I have a well thumbed and well read copy of this book to which I have recently returned.
It is a favourite that digs me out of the holes I dig myself into.
The book takes me back to basics each time and brings sense and creativity back into what has usually become a fragmented existence. It’s a shame that, like the worst kind of wayward child, I then determine that I know better and saunter off doing my own not so sweet thing again!
Julia believes that we all have a deep well of creativity within us that has been pinched, pummelled and punished to the extent that it is frightened to show itself. You can use the book in whichever way suits you best although it is laid out as a 12 week program, there is no requirement to work through it in any particular order.
There are just 2 requirements. One is to commit to a routine known as Morning Pages which you will buck against and find irksome in the extreme, but, trust me, it is one of the most profoundly beneficial practices you can introduce into your life. The second is the Artist’s Date, which is nothing more than a weekly hour or two spent with yourself doing something inexpensive but meaningful.
It may be that you have no desire to explore the creative side of your potential but I would still assert that there is benefit to be gained from working through the book. Some of the exercises are like guided missiles directed at the areas of your being that need the most attention. It’s almost spooky how it works!
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Definitely one of the best creativity starters out there. I also like Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.