The Right to Write

The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life

Author	Julia Cameron
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Non-Fiction
Publisher	Penguin Putnam Inc.
Publication date	27 December 1999
Media type	Print Paperback
Pages	233pp
ISBN	1-58542-009-3

The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life, by Julia Cameron is a non-fiction book written in first-person point of view about the creative process. This book can be meant for anyone who has an interest in writing and for existing writers who might want to learn techniques to improve their writing process

Synopsis

"The Right to Write" encourages writers in much the same way that the Cameron's previous work The Artist's Way encourages artists in general. The main focus of "The Right to Write" stated in the introduction is "to heal writers who are broken, initiate writers who are afraid, and entice writers who are standing at river's edge, wanting to put a toe in." Also stated in the introduction is the sentence: "This book is less a "how to" book than a "why" book." There is an introduction and 43 chapters, at the end of each of which is a writing exercise. There are also suggested readings by the author listed after the final section. The author uses her own experiences, metaphor, and figures of speech to detail the writing process. One major point made in the book is that writers don't have to know what they want to say; once the writer begins the creative process, images and words will become available for the writer to use. Cameron also desbribes writer's block as a wall, a place where many start to compete and doubt their writing.

Cameron recommends that writers do writing exercises. These include free-writing, writing a list of things the reader may value, observing or writing about the reader's surroundings, or taking a walk to gain inspiration and insight.

In the chapter "Sketching", Cameron recommends that writers sketch their surroundings, the mood they are in, and anything else around that might be of interest. Then it says to make a list from one to five of different topics the reader would like to write about without the worry of being practical or deep.

The "Artist Date" and "Morning Pages" are exercises recommended in both "The Right to Write" and The Artist's Way. An "Artist Date" is time a writer sets aside to engage, alone, in activities that stimulate creativity and supply the writer with inspiration. Cameron refers to the process of finding inspiration for creative projects as "restocking the well". A "dried-up well" symbolizes writer's block. "Morning Pages" is an exercise Cameron recommends to free the writer from self-censure. It is a longhand free-writing activity done in the morning about anything the reader wants to write about. If there are creative blocks, she recommends the writer deal with those in the "Morning Pages". This exercise is especially important when the writer has no desire to write.

Contents

Begin	Specificity	Place	Sound
Let Yourself Write	Body of Experience	Happiness	I Would Love To Write, But . . .
Let Yourself Listen	The Well	Making It	Driving
The Time Lie	Sketching	Honesty	Roots
Track	Loneliness	Vulnerability	ESP
Bad Writing	Witness	Dailiness	Cheap Tricks
This Writing Life	Why Don't We Do It In The Road?	Voice	Stakes
Mood	Connection	Form Versus Formula	Procrastination
Drama	Being an Open Channel	Footwork	Into the Water
The Wall of Infamy	Integrating	Practice	The Right to Write
Valuing Our Experience	Credibility	Containment	Suggested Readings

External links

• http://www.theartistsway.com/
• http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/julcam/part9.shtml
• http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/screeningroom/0909/tarchertalks/julia_cameron.html#vmix_media_id=6102633
• http://www.chrisdunmire.com/tidbits/cameron/right.to.write.shtml