Today I’m excited to share my review on a fantastic book called ‘Writing for Bliss’ written by author Diana Raab. I was given the opportunity to read a printed copy from the author via Beck Valley Book Tours.
NEW RELEASE…
A Seven-Step Plan For Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life
Writing for Bliss is most fundamentally about reflection, truth, and freedom. With techniques and prompts for both the seasoned and novice writer, it will lead you to tap into your creativity through storytelling and poetry, examine how life-changing experiences can inspire writing, pursue self-examination and self-discovery through the written word, and, understand how published writers have been transformed by writing.
Poet and memoirist Raab (Lust) credits her lifelong love of writing and its therapeutic effects with inspiring her to write this thoughtful and detailed primer that targets pretty much anyone interested in writing a memoir. Most compelling here is Raab’s willingness to share her intimate stories (e.g., the loss of a relative, ongoing struggles with cancer, a difficult relationship with her mother). Her revelations are encouraging to writers who feel they need “permission to take… a voyage of self-discovery.” The book’s seven-step plan includes plenty of guidance, including on learning to “read like a writer,” and on addressing readers as if “seated across the table .” Raab covers big topics such as the “art and power of storytelling” and small details such as choosing pens and notebooks that you enjoy using. She also helps readers with the important step of “finding your form.”
–PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY
Available to buy from….
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk GPlay Barnes and Noble Paperback
From Loving Healing Press http://www.lhpress.com/
My Review
Writing for bliss is an inspirational how-to book that contains a plethora of information about the way writing can transform you and allow you to grow. The author has written multiple memoirs that aided her self-reflection, self-discovery and healing. It is her hope that those going through similar situations can read her novels and learn from her experiences and also grow from them.
The novel includes numerous writing prompts to get your creative mind flowing. After reading only a few pages into the book I was already excited at the possibilities the book contained for my own personal reflection and growth through writing and I couldn’t wait to learn more.
I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing but I never thought about having the need, the strong drive and motivation to write as many authors will tell you they have. I’ve never thought much about the fact that I’ve always loved journaling my innermost thoughts and feelings and that that is the same drive that this author discusses. When I think back to times in my life of frustration, I’ve always turned to my journal to get my thoughts out on paper and almost 100% of the time always felt better afterwards. It’s like letting off steam and being aware that you’ve expressed yourself and acknowledged where the frustration is coming from and now you can move forward. When I think back on growing up, I’ve always enjoyed writing and to this day I continue to love writing. My love of reading and writing is what inspired me to start blogging in the first place.
Do you believe in good timing? I think timing plays a large role in our lives and this novel came at the perfect time for me personally. During the few days I spent reading this novel I found myself continuously inspired to write and blog and journal. It’s inspired me to get back into more of my writing and I’ve decided to blog more lifestyle feature posts about topics that I find interesting and that inspire me. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be an author and write a book.
This book is certainly a core foundation for aspiring writers and authors. Even if your genre isn’t memoirs, you can still learn so much from this book. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys writing, journaling, blogging, and writing poetry. This book has inspired me to write and I believe it can inspire you too. I was lucky enough to receive a printed copy of the novel and although I do love e-books I highly recommend you select a printed copy as it’s much easier to highlight and flip back through a physical book and almost impossible to do the same in an e-book. Now that I’ve finished reading, I’m looking forward to going through the different suggested writing prompts to get my creative juices flowing.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
“Writing for Bliss is about the profound ways in which we may be transformed in and through the act of writing. I am grateful to Diana Raab for sharing it, and I trust that you will feel the same as you read on. May you savor the journey.”
–from the foreword by