, Sisters! Brooke Warner tackles this issue in two parts—first drawing upon research, anecdotes, and her personal experiences from twenty years in the book publishing industry to show how women’s writing is discounted or less valued than men’s writing, and then discussing how to overcome these challenges. In explaining how we got here and why the culture and the industry continue to erode women’s efforts for equal treatment as writers, Warner hopes to give women writers a sanity baseline: if you know what you face, you can work to overcome it. She dedicates the second half of the book, meanwhile, to encouragement grounded in real-world suggestions for how women can thrive as creatives despite these barriers. Inspiring and empowering, Write On, Sisters! is for every woman interested in championing other women writers, cultivating community, and refusing to accept imposed limitations.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2019
37 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 8, 2019
Although I needed this book a few years ago, I wasn’t in a place I could have digested it and been so galvanized by it back then. Now, I want to tell every writer I know (whether published or not, whether admitting to it or not), read this book, now! I came to this book by listening to Write-minded podcast. Brooke and Grant have great knowledgable voices and chat companionably about writing related subjects. Not long ago, Brooke discussed her new release, Write on, Sisters! Grant also talked about what he’d gotten out of it. It’s not just for women!
But, ladies, it will buoy you and open your eyes. Men, it will help you understand so much more. I’ve known I’ve needed that, I struggled to write in 2017 for a myriad of reasons, mainly political turmoil and the fall-out. Why would that effect something I love so much? Perhaps because I’ve always appreciated the times I grew up in, the freedoms we women had, my ability to pull myself, with grasping hands, up the proverbial ladder, knowing that at any moment, those who have the power of the ladder could send me toppling with an easy push, so long as the power wasn’t equally balanced. But again, my career was stable, my marriage and children not just something I loved, cherished, and coddled but a wonderful support for me as a professional woman and for me as a creative, even though that meant I sometimes spent more time away from home than most women. So when the thing I’ve always feared politically started happening, I clammed up. In 2018, I dedicated the year to “my art” and pried the clam shell open bit by bit. Now in 2019 I’m back to it, stronger than before, though I’m bracing for the fall-out of what we all know will be a horrible election year (I think I have my barricades firmly in place).
Write on, Sisters! deals head-on with so many things I’ve been thinking. Publishing industry truths about women writers and gatekeepers and the great push-back of indie presses. A firm call for a kinder, more inclusive sorority in our ongoing fight for equality. I’ve highlighted so much of the book that Kindle finally reminded me what a highlight is. Now my thoughts are more firmly embedded, I don’t feel so alone with them, and I know how to march forward. Thank you for writing this, Brooke. Can’t wait to read all of your books and continue listening to the podcast until I’ve heard them all (at only a year old that won’t be impossible).
Have you heard me, writer friends? Read this book!
But, ladies, it will buoy you and open your eyes. Men, it will help you understand so much more. I’ve known I’ve needed that, I struggled to write in 2017 for a myriad of reasons, mainly political turmoil and the fall-out. Why would that effect something I love so much? Perhaps because I’ve always appreciated the times I grew up in, the freedoms we women had, my ability to pull myself, with grasping hands, up the proverbial ladder, knowing that at any moment, those who have the power of the ladder could send me toppling with an easy push, so long as the power wasn’t equally balanced. But again, my career was stable, my marriage and children not just something I loved, cherished, and coddled but a wonderful support for me as a professional woman and for me as a creative, even though that meant I sometimes spent more time away from home than most women. So when the thing I’ve always feared politically started happening, I clammed up. In 2018, I dedicated the year to “my art” and pried the clam shell open bit by bit. Now in 2019 I’m back to it, stronger than before, though I’m bracing for the fall-out of what we all know will be a horrible election year (I think I have my barricades firmly in place).
Write on, Sisters! deals head-on with so many things I’ve been thinking. Publishing industry truths about women writers and gatekeepers and the great push-back of indie presses. A firm call for a kinder, more inclusive sorority in our ongoing fight for equality. I’ve highlighted so much of the book that Kindle finally reminded me what a highlight is. Now my thoughts are more firmly embedded, I don’t feel so alone with them, and I know how to march forward. Thank you for writing this, Brooke. Can’t wait to read all of your books and continue listening to the podcast until I’ve heard them all (at only a year old that won’t be impossible).
