Writers of Inspiration

On Thursday, Zelda recommended for Valentine's Day that we eat more chocolate and read a good book. Let me chime in with three wonderful books in which all the writers out there should indulge.

I am a writer because I will write today. I will keep that agreement with myself.

This quote is from Walking On Alligators: A Book of Meditations for Writers by Susan Shaughnessy. One of my critique partners presented this book to me as a thank you for staying with her through a stressful novel creation, and it has been beside my computer monitor ever since. Each page includes a quote from a different well-known author, offers a meditation on that quote and finishes with a statement, almost a prayer, to move the reader into writing. The words are insightful; the tone is sometimes playful, usually earnest. The book reminds us to take our writing, our gift, seriously.

A certain amount of stubbornness--pig-headedness--is essential.

Madeleine L'Engle's wisdom. Pithy and true. The quote comes from a book entitled Madeleine L'Engle {Herself}: Reflections on a Writing Life. The reflections were compiled by a close friend, Carole F. Chase and include material from Ms. L'Engle's workshops, writings and speeches, some of which had never been published before. There is glowing inspiration here from the hand of a master, writing and theology, life and story, drama and language. The topics are wide-ranging and free flowing, but the core stays the same. The writing life is a gift, a responsibility, a burden, a joy.

It was a sort of dark and kind of stormy night.

And then, of course, there is Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life, edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schulz. Thirty two essays by popular storytellers interspersed among 180 heartwarming comic strips of our favorite beagle in "writer" mode. How could one not be inspired?

If any of you can suggest other good books of writers on writing, please share!

This Valentine's Day, if you are a writer at any level of experience, tell your honey to present you with one of these books along with the chocolate. Enjoy!