Zen in the Art of Writing - Book 48

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury is a collection of essays and poems he wrote which reflect on the creativity and process of writing. The essays are collected from various sources and are presented in no particular order. There may be one from 1985 followed by another from 1961. They jump all over the place. Bradbury is wonderfully enthusiastic about the subject. He kind of figured out how to write at the age of 22 (after 10 years of practicing and dreaming of being a writer). There is also included an interview with Bradbury on how he converted one of his novels to a movie script.

Bradbury is an ebullient man, full of joy for love of the work he does. He is also disciplined. He liked to get up and first thing in the morning write at least 1000 words. That way, if he didn't do anything else that day he figured he was still ahead of his game. He also is fascinated by his own subconscious and the way the material for his stories take shape and borrow from innumerable little impressions or happenings that bubble up from his memory and flow down his fingers onto the typewriter keys. Writing is a mysterious, almost spiritual thing to him.

This book is fun to read if you are a fan of Bradbury's and have read his books. He reminisces a lot about how he was inspired to write particular stories or how they came together for him. The back of the book contains some poems that Bradbury wrote. I especially loved the one devoted to Gerard Manley Hopkins, who is one of Bradbury's favorites. Mine too!

I bought this book on impulse because I was getting ready to start NaNoWriMo (which is why this blog has gone radio silent as of late) and I wanted to be inspired. Someone, somewhere, mentioned it and though I am not a reader who often enjoys science fiction, I have always loved Bradbury. The book is inspiring for writers and it is perfect for someone who is very busy, as it is easy to pick up, read an essay, put it down again, later pick it up and read another essay or a poem, and each time get a real lift from Bradbury's experienced voice and generous encouragement.

Two thumbs up! For more reviews go here!