Have you heard me, writer friends? Read this book!
January 27, 2020
Part history lesson, part pep talk, this book really helped me learn to address the problems within myself when it comes to finding courage to put words to page. I would definitely recommend it to any woman writer, to both help discover what you're up against and to enforce that you are not alone.
October 25, 2019
Choosing to write is a solitary decision. Deciding to publish makes that decision very public, and following that very bold move is usually a marching band of obstacles that immediately jump in to shake things up: self-doubt, outside criticism, fear of rejection, rejection, confusion, self-esteem struggles, lack of resources, marketing inexperience, and so on. That noisy list grows and changes as progress is made, but there is never a shortage of “those things that can stop you in your tracks.”
What I love about WRITE ON, SISTERS! is its challenge to accept that, yes, you might be bombarded with some version of that cacophony, but none of it should stop you. Ever. No way, no how.
It’s a book whose message is: seek out, find, then listen closely and carefully to your own voice, and, from there, trust it; give it permission to speak louder than any other voices that might get in your way. That’s writing advice I can not only applaud, but live by.
There are many books that guide and tutor on the craft of writing. This is not one of those; this is a book that guides and tutors women on the psychology of BEING a writer, most specifically, a female writer, a demographic that comes with undeniable challenges built into both the culture and the way we women have been imprinted throughout time.
Author Brooke Warner, a writer and publisher who well knows the terrain, defines and describes the cultural foundation upon which any female writer sets up camp, a place too often rife with self-doubt and negation. But, given her specific expertise in the field of publishing and the patriarchal constructs that too often keep women writers from opportunities on a par with their male counterparts, she also itemizes the unique list of professional challenges and obstacles women face… then offers hearty ways and means to overcome, including a list of online resources that offer a tremendous amount of information and assistance toward moving ahead in an atmosphere of support and success.
As one who puts her actions where her thoughts are, Warner is known and lauded for her innovative small press, She Writes Press, an imprint that focuses on championing the voices of female writers. She is a vanguard, a true believer committed to leveling the field, passionate about bringing as many women along with her as possible. Given that, one is wise to listen to her thoughtful, unvarnished, invigorating take on the wild, wonderful experience of being a woman in the world of writing.
What I love about WRITE ON, SISTERS! is its challenge to accept that, yes, you might be bombarded with some version of that cacophony, but none of it should stop you. Ever. No way, no how.
It’s a book whose message is: seek out, find, then listen closely and carefully to your own voice, and, from there, trust it; give it permission to speak louder than any other voices that might get in your way. That’s writing advice I can not only applaud, but live by.
There are many books that guide and tutor on the craft of writing. This is not one of those; this is a book that guides and tutors women on the psychology of BEING a writer, most specifically, a female writer, a demographic that comes with undeniable challenges built into both the culture and the way we women have been imprinted throughout time.
Author Brooke Warner, a writer and publisher who well knows the terrain, defines and describes the cultural foundation upon which any female writer sets up camp, a place too often rife with self-doubt and negation. But, given her specific expertise in the field of publishing and the patriarchal constructs that too often keep women writers from opportunities on a par with their male counterparts, she also itemizes the unique list of professional challenges and obstacles women face… then offers hearty ways and means to overcome, including a list of online resources that offer a tremendous amount of information and assistance toward moving ahead in an atmosphere of support and success.
As one who puts her actions where her thoughts are, Warner is known and lauded for her innovative small press, She Writes Press, an imprint that focuses on championing the voices of female writers. She is a vanguard, a true believer committed to leveling the field, passionate about bringing as many women along with her as possible. Given that, one is wise to listen to her thoughtful, unvarnished, invigorating take on the wild, wonderful experience of being a woman in the world of writing.
