The thorn necklace : healing through writing and the creative process

The thorn necklace Healing through writing and the creative process

Francesca Lia Block

Book - 2018

"In this long-anticipated guide to the craft of writing, Block offers an intimate glimpse of an artist at work and a detailed guide to help readers channel their own experiences and creative energy. Sharing visceral insights and powerful exercises, she gently guides us down the write-to-heal path, revealing at each turn the intrinsic value of channeling our experiences onto the page. Named for the painting by Frida Kahlo, who famously transformed her own personal suffering into art, The Thorn Necklace offers lessons on life, love, and the creative process."--Page [2] of cover.

Saved in:
Place a Hold Save to List Email this

2nd Floor Show me where

808.02/Block
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 808.02/Block Checked In
Subjects
Block, Francesca Lia.
Creative writing.
Authorship > Technique.
Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)
Self-help publications.
Genres
Self-help publications
Published
Berkeley, California : Seal Press 2018.
Language
English
Main Author
Francesca Lia Block (author)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
Author of foreword taken from cover.
Physical Description
xxii, 279 pages ; 22 cm
ISBN
9781580057516
  • Foreword: Four Simple Words
  • Introduction: You Are an Artist!
  • 1. Echo: Find a Mentor
  • The 12 Questions: Gifts and Flaws
  • 2. Dangerous Angels: Find a Muse
  • The 12 Questions: Wants and Needs
  • 3. Blood Roses: Channel Pain into Art
  • The 12 Questions: Arc
  • 4. Quakeland: Banish the Critic
  • The 12 Questions: Antagonist
  • 5. The Frenzy: Chaos into Order
  • The 12 Questions: Setting
  • 6. Roses And Bones: Develop Your Style
  • The 12 Questions: Style
  • 7. Guarding The Moon: Persevere
  • The 12 Questions: Theme
  • 8. Beyond The Pale Motel: Face Your Fears
  • The 12 Questions: Crisis
  • 9. Rough Magick: Love
  • The 12 Questions: Climax
  • 10. The Thorn Necklace: Words into Action
  • The 12 Questions: Resolution
  • Scenes
  • Exercises
  • Afterword: The Magic is Within
Review by Booklist Review

*Starred Review* In this lyrical and haunting meditation on the craft of writing, Block, the prolific author of adult and teen fiction (including the Weetzie Bat series), cracks open her psyche and lays it bare in the hopes of inspiring other storytellers-to-be. She explores her past with candor and curiosity, presenting the men who have been her muses and her larger-than-life parents, who grounded her art with unwavering support. In this combination memoir and instructional guide, Block emphasizes the healing powers of creativity and provides anecdotal evidence of how writing has saved her sanity throughout the years. Her suggested rules revolve around inquiry, encouraging writers to question everything about their stories, from characters to setting to crisis. With every tip, Block provides examples from classic literature and exercises for writers, such as making characters' mood boards, keeping updated lists of current obsessions, and writing scenes of backstory that may never appear in the final product. Wise and inspiring, this is a must-read for artists of all stripes. The title refers to Frida Kahlo's Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, which Block sees as the perfect symbol of channeling pain into beauty, art, and hope. Perfect for fans of Stephen King's On Writing (2000) and Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic (2015).--Eathorne, Courtney Copyright 2018 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

Similar Items