Book review: The Mindful Writer by Dinty W. Moore

Moving on with your writing plans is never too late but the problem is to do it the right way. How you define exactly that 'right way' is another question, not answered in the so many inspirational books adorning the shelves of the libraries. I am not a constant supporter of the how-to-write-books, but I appreciate some good advices once in a while, because you should never stop learning.

Based on the Buddhist life principles, but using abundantly quotes from various authors, from Proust to Junot Diaz, the book is focused on opening the way to mindfulness, defined as 'the art of seeing with fresh eyes, thinking with an open mind, searching something new'. It suggest: 'Being mindful of what distracts you, of what leads you to walk away from your writing desk, of the inner voice that chides 'don't bother, the work isn't good enough', is the first step to turning off those distractions, or voices, and getting the work done'. This statement at the beginning of the book goes together with a later quote from Proust that I like very much: 'The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes but in having new eyes'. 

The inner peace and balance is very difficult to achieve nowadays, when we live 10 lives every day and we are surrounded in the most remoted place by at least 2 buzzing devices that we cannot live without. The advice of the writer is to 'slow down, listen, hear what it is to be heard instead of what we expect'. And once we are deeply turned into ourselves, we have the chance to discover our inner human feelings, like compassion, a necessary ingredient of a successful writing project. Who would buy a book full of hate?

Although the book does not have practical tips about how to better write and how to create complex characters but helps you to create the proper framework for developing your inner crafts and releasing your energies. It is quite an important part of the writing life too. 

The book will be released in June.

Disclaimer: I was offered the book for review via NetGalley.com, but the opinions are, as usual, my own.