Out of Silence, Sound. Out of Nothing, Something.: A Writers Guide [Paperback]

In an elegant but contemporary voice, award-winning author Susan Griffin breaks down the creative process step-by-step, guiding the reader through a practical course in how to begin and end a work of literature, whether fiction or nonfiction, poetry, or prose

The distinguished author of more than twenty-two books, many award-winning, Susan Griffin distills daily wisdom garnered from more than five decades teaching creative writing and editing manuscripts, as well as from her own writing. This collection of brief but ultimately pithy chapters designed to help beginning writers get started also guides experienced writers through blocks and difficulties of all kinds.

Organized according to a practical timeline, Out of Silence, Sound. Out of Nothing, Something. elucidates the process of writing from beginning to end, presenting an approach that is similar to the practice of meditation as it encourages and enlarges the mind’s intrinsic capacity for creativity. An autobiographical account, a sometimes humorous, at times moving essay called “How I Learned to Write” is threaded throughout the book. Insightful . . . Griffin is a notably practical guide. No aspect of her work is too minor to mention, and when she drops the name of a famous friend, it serves her larger purpose: to explain what it takes to craft a good short story, a publishable poem or even a book . . . Her advice on routine is direct and implementable . . . An excellent place to start. —Kevin Canfield, San Francisco Chronicle

An elegant guide to the art of writing . . . An illuminating memoir of her life in literature . . . These pearls of wisdom will be a boon to novice writers. —Publishers Weekly

Griffin takes a Zen-like approach to generating, constructing, and honing a piece of writing. In serene meditl³[