Writings on Writing

by May Sarton

Very Good Paperback Orono, Puckerbush Press, 1988. 1988 printing. Softcover, 72 pages plus publisher's ad. Uneven age-toning to front cover, otherwise about fine condition, tight binding, clean pages, no names or other markings. From the collection of a History professor who became friends with Sarton when they first met at Depauw University in the mid 1950s.. Soft Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published December 31, 1995

About the author

May Sarton was born on May 3, 1912, in Wondelgem, Belgium, and grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her first volume of poetry, Encounters in April, was published in 1937 and her first novel, The Single Hound, in 1938. An accomplished memoirist, Sarton boldly came out as a lesbian in her 1965 book Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing. Her later memoir, Journal of a Solitude, was an account of her experiences as a female artist. Sarton died in York, Maine, on July 16, 1995.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some terrific chapters here about revision and writing. I have never liked May Sarton's poetry, but her journals are some of my favorite books and have sustained me as a writer over the years. This book - a rare find in a bookstore years ago - has some real wisdom.

[Aka.Sofi:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5
Cortito, lindo y útil. Una lectura amena para aquellos a quienes les guste escribir y sobre todo poemas. Habla de muchas problemáticas a la hora de sentarse a escribir, la importancia de las imágenes e incluso la corrección.
Tiene poemas lindos y frases que llaman a la reflexión de este arte. Me quedé con ganas de leer más de la autora:)

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ESSAYS, one on writing novels, one on journals, one on poetry, etc. the very best book on writing I have ever read

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never read anything by May Sarton before downloading this book of hers on writing. I'll definitely be looking for more of her material. There were essays about both writing poetry and novels. I found her poetry stuff to be the most interesting to me and found it inspired me to work on several poems, which I believe are pretty good. Good, cogent, clear thinking on writing, and deftly presented.

[Kirti Vyas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan

Prolific in her time, I found her writing very dated and difficult to enjoy. Sarton rambles on about her own writing journey and has little to say otherwise except to emphasize the importance of rewriting.

[Arleen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A jewel for every writer. So much here I read it twice. Here's an example:
"My own feeling is that the only possible reason for engaging in the hard labor of writing a novel, is that one is bothered by something one needs to understand, and can come to understand only, as psychiatrists would say, 'by acting out' through the characters in the imagined situation." (p. 26)

[Kj · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to re-read this one...it was many years ago.