This Creative Life: A Handbook for Writers

by Sara Zarr

There are a lot of books about writing out there. If you’re like most writers, you’ve just about read them all. But learning how to write (and organize and outline and plot and edit and save the cat and market a breakout book) is one thing. Making and living a sustainable creative life in the face of...everything...is an entirely different matter. To know how to do that, we need to take a look at what goes on between the lines of our lives as writers so that we can live them with maybe a little more thought and intention--no matter the many interior and exterior obstacles that can threaten to derail our purpose.

In this companion book to her long-running podcast, Sara Zarr brings her sixteen-year publishing career and experience as a speaker, teacher, and mentor to a conversational and encouraging collection of hard-won insights about what it means not to just write (and perchance to publish), but to be a writer.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2022

About the author

Sara Zarr is the acclaimed author of ten books, most recently Goodbye from Nowhere, and Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life--a book on creativity for the young and young-at-heart. She’s a National Book Award finalist and two-time Utah Book Award winner, and is the host and producer of the This Creative Life podcast. Her first book, Story of a Girl, was made into a 2017 television movie directed by Kyra Sedgwick. She lives with her husband and cat, Mr. Donut, in CA and UT.

How I use goodreads: To log books I read in a year, books I want to read, and books by authors who were on my podcast, This Creative Life. (Those also turn up on my read shelf though I haven't necessarily read them!) I don't use the rating system but I will jot some notes about the books if I remember!

Reviews

[Sara Zarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, but also I recently "read" it again while editing the audiobook and man, I needed these reminders from myself about why I write and how to engage thoughtfully with my writing life. I'm just saying!

[Deva Fagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and thoughtful compendium of insights into how to build and maintain a creative life. No magic answers, but lots of wisdom and inspiration and reassurance. Zarr says in the introduction that she herself turns to writing advice books not so much for answers as for a sense of fellowship with other writers to encourage her to keep going when discouraged/feeling inadequate. And that she hopes this book can provide that to others. For me, it most definitely did!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing and publishing books is one of the hardest things to accomplish and there is no shortage of books telling you how to succeed, but good ones are rare. As a fan of Sara Zarr's novels and podcasts, and as someone often in need of support and advice from other writers, I read this book with hopeful, high expectations that were immediately met. One of the reasons I love Zarr's work is because (like me) she writes about the struggles that young people go through with honest, straightforward realism. She doesn't write about grief or trauma or poverty in some oblique metaphorical way. She doesn't write fantasy or heavily researched fiction. She writes about ordinary people and their problems from a place of authentic, lived truth. In other words, she writes well about things she is an expert on.

"This Creative Life: A Handbook for Writers" is no different. With years of experience as a writer, mentor, teacher, and podcaster, Zarr writes about the challenges of being a writer and a human being at the same time. That might seem obvious, but in Zarr's capable hands, I was reminded of what is tough and what is exhilarating about the pursuit of writing and publishing books. Filled with practical advice, Zarr covers the emotional landscape of both the creative discipline of writing and the heart-breaking, maddening, sometimes rewarding business of publishing without ever sounding cynical. Many published writers love to brag about their horror stories as if they might help others. Zarr never does that, instead warning of the pitfalls of losing heart but always encouraging the brave to soldier on.

[Jerry Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every writer is a voracious reader, but not every voracious reader is a writer or even dreams of becoming a writer. I became a card-carrying, certified bookworm over seventy years ago when I received a complete set of Zane Grey western novels as a Christmas present. By the time I graduated from high school, I had a personal library that rivaled many small-town libraries. I devoured books, fiction, and nonfiction alike. During those years, I met many authors, some famous, some not so famous, but I never dreamed of becoming one of them. You might say that I had a love-hate relationship with writing. I loved reading, but I hated writing.

I had graduated from university with a degree in electrical engineering and had been working for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for ten years when the Writer’s Bug ambushed me. They asked me to write an operations manual for the... Oops! That’s still classified. What I can say is that I discovered that I enjoyed writing and went on to have a very profitable second career, ghosting tech manuals for the government as a freelance tech writer. My point here is that I could identify with much of what Zarr wrote in The Creative Life: A Handbook For Writers.