January 20, 2020
This book is a bit of an odd duck, in that it both serves as encouragement for women writers while also acting as a slap in the face reality check, particularly when it comes to the publishing industry; Warner is a publisher herself, and while she wholeheartedly supports women writing—most of the book is about convincing writers to continue their creative pursuits—she is also adamant that publishing is a game you have to try exceedingly hard at to win. That being said, I did appreciate the rest. Warner wants women to unlearn and then defy the cultural conditioning that says they aren't good enough, and provides real ways someone might do that. She's timely, much in the same way Women and Power was, in that she brings up Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love), Hillary Clinton, Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford, and the MeToo movement. Additionally Warner calls for women-only spaces and reminds readers that "Women's getting ahead doesn't compromise men's power. All we do when we elevate women's voices is normalize the reality that women do get ahead, and that we're as capable as men of doing so." For being a fairly small book it took me longer than usual to read; perhaps because I was trying to digest her words, perhaps because I was struggling to apply them. As they say: ymmv. (One small aside: the author published the book through her agency, and I'm surprised at the font she chose for the cover—the crayon-type look really negates what she's trying to say about being taken seriously.)
October 23, 2019
A Must-Read and Must-Gift for Your Female Writer Friends
Most writing books tell you how to construct a plot. WRITE ON, SISTERS! helps you construct an attitude. Above all, Brooke Warner’s message is: Value your voice, work hard at honing it, and find your own best path to make it heard. And, as you move forward, don’t forget to reach out a helping hand to your sisters.
If that sounds too simplistic, read the book. She offers tons of practical advice, frank warnings, and realistic inspiration. You’ll probably be surprised (I was!) how often you see yourself in her examples. Just seeing your own problems on the page, knowing that others feel the same hesitancies (or as she says, shame) will help you overcome them.
At first glance, Brooke Warner’s accomplishments are enough to scare an aspiring writer back into their cubby hole. After all, she’s a publisher, a writing coach, a TEDx speaker, a podcaster, a teacher, an author, and an inspiring leader. But often people who have accomplished so much lose empathy or deny barriers that hold back others. Not Brooke. This is one of the most empathetic books I’ve ever read. It’s not about how she became successful. It’s about how you can accomplish whatever your personal vision of writing success may be.
I wish I had read this book years ago. Best of all, it reminded me that I am a feminist.
Most writing books tell you how to construct a plot. WRITE ON, SISTERS! helps you construct an attitude. Above all, Brooke Warner’s message is: Value your voice, work hard at honing it, and find your own best path to make it heard. And, as you move forward, don’t forget to reach out a helping hand to your sisters.
If that sounds too simplistic, read the book. She offers tons of practical advice, frank warnings, and realistic inspiration. You’ll probably be surprised (I was!) how often you see yourself in her examples. Just seeing your own problems on the page, knowing that others feel the same hesitancies (or as she says, shame) will help you overcome them.
At first glance, Brooke Warner’s accomplishments are enough to scare an aspiring writer back into their cubby hole. After all, she’s a publisher, a writing coach, a TEDx speaker, a podcaster, a teacher, an author, and an inspiring leader. But often people who have accomplished so much lose empathy or deny barriers that hold back others. Not Brooke. This is one of the most empathetic books I’ve ever read. It’s not about how she became successful. It’s about how you can accomplish whatever your personal vision of writing success may be.
I wish I had read this book years ago. Best of all, it reminded me that I am a feminist.
August 28, 2019
This is the best book about writing of this decade, maybe two decades. If you're a writer - of books or if you're journaling for your own sweet self - you will love it. It's a book about writing and it's empowering and encouraging. It's a book about developing the courage to voice your ideas and opinions; to publically or privately express yourself.
It's a feminist text (yeah, you guys can be feminists, too) and harkens back to the ideas of Woolfe, Friedan, de Beauvoir, Steinem and the 4th wave #MeToo.
The conversation about feminism and the right to self-expression has lain dormant for too long. Warner, who is a writer, publisher, and feminist, revives these ideas in an inspiring collage of history, psychology, culture, and encouragement.
I'm on my second reading, and look forward to the third.
It's a feminist text (yeah, you guys can be feminists, too) and harkens back to the ideas of Woolfe, Friedan, de Beauvoir, Steinem and the 4th wave #MeToo.
The conversation about feminism and the right to self-expression has lain dormant for too long. Warner, who is a writer, publisher, and feminist, revives these ideas in an inspiring collage of history, psychology, culture, and encouragement.
I'm on my second reading, and look forward to the third.
