A writing book I enjoyed is The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, in the first third he writes about resistance. According to Pressfield, it's what prevents writers from writing. Besides Layton (Leonard Cohen's teacher) my favorite Canadian poet is Al Purdy. Purdy and Bukowski wrote to each other, and the letters are collected in a book, appropriately titled The Bukowski/Purdy Letters 1964-1974.
Gonna have to look that one up. I applaud anyone who brings new insight into "writer's block" which imho is like a phantom limb. Get on with it, just start writing. Writing is done word by word not with ideas/thoughts/dreams of glory. I remember reading that Bukowski/Purdy book years back. Good reminder. Purdy published a book of letters with Birney (another neglected gem of a Canadian poet) - forget the name but it is great. Ah, those days before email! When thought was aligned with possibility. McCluhan got it right, the medium is much of the massage/message. Thanks for subscribing Russell - hope to learn from others, always learning.
Thanks for this insightful essay, David. I've always loved to write for myself and blurt out whatever's on my mind. Until recently, I never had the courage to do so because my biggest obstacles in writing are writer's block and constant dissatisfaction with my texts (it comes from my perfectionism).
A writing book I enjoyed is The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, in the first third he writes about resistance. According to Pressfield, it's what prevents writers from writing. Besides Layton (Leonard Cohen's teacher) my favorite Canadian poet is Al Purdy. Purdy and Bukowski wrote to each other, and the letters are collected in a book, appropriately titled The Bukowski/Purdy Letters 1964-1974.
Gonna have to look that one up. I applaud anyone who brings new insight into "writer's block" which imho is like a phantom limb. Get on with it, just start writing. Writing is done word by word not with ideas/thoughts/dreams of glory. I remember reading that Bukowski/Purdy book years back. Good reminder. Purdy published a book of letters with Birney (another neglected gem of a Canadian poet) - forget the name but it is great. Ah, those days before email! When thought was aligned with possibility. McCluhan got it right, the medium is much of the massage/message. Thanks for subscribing Russell - hope to learn from others, always learning.
Thanks for this insightful essay, David. I've always loved to write for myself and blurt out whatever's on my mind. Until recently, I never had the courage to do so because my biggest obstacles in writing are writer's block and constant dissatisfaction with my texts (it comes from my perfectionism).