The Writer Within

The Writer Within

By Madelaine D.

Writing Down the Bones by Judith Guest is a nonfiction book in which the author takes a different approach to teach everyone how they can become a better writer. Guest does this by showing multiple ways to think outside the box, and reminds readers they do not have follow the rules of writing all the time. She writes about all of the places that are most comfortable to write in, the types of notebooks and pens that are best to use, and all of the different ways you can train your mind into one of a writer.

Judith Guest grew up in Detroit, Michigan. An author, teacher, and poet, Guest wears various hats. This includes being the author of the popular book The Ordinary People. The novel was originally going to be a short story, but once Guest was 200 pages in, she knew it could be something more. After taking off, it was made into a film. In 1980, Paramount Pictures distributed this movie, taking in $54,766,923. The film was a huge success and won four Grammy's.

The book had a lot of positive aspects. I loved how every two pages or so was a new chapter. It did not matter where the reader picked up the book, there was a story to be told and a lesson to be taught. Each chapter had a different piece of advice that, if followed, could make the reader a better writer and person. The stories told within the novel were also very relatable and inspiring. There were a few lines in particular that grabbed my attention. For instance, Guest says, "We suffer anyway as human beings. Don't make it any harder on yourself." Although Guest was referring to the writing process when she wrote this, it can apply to many other situations, and I admire that.

There were a few things, however, that I did not particularly care for. At points, the author went off topic recounting memories without fully explaining the situation to the reader. This resulted in me becoming lost and disinterested. She did this at one point while talking about a workshop a few years prior. Guest would talk about editing a friend's piece, and then she would jump to an unrelated story about a Samurai. It didn't fit into the chapter, but she continued to reminisce. She did this a few times, but ironically enough, wrote about not doing this same thing as one of the chapter topics.

I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who is or is not a writer. It is a great read, and shows a new insight to a lot of different topics. This book would especially benefit young adults or anyone older who may be having a bit of writer's block. Judith Guest takes the reader out of their comfort zone and away from the norm. This allows readers to find a side of themselves they may have not had known they had. I also have a new-found appreciation for the lengths some authors go to in order to do what they love to do, write. Guest shows that everyone can be a writer, all you have to do is put pen to paper.

Writing Down the Bones can be found in public libraries, local bookstores, and online.