January 14, 2020
In Brooke Warner's book, she outlines all of the ways in which women writers in general face a more uphill battle than do men, from self-doubt due to society's conditioning, to getting past the gatekeepers in publishing, to getting reviews in prestigious outlets, to being confined to certain categories in a bookstore. This is all very helpful for women writers, as it reassures us that it isn't "all in our head." But Warner's book is so much more than this. It is a prescription for how to cultivate attitudes and actions to overcome these barriers. It is a reminder that the only way to move forward is to keep writing, that "brilliant and brave act of intimacy."
September 22, 2019
I'll be buying this for every member of my sister-writer tribe. Brooke does such a great job of naming all the forces that hold women writers back from success - both the internal and external pressures - and explaining why we need to keep writing, despite that resistance. Her experience at Seal Press and at the helm of She Writes Press, a hybrid publisher specializing in publishing women's writing, give her a unique perspective and a deep understanding both of publishing and of all the ways that the world conspires to prevent more women's voices from being heard. It's a shot in the arm when a female writer needs encouragement which is, let's face it, every single morning.
September 13, 2020
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book but I was pleasantly surprised! This is a must read for everyone who write every once in a while to someone who churns out a book every year. A little history of women writers and the obstacles they faced sets the stage for the current writing and publishing world. Brooke gives excellent advice regarding the business of writing and publishing but more importantly she discusses the mental and emotional side to writing and publishing. I found this book easy to read and inspiring.
September 6, 2019
This book is encouraging and uplifting for women writers! Warner describes the challenges women have faced through historical, economical, cultural, and emotional lenses. Then she gives an honest yet empowering view of the publishing and literary world with steps on how to navigate it, reasons to support fellow female authors, and a call to claim your seat at the table. Though it’s written with women writers in mind, men and other creative artists will find gems of insight, too. Check out how it changed my writing life by reading my blog post, A Place at the Table at RL4B.com
October 13, 2019
Write on Sisters! goes on the shelf with a handful of other books that I turn to for both practical and inspirational nudging on the business of writing. Because of Warner's vast experience and leadership in women's publishing, she doesn't have time or inclination to mince words. She shares not only what she has seen and done in this industry but what she recommends a woman writer do about it. Well done. This is an essential guide.
July 20, 2020
An antidote for overthinking, second-guessing, and self-doubt! This book provides a perfect blend of perspective and encouragement. There's motivation and advice specific to writing, but it also reminds women to stop asking for permission in other areas of life. This is the sort of book that makes you want to carve out space and own it without apology. It's balanced, well-written, and the length makes it perfect to return to when you may find yourself stuck. Write On, Sisters! belongs on the shelf of any writer (or thinking-about-writing writer).
October 4, 2019
I had low expectations for this book, because I loved Green-Light Your Book, and so often, books that are fast follow-ups to successes seem rushed and lack substance. I was pleasantly surprised. Write On Sisters! was an easy read filled with interesting information and inspiration. It left me an even bigger fan of the author and more excited than ever to be a writer and publisher.
July 23, 2022
It was an enjoyable read, but it got quite repetitive at times. Definitely serves a purpose and a gap in books about writing, especially women's writing! I sometimes felt it was trying to be too many different things in one small book, though. Still, great writing and great messages. Just not really what I was looking for!
October 5, 2019
This was an excellent book, an encouraging and uplifting read for women writers. I especially appreciated Warner's perspective on naming, understanding, and befriending your inner critic. This would be a great gift for the woman writer in your life!
October 16, 2019
Very inspiring and encouraging. Brooke Warner not only inspires women to write in this book, but she encourages us by reminding us that women have a voice that needs to be heard.
March 12, 2020
Dig deep and make it happen
The encouragement in this book gives me permission to be a bad ass and not feel guilty about needing permission.
The encouragement in this book gives me permission to be a bad ass and not feel guilty about needing permission.
March 18, 2020
This is a must read for writers. It gives a positive and hopeful view of publishing in this rapidly changing and volatile environment. I couldn't put it down.
January 1, 2023
I loved this book! It was part empowering narrative, part very useful and practical tips on being a writer and navigating the industry. Definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews