Based on the Zen philosophy that we learn more from our failures than from our successes, "One Continuous Mistake" teaches a refreshing new method for writing as spiritual practice. In this unique guide for writers of all levels, Gail Sher
One Continuous Mistake
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First Sentence
Write on the same subject every day for two weeks. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Write on the same subject every day for two weeks. Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was given this book 5 years ago, one of many "writing self help books" which I read at the time. Its impact was profound and long lasting.
It is a cool, calm but confident approach to writing as a daily practice which transformed my sense of self from "someone who wanted to be a writer" to "someone who wrote"
What it demonstrated to me was that writing was a part of my whole identity, no more or less important than walking, drinking tea and eating bread. Writing is just part of the holistic ecology of a writer's life.
Sher's "Four Noble Truths for Writers" are
1. Writers write
2. Writing is a process
3. You don't know what your writing will be until the end of
that process
4. If writing is your practice, the only way to fail is not to
write.
Very few exercises.
No daily affirmations or collages with glitter.
No daily targets to meet.
No dogma on structure or genre or format.
No advice on publication.
Just - You write.
Or not write.
And within hours of finishing the book I had started a daily writing practice which has continued more or less unbroken ever since.
It is a cool, calm but confident approach to writing as a daily practice which transformed my sense of self from "someone who wanted to be a writer" to "someone who wrote"
What it demonstrated to me was that writing was a part of my whole identity, no more or less important than walking, drinking tea and eating bread. Writing is just part of the holistic ecology of a writer's life.
Sher's "Four Noble Truths for Writers" are
1. Writers write
2. Writing is a process
3. You don't know what your writing will be until the end of
that process
4. If writing is your practice, the only way to fail is not to
write.
Very few exercises.
No daily affirmations or collages with glitter.
No daily targets to meet.
No dogma on structure or genre or format.
No advice on publication.
Just - You write.
Or not write.
And within hours of finishing the book I had started a daily writing practice which has continued more or less unbroken ever since.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A simple, but transformative premise: to be a writer, you need to write.
30 July 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Prior to reading this book, I had taken a distance learning writing course and read at least 3 self-help writing books. I had co-written a book and written several book reviews, but didn't really write unless I felt I had a good reason. I would carry on with my life and, from time to time, an idea would come to me and I might write a few hundred words, save it somewhere and forget about it.
In an idle moment, I came across Gail's book in a library. I wasn't looking for a book - I was in the library with my kids, primarily for the purpose of getting them something. But something about the title rang true for me. I knew intuitively that 'making mistakes' is what prevented me from writing. I rarely wrote for fear of making mistakes. So, what if the process of writing had an inherent quality of sifting through mistakes? If I took that on board, I could write every day and understand that I didn't necessarily need to wait for the perfect idea.
Having read Gail's book, I've written every day. Mostly tripe, I might add, but interspersed with the odd truffle. However, what I've learned from this wonderful book (this wonderful person), is that the end product is not the beginning - it is not present at the beginning. But, crucially, it must be begun. And that there is no avoiding the simple fact that, if you want to be a writer, you must first BE a writer.
So, whilst this book may not satisfy your thirst for very specific technical aspects of writing that crime thriller; it WILL force you to sit down and write. And it will help you to enjoy the process and learn something about yourself and the world in the process.
In an idle moment, I came across Gail's book in a library. I wasn't looking for a book - I was in the library with my kids, primarily for the purpose of getting them something. But something about the title rang true for me. I knew intuitively that 'making mistakes' is what prevented me from writing. I rarely wrote for fear of making mistakes. So, what if the process of writing had an inherent quality of sifting through mistakes? If I took that on board, I could write every day and understand that I didn't necessarily need to wait for the perfect idea.
Having read Gail's book, I've written every day. Mostly tripe, I might add, but interspersed with the odd truffle. However, what I've learned from this wonderful book (this wonderful person), is that the end product is not the beginning - it is not present at the beginning. But, crucially, it must be begun. And that there is no avoiding the simple fact that, if you want to be a writer, you must first BE a writer.
So, whilst this book may not satisfy your thirst for very specific technical aspects of writing that crime thriller; it WILL force you to sit down and write. And it will help you to enjoy the process and learn something about yourself and the world in the process.
Format:Paperback
I first bought this about seven years ago and it eliminated my writer's block. It's message is simple but it's not a book on Zen - it just draws on some principles which are distilled into the 4 noble truths. These truths by the way can just as easily apply to any creative outlet - drawing, painting, pottery - as well as writing.
I could go on but Hester Thrale's review encapsulates everything I would say and I fully agree with it.
I could go on but Hester Thrale's review encapsulates everything I would say and I fully agree with it.
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