Chicken soup for the writer's soul : stories to open the heart and rekindle the spirit of writers / [compiled by] Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Bud Gardner.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Canfield, Jack, 1944-

Hansen, Mark Victor.

Gardner, Bud, 1934-

Fast, Howard, 1914-2003.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Authorship.

Penn Provenance:

Fast, Mercedes (donor)

Fast, Howard, 1914-2003 (inscription)

Canfield, Jack, 1944- (autograph)

Hansen, Mark Victor (autograph)

Gardner, Bud, 1934- (autograph)

Physical Description:

xviii, 406 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Deerfield Beach, Fla. : Health Communications, [2000]

Summary:

Being a writer can be a lonely and frustrating experience. The stories in this book-by a wide range of professional writers, novelists, journalists, freelancers, poets and screenwriters-will give readers insight into the human trials, tribulations and triumphs of writers, and writers a source of inspiration and commiseration.

Whether readers are beginning writers, seasoned pros or wannabes, the stories of purpose, passion, endurance and success contained in Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul will inform, entertain, uplift and inspire them. In its pages, they will learn important lessons on: the importance of perseverance, the value of being yourself, the process of discovering your own voice, the need for mentors and allies, and the power of following your heartfelt dreams. Contributors include: Sue Grafton, Steve Allen, Dave Barry, Agatha Christie, Art Linkletter, Terry McMillan, and more.

Contents:

Share with Us xix

1. How I Became A Writer

Ronny's Book / Judith A. Chance 2

A Writer's Journey / Ernest J. Gaines 6

Vindication / Ruben Navarrette Jr. 12

1,600 Articles Ago / Gordon Burgett 17

At Aunt Jennie's Knee / Cheewa James 22

The Writer's Song / Josie Willis 27

Write

To Conquer Your Fear / Bud Gardner 31

From an Abyss to the Mountain Top / Larry Wilde 36

Why I Write / Terry McMillan 41

We Were All Beginners Once / Lawrence Block 46

2. Living Your Dream

Alex Haley

A Writer of Destiny / Barnaby Conrad 54

Dreams Do Come True / Christine Clifford 61

Dreams Lost and Found / Kate M. Brausen 64

Dreams Have a Price / Gene Perret 68

For Love or Money / Gregory Poirier 71

Take That Chance! / Frank Harvey 75

3. Defining Moments

A Serendipitous Visit to Revelation Island / Noel Phillip Rodriguez 84

Writing Can Be Magic / Naida West 91

Papa's Gift / Cookie Potter 97

You Can't Afford to Doubt Yourself / Nora Profit 100

A Perfect Night to Die / Dierdre W. Honnold 104

A Chat with Alex Haley / Bud Gardner 108

Cash Rewards / Michele Bazan Reed 115

Why I Keep Writing / Catharine Bramkamp 119

4. Finding Your Voice

It Doesn't Matter What You Write / Elizabeth Engstrom 124

Legacy / Sue Grafton 128

A Writer's Real Worth Is Inside / Howard Fast 134

Writer, Teacher, Peaceful Warrior / Dan Millman 138

Counsel from a Veteran of the Writing Wars / Irving Wallace 144

Coded Messages and Kindred Spirits / Marilyn Pribus 146

5. Mentors

A Gift to Myself / John Tullius 152

My Dad Story / Ed Robertson 159

Writing from the Heart / Bud Gardner 163

Accused of Plagiarism

My Highest Compliment / Steve Allen 171

Sometimes the Biggest Are the Nicest / Connie Shelton 174

So Long Lives This / Pat Gallant 179

From Noah's Ark Writer to Bestseller / Art Linkletter 182

Angels over My Keyboard / Dottie Walters 186

6. Making a Difference

Painting Portraits on Our Souls / Jennifer Martin 194

The Boy Who Saved Thousands of Lives / Reg Green 201

The Christmas Box / Richard Paul Evans 204

Writers in Prison / Claire Braz-Valentine 212

A Season with the Great Sinclair Lewis / Barnaby Conrad 217

Dean Has AIDS

A Father's Story / Edmund Hansen 221

7. Overcoming Obstacles

In Spite of It All / Barbara Jeanne Fisher 226

The Professor and Me / Catherine Lanigan 230

You're a Loser, Cunningham / Chet Cunningham 235

The Obsession / Frances Halpern 240

Sometimes Secret Writers / Hal Zina Bennett 243

How to Write Your Way Through College / Lois Duncan 246

A New Yardstick / Erik Olesen 251

Writing Is My Destiny / Kris Mackay 256

Writing for My Health / Garry K. Marshall 260

8. A Writer's Life

Still Standing / George Plimpton 266

A Man Called Charlie Black / Marvin J. Wolf 273

Mixed Blessings / Marcia Preston 277

Be Ready When Your Editor Calls / Penny Porter 280

Helen Help Us! / Suzanne Peppers 283

A Bucket Full of Research / Ethel Bangert 288

Making a 'Pottment / Valerie Hutchins 290

Summertime, and the Writin's NOT Easy / Kerry Arquette 293

Marriage and Metaphors: A Writer's Life On and Off the Pages / Judith A. Chance 298

9. The Power of Perseverance

A Strange Thing Happened on the Way to OK / Amy B. Harris 304

Nothing Comes Easy / Clive Cussler 307

The Courage of the Long-Distance Writer / Bryce Courtenay 310

So He Must Be Right, Huh? / Dianna Booher 315

Mommy, Please Write a Book for Me / Terri Fields 319

No One Faces Rejection More Often than an Author / Dan Poynter 322

Learning from Rejection / Gail Rosenblum 328

Consider This / Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Bud Gardner 332

Some People Just Can't Take a Hint / Meg Hill 337

How I Want to Be Remembered / Dame Barbara Cartland 341

10. Insights and Lessons

The House on Phoenix Circle / Phyllis Taylor Pianka 346

Nothing Unconnected Lasts / Hugh Prather 352

Lesson of a Lifetime / Philip Barry Osborne 356

The Flop Artist Writer / Patricia Lorenz 362

The Miraculous Link / Garri Garripoli 367

Power Lounging / Gregg Levoy 370

The Gift / Jeff Arch 376

How to Be Madder than Captain Ahab / Ray Bradbury 382.

Notes:

Includes: A writer's real worth is inside, by Howard Fast.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1558747699

9781558747692

1558747702

9781558747708

OCLC:

43615369

Online:

Publisher description

Contributor biographical information