Book Review:
A Serious Writer Never Quits: They Find the Way
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A few months ago, I started writing my second book. Although I have the formula I used in writing my first book, Time to Refresh, I set out to find the secrets on how to make the writing process better.
As with lots of long-term writing projects, I got lost in the messy middle. Before I knew it, I was busier than ever. Managing my writing business, along with the writing classes I teach at a local community college, took time away from writing my book. Finally, I stopped writing the book to close out a few projects.
Feeling disappointed about being behind schedule, I read Bryan Hutchinson’s book, Serious Writers Never Quit: They Find The Way. Full of insights and tips on writing, I found the boost I needed to get back to writing my book. Because of Serious Writer’s Never Quit, I see my writing routine in an entirely different light. If you are at a crossroads in your writing process I recommend Serious Writers Never Quit.
Understanding The Way
When I started reading Serious Writers Never Quit, I was no stranger to the author’s work. Last year I read two of Hutchinson’s other books, Inspired Writer: How to Create Magic With Your Words and Writer’s Doubt: The #1 Enemy of Writing (and What You Can Do About It). All of Hutchinson’s books on writing are a combination of pep talks and a gentle kick-in-the-pants. More importantly, Hutchinson’s books read like a casual conversation full of advice from one writer to another.
In the book, Hutchinson introduces the reader to the idea of The Way, “the strength within you that some people call inner power, mental toughness, willpower, or blind faith. This power is within all of us, and we have to learn how to draw from it and wield it.” According to Hutchinson, using The Way liberates the writer’s creativity. As a writer who advocates change, I agree with the book’s message.
Serious Writers Never Quit is 93 pages long. Hutchinson arranged the book into 12 chapters. In each chapter, he explains how serious writers understand, manage, and embrace The Way. He explains that writing is not about perfection, grammar, or punctuation. Instead, writing is about, “Putting together words that matter to you. And to do that, to not succumb to your internal critic and to all the external noises trying ever so hard to make you stop and give up.”
Lessons Learned
Once I understood the idea of serious writing, as explained by Hutchinson throughout the book, I started to see my writing life as an ever-evolving process full of potential and possibility; I was ready to move forward. While the entire book is full of insights on writing and finding The Way, here are a few lessons I learned:
- The Way is Never Perfect (Chapter 3)
Hutchinson reminded me to stop focusing on being perfect. Yes, I could do better, but the most important thing is to keep writing. The best advice from Hutchinson, “Great work isn’t perfect. It’s finished.” Amen! - The Way is not to Overthink It (Chapter 5)
In this chapter, the author stresses the importance of not overthinking the writing process because it stifles creativity and flow. Hutchinson’s best advice, “It’s okay to struggle if you keep moving.” - This is What Real Focus Looks Like (Chapter 7)
According to Hutchinson, real focus involves taking the phone off the hook, letting friends know you are busy, and missing out on weekly group activities. A key point to remember: “When locked in, everything becomes irrelevant until the game is over.”
The most satisfying part of the book is in Chapter 11 when Hutchinson wrote, “Everything you’ve done or not done up to this point no longer matters. Let it all go.” Boom, there it was! For weeks I felt behind schedule and disappointed in my writing progress. But no more. I let those feelings go immediately. The day after reading Serious Writers Never Quit, I starting writing my book again, and this review for my blog.
Moving Forward
Before closing out the book, Hutchinson leaves the reader with a list of lessons to remember. He encourages the reader to use the list when feeling doubtful or unmotivated about writing. This list, as well as the entire book, showed me how to move forward in my book-writing process.
If you are stuck in your writing or want to take your writing routine to the next level, I would recommend Serious Writers Never Quit and the rest of Hutchinson’s books on writing. I promise you that if you read Serious Writers Never Quit with an open mind, you will come away with a new feeling of determination and strength to finish every writing project you start.
