The first time I tried to read this, I DNF'ed it within ten pages, frustrated to find out it's actually a memoir. The second time, now, I add that it's a repetitive one or seems like it due to structure. I was pleased to learn about Block and interested, but she just kept writing the same thing over and over. Less than five percent of this is a writer's guide, and what Block does provide seems like the most watered-down, cliche writing exercises ever. She seems to hurriedly finish so she can go back to repeating her stories of sex and loss, over and over. For someone whose writing had a profound effect on me, when she talks about herself I'm hardly affected. It could really be a genre difference--novels and memoirs take different skills. Other reviews of her short stories noted they seem autobiographical without needing to be, and here she verifies it. I'm still glad I got to learn about her, though. ( )

Francesca's book The Thorn Necklace, takes the reader -along with the Author- on a journey of self discovery. The Author encountors many numerous losses. The loss of her Mother, and then father, losses of many boyfriends. Then, her marriage and multiple miscarriages, and the birth of children. Then, the faluire of that marriage and becoming a single mother. Then other struggles such as her own health.

Through all of this she writes, finds her voice and relizes she is a writer. I found a kinship with this fellow writer as I can relate to the muliple losses in a quick and rapid succession that have also occured in my own life. This (the pain) has shaped my writing as well.

This is a gem of a book with lots of solid advice.

Ultimatly, it's a book about the power of writing. How it can heal the writer in the worst of times, and in the best of times even inspire future writers.

I leave you with a quote from this book I have found to be true, and reminiscent of something I wrote in one of my own journals...

"Love and writing have always been one and the same. They originate within. They have the potential to create something out of nothing. They don't come easy." ( )

Good advice for writers spread throughout the book. Didnt care much about the memoir though essential account of the seventies. She reminded me of Forest Gump’s girlfriend who was tormented by her incestous past (low self respect cannot survive without a man by her side) though the writer had a protective happy childhood so can’t imagine why she was so lost. She gives a list of books that influenced her that I enjoyed . Don’t care much about the genre she writes in but I finished the book because I felt her attempt to convey something new and informative is sincere. Found her writing style clunky at times with way too many adverbs and gerunds though she advises about brevity in writing. ( )

For devotees of Bird by Bird and The Artist’s Way, a memoir-driven guide to healing through the craft of writing

Francesca Lia Block is the bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including the award-winning Weetzie Bat series. Her writing has been called “transcendent” by The New York Times, and her books have been included in “best of” lists compiled by Time magazine and NPR.

In this long-anticipated guide to the craft of writing, Block offers an intimate glimpse of an artist at work and a detailed guide to help readers channel their own experiences and creative energy.

Sharing visceral insights and powerful exercises, she gently guides us down the write-to-heal path, revealing at each turn the intrinsic value of channeling our experiences onto the page.

Named for the painting by Frida Kahlo, who famously transformed her own personal suffering into art, The Thorn Necklace offers lessons on life, love, and the creative process.

On Sale: May 1st 2018
Price: $15.99
Page Count: 304
ISBN-13: 9781580057523
FROM SEAL PRESS:
“The Thorn Necklace
by Francesca Lisa Block

I like the cover shown here on Librarything than the one on the copy I received.

We are pleased to announce the publication of The Thorn Necklace by bestselling author Francesca Lia Block. This long-anticipated guide to the craft of writing is an intimate and supportive model to help readers channel their own experiences and creative energy.

In The Thorn Necklace, Block offers an intimate glimpse of an artist at work, sharing visceral insights and powerful exercises to guide readers down the write-to-heal path using her original methodology called The 12 Questions. In revealing the intrinsic value of channeling experiences to the page, this memoir-driven guide to healing through the craft of writing offers lessons on life, love, and the creative process.

We would love to partner with you to spread the word about this creative and insightful book. If you would like to review it on your blog or website, promote it on your social media or email newsletter, or host a giveaway, we would be more than happy to send you an advance copy. Please email Quinn Fariel at Quinn.Fariel@hbgusa.com to receive a copy of The Thorn Necklace to review.”

LEARN MORE

Francesca Lia Block is the bestselling author of more than twenty-five books of stories, nonfiction, and fiction, including the Weetzie Bat books, her series of magical-realism novels. She has received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award, and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association, the New York Times Book Review, and Publisher’s Weekly. She lives in Los Angeles, a city the New York Times says she describes “better than any writer since Raymond Chandler.” She teachers writing at UCLA, Antioch University, and numerous workshops across the country.

MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

LOVE the book, hate the cover… Why are books about writing or the creative process so stoic and (yawns), boring… I get what the message is that the publisher is trying to convey, but really (yawns), couldn’t it have been more… creative?

Anywho… This is a fascinating book. It’s broken down into ten sections that I’ll show in a minute. Francesca Lia Block has a method of using twelve questions to help produce her writing; these twelve show how they’ve not only resolved the author’s own deeply-set weaknesses, hopes and desires, but offers all writers help in untangling their mesh of word-walls, struggles and battles in the literary world.

The sections of this book are as follows:

The book begins with a Foreword based around four simple words: “I am a writer.”
Following this is an introduction: You Are an Artist!

Part One: ECHO. Covers finding a mentor and answers the questions asked about “Gifts and Flaws.”
Part Two: DANGEROUS ANGEL. Covers finding a muse and answers the questions asked about “Wants and Needs.”

Part Three: BLOOD ROSES. Covers a section about channeling pain into art and answers the questions about “Arc.”

Part Four: QUAKELAND. Covers banishing a critic and answers questions about the “Antagonist.”

Part Five: THE FRENZY. Covers turning chaos into order and answers questions about “Setting.”

Part Six: ROSES AND BONES. Covers developing your style and answers questions about “Style.”

Part Seven: GUARDING THE MOON. Covers how to persevere and answers questions about “Theme.”

Part Eight: BEYOND THE PALE MOTEL. Covers how to face your fears and answers questions about “Crisis.”

Part Nine: ROUGH MAGICK. Covers how to deal with love and answers questions about “Climax.”

Part Ten: THE THORN NECKLACE. Covers how to turn words into action and answers questions about “Resolution.”

The author also provides exercises for fellow writers, followed by scenes and a section called AFTERWORD: The Magick Is Within

This is an excellent writing resource that every writer should consider adding to their bookshelf to refer to often throughout their writing projects. ( )