"Let me tell you a secret about my writing. I have wanted to write books for as long as I knew what one was. I have spent my whole life immersed in books and reading. I make sacrifices for writing."
As an author, I have read a lot of books about writing over the years, from the beginner books that tell you how to set out your work and submit to publishers, to the ones that promise you will have a novel in less than a few months, with an agent and publisher not far behind.
I have found some writing books to be condescending, with the author assuming that all their readers are completely unpublished, and others to be wildly optimistic about one's chances of getting a full-length manuscript picked up. Some books promise best-seller lists and awards, while others sap away the reader's enthusiasm from the start with statistics on the slim odds of getting a publishing deal.
When I heard that Cathy Rentzenbrink was going to release a book about writing, I was thrilled, largely because of how much I had enjoyed her previous book Dear Reader, which I read as part of my MA in Creative Writing. Cathy was one of our guest lecturers, giving one of the most useful classes of the whole course. I found her to be warm, friendly and extremely funny. I liked her immensely. She is very down to earth and this comes across in both her writing and teaching style. As I sat in her class last year, I found myself wishing that she was a permanent member of our faculty staff, because her lecture was so fun and informative.
Luckily, she has now shared her teaching tips, tricks and professional know-how in her new book Write It All Down. Like Dear Reader, I read this book in one sitting. Although it is centered around writing memoirs, the information Cathy shares is useful for all forms of writing. The book is structured in four parts, which collectively guide you from the very early stages of discovering your theme, to the final act of polishing the last edit. The book features writing prompts throughout.
For me, reading this book was like stepping back to my time as an MA student and taking part in her class again. I recognized some of the tools in the book from her lecture and it was lovely to revisit them in a more relaxed manner, without the pressure of assignments hanging over me. I could simply enjoy the teachings and the memory of that class.
In a way, Write It All Down is like a special souvenir of my MA days, now that my graduation has taken place and I am back in the world of writing books again myself. I can revisit that class whenever I want to, just by picking up this book. It also means that you too can enjoy a taste of what I experienced on the MA as well, without the pressure or expense of going to university - you can read Cathy's book to benefit from the same level of teaching.
It's a book that will challenge you to explore your motivations for writing, while encouraging you to write authentically and trust your own voice. It will make you laugh out loud and tap into your courage as you find your place upon the page. It will gently persuade you to show yourself, warts and all. As if all that wasn't enough, the book ends with a tour of Cathy's writerly bookshelf and tons of top tips from dozens of other well known authors.
Write It All Down is a book that should be on every writer's bookshelf, and whether you write for yourself or for publishers, it is a fantastic primer and a source of valuable inspiration for writers of all levels. It has earned a permanent place in my study and now sits snuggly alongside Dear Reader. Happy Reading and Writing!
Marie x
AD: This book was sent to me by the publisher for review purposes. It is available now in hardcover and digital formats.
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