Writing Articles from the Heart: How to Write & Sell Your Life Experiences

by Marjorie Holmes

In a heartfelt and conversational style, Holmes provides advice, inspiration and examples on writing and selling personal essays.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Self Help

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Marjorie Holmes (1910—2002) was an American columnist and best-selling Christian author of 134 books, 32 of which were best sellers. Holmes is known best for her biblical trilogy which began with the novel Two From Galilee, a love story about Mary and Joseph, published by Fleming H. Revell.

Reviews

[DougInNC · Rating 3 out of 5]

My copy was published in 1993, so it seems understandable that I found the material felt dated. There was heavy reliance on examples of writing columns for newspapers and writing for monthly national magazines. Both media have lost much of their lustre and hope for the feature writer today.

That said, there are timeless thoughts to absorb, consider, and adopt in one's writing. Those things are positioned in the latter half of the book. The first half deals with the types of material one might engage in creative writing, targeting such topics as Personal Experience, Marriage, Children, Nostalgia, Controversy, Advice, and Humor. I value that these were delineated into chapters for each.

Beware, though, that the author's answer to her own question in Chapter One could stop any aspirant before they plunge down the path for which this book provides mileposts on a studious map. That question is, "Are you the person (to write creative pieces)?" The intimidating answer(s) provided is that one has to possess more than a dozen traits, capabilities, and attitudes to have hope of success. If you pick up this book, do not be discouraged by not having all these traits (which perhaps only the author achieved). Read on! There are good suggestions for beginning, developing, improving, and making money from your work in this field.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't plan on keeping this book, but I wasn't the right audience for it, honestly. I would recommend it to those who (1) have less of a background in essay writing instruction or (2) are more interested in Holmes' genres, as she has good, specific advice for articles about family, self-help, inspiration, etc. (I was looking instead for tips on humorous travelogues.) Some aspects are dated or a bit repetitive, and not all of the examples are noteworthy, but on the whole it's a solid instruction guide for a specific type of writing. And the later chapters do broaden out with general writing advice that may have been said before but is worth hearing again, such as the fact that "Sooner or later writers or would-be writers must face the fact that the world will simply not ever stop to let us write."

[Valerie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly as its title claims, a book on writing and selling articles about lifetime experiences. Yes, it's old. The part near the end about needing to keep your typewriter ribbon and carbon paper fresh made that clear. However, the reason I was looking at the book was for tips on writing articles, and here it delivered.

This type of article is actually still around, albeit with updated material, on the internet and in magazines. What was most useful was her suggestions on how to get ideas, different writing styles you could focus on, and how to make your sentences more alive. Things like this don't really change, even if methods of getting into print do.

I would recommend this for its tips on how to write this type of article.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad Janet gave me this book. It was full of good information regarding writing and even selling your writings from the heart. I guess they titled it well. LOL But truly, it was a good book, with good ideas. I will most likely read through it again.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Back to the library it goes. I could not finish it. I skimmed the rest looking for anything truly useful or helpful. I found nothing but more personal anecdotes touting how well her stuff sells, even in the how-to sections.

[C.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives some helpful knowledge, but it tends to be a bit dry, lacks good examples (I think), and could have been shortened.

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

meh! :(

[Desiree · Rating 1 out of 5]

Homophobia and middle America and Jesus-Thumping, oh my!

[Scott Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book with good ideas and flow.

[Tim Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is alright and like some other people are saying, some of the material in the book is absolutely dated. And yet even with this fact, there is still some valuable lessons in the book including understanding that the journey of a person who desires to make a living from writing is a journey that is not easy and requires serious focus and effort. This was a fine read but there are definitely some better books to read when it comes to writing (Like "Wordsmithy" by Douglas Wilson or Ray Bradbury's "Zen on the Art of Writing").

[Frank Chirico · Rating 1 out of 5]

An outdated, complicated, jumbled mess.