Reading The Creative Life: A Handbook For Writers reminded me of the struggles I went through as I strove to recreate myself as a freelance writer ghosting tech manuals for a very demanding publisher, the United States Government. Would The Creative Life: A Handbook For Writers have helped me back then? I think so. This is a book that I recommend to anyone who thinks about becoming a writer.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. Sara's writing offered me a lot of much needed perspective. Her words offered me the opportunity to reflect on why I want to write and be published. I found her insights helped to shift my mindset around expectations and remaining true to myself no matter the outcome. One thing that really stood out to me was the distinction between the the writer self and the author self. I honestly didn't want this book to end and I will be picking it up again to re-read on my writing journey.

[Donna Gephart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book so useful and honest that I bought copies for seven of my writing buddies. It's different from most books on the subject and has a more global perspective of living a creative life and shares the realities of the writing life from someone who has been doing this for quite some time and tells the truth about the ups and downs. I love Sara Zarr's podcast. And I love this book!

[Sweet-Unicorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I am writing my HONEST to goodness thoughts and opinions.

Cute book! I enjoyed reading it. Worth a read.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of wisdom and pragmatic advice on writing from Sara Zarr. It's reassuring and makes you feel less alone on the often lonely writing journey. Love this book and will revisit certain parts when I need to.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a midlist author about to launch a third book, this is exactly the book I needed right now. I have loved Sara’s podcast, and this book is the perfect accompaniment. Her advice is so centering and encouraging for established writers and newbies alike.

[Lizzy Hartwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a midlist author about to launch a third book, this is exactly the book I needed right now. I have loved Sara’s podcast, and this book is the perfect accompaniment. Her advice is so centering and encouraging for established writers and newbies alike.

[jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel seen. ;)

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, philosophical, conversational anecdotes and advice for writers at all stages of the creative journey.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly the book I needed.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful general guide with plenty of practical advice, but nothing earth-shattering or ground-breaking. Might be more helpful for beginners.

[Jennifer Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I *know* most of what Zarr writes about, I appreciate this tiny manifesto on what it means to fully embrace the writing life.

[Carol Anne Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara Zarr’s This Creative Life felt like a great big necessary exhale. I’m still not exactly sure what this book is: observations about writing? Insights into the human condition? Nuts-and-bolts publishing advice? Self-care tips? A deep dive into the creative brain? Yes — all those things and more. What I do know is that, at this stage of my writing life, I really needed to hear Sara’s words.

I’ve always loved her work; she’s the first name that comes to mind when someone asks who my favourite YA writer of contemporary realistic fiction is. When I’m in a slump, I often revisit her books to remind myself what good writing looks and feels like. (Gem & Dixie will always be so close to my heart.)

This Creative Life is about what it means to be a writer — how to stay true to yourself and your values, how to survive in a world that is very, very shouty, and how to believe in your story (and yourself). Sara’s honesty, transparency, and vulnerability are the reason for my big exhale. Reading (or listening to) this book feels like having coffee with someone who really gets you. I felt seen, heard, called out, supported, encouraged, tough-loved, reminded, and appreciated.

I finished the book inspired and motivated to roll up my sleeves and get back to the messy middle of my manuscript — but if I need to take another break, even a long one, that’s okay too. At the risk of sounding super cheesy, the journey really is where the magic happens.

I loved this book and appreciated Sara’s quiet wisdom.

Here’s a little banger about bitterness from the book that I jotted down in my journal:

“Bitterness is the enemy of creativity and hope. Bitterness is when you take your eyes off your own paper and start looking at what others are doing and getting, fixating on how you feel wronged, obsessing over why you’re better than X author who gets all the good gigs, nursing grudges and spending more time editing your list of nemeses than editing your novel.”

We’ve all been there. Thanks, Sara.