Some years ago, I decided I need to stop buying and reading books about writing. I found myself turning into one of those people who reads about writing but never actually does any. Then along came L.L. Barkat’s Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing. I’d followed some of Barkat’s pre-publication conversation on her blog and on Twitter and, when I saw the book was available for download on Kindle; I told my inner-responsible grown-up to hush and quickly snatched it out of cyberspace.
I’m so glad I did.
Although a book about writing, Rumors of Water is, at its heart, an offering of love. L.L. Barkat invites the reader into her love of language, the craft of writing, and the art of living passionately and well. Her book transcends mere writing instruction, offering glimpses of the life of creativity Barkat has sought to cultivate in both her daughters and herself. To have a voice, a writer must have passions, says Barkat. She shares stories of encouraging her daughters to pursue their passions through experiences of working in the garden, catching fireflies, playing story, embarking on a tea pilgrimage, and even watching old episodes of I Love Lucy. Something tells me these girls are being raised right.
An accomplished writer and publisher, Barkat addresses many of the roadblocks which keep folks like me merely reading about writing instead of doing it. She talks about lacks of creativity and the fear that one’s words won’t do what we want. She encourages writers to risk being brave and daring in their description and, in a pair of sentences which made me laugh out loud asks, What if someone calls the godliness police? What if someone accuses us of a crazy mind?
Barkat acknowledges the realities of the publishing world, the likelihood for rejection, and the need for the writer to be willing to work at the craft. She offers wisdom gleaned through her experience, not in a harsh and critical way, but with warmth and playfulness. She invites the writer to begin, to work with what she’s got; to be willing to start small and write in community with like-minded people who will be compassionate toward her words.
Having finished Rumors of Water, I probably won’t be buying any more writing books again soon. There is much here to chew on, to return to and be encouraged by. While reading her book, I finally took the time to figure out how the highlighting feature on my Kindle works so I can return to L.L. Barkat’s words again and again.
We should not worry about the process, says Barkat, but simply trust it and move on.
There are rumors of water out there to refresh the weary, fearful writer’s soul. Go get yourself some.
Rumors of Water is published by T.S. Poetry Press and is available through Amazon in both print and Kindle editions.
16 comments:
That last sentence is exquisite!
oh yum! It sounds like such an encouraging book. being brave and daring is the part i struggle most with. :)
I've read Rumors, too, Nancy, and I love that through the book itself, L.L. demonstrates the very principles she describes and advises. She states it one way, but *shows us how* through stories and structure.
Another thing I like is that many of the things she's passed on to me over the years (through our work at The High Calling) are collected here in one place, convenient for anyone willing to read and practice.
You've convinced me, Nancy. I'm ordering it right now.
Oooh, you beat me to it! I had ordered the hard copy just before word came out that it was available on Kindle - and it was due on Tuesday, but showed up in my mailbox today. I'm digging in, but not yet ready to write a review - which, like yours, will be glowing, I can already tell. Thanks for this, Nancy.
I ordered it on Kindle - couldn't wait for the mailman.
One of the surprising things to me as a writer is how much goes into writing -- a great deal more than I imagined and not the things I would have selected, either. I'm amazed by how much affects the words on the page, how multi-layered and mult-faceted the process is -- and by how much happens OFF the page before something worthy can go ON the page.
I'm reading it on Kindle, too. Can't put it down. But I have to put it down occasionally, for things like laundry, and dinner, and - oh yeah - work. It's beautiful, isn't it? Here's one of my favorites (so far): "...let the unrestrained rain of my own life infuse my writing. Let the me-I-am-right-now simply be."
Nancy -- I am reading the book too, and loving it! You're right - there's something different about this one. Something that makes me want to linger with it - yet I can hardly put it down.
You've really captured the heart of the book, Nancy. In fact, after I read it, I told L.L. that it read like a love letter to her daughters. It's such a beautiful book. So glad you enjoyed it.
"She encourages writers to risk being brave and daring in their description and, in a pair of sentences which made me laugh out loud asks, What if someone calls the godliness police? What if someone accuses us of a crazy mind?" - Loved this, Nancy. And while I don't claim any calling as a writer, I am a reader, and this book sounds as if it could be beneficial to both.
I have seen this book mentioned several places lately so that was enough for me to order on my Kindle tonight. will let you know how I like it though it sounds like I will. Thanks for the recommendation
I haven't purchased it yet...the stack on my night table is still too high. But I am fully intending too, and this post has inspired me to move it to the top of my list!
Great review, Nancy. And don't you love that title? I thought that was brilliant (whoever it was that actually came up with it!)
I also told LL that this book was like a big sigh of relief for us writers, giving us permission in a whole host of ways to write without the huge expectations that keep us from tapping into the love of it.
(That was a terrible run-on sentence, but look, I am writing it anway. :)
Great review, Nancy.
Thanks for this review. My favorite thing here is that you said it is an offering of love. That is exactly the spirit in which I wrote it! :)
Also, an aside regarding your comment at Love Notes. I think that's one big reason I wrote 'God in the Yard: Spiritual Practice for the Rest of Us.' I didn't think the world needed another book on spiritual practice (there are SO many), but I did think it needed one that would release people from the craze that spiritual practice seems to have become, as well as offer freedom and flexibility for how we're wired and where we've come from and are going to as individuals and communities. :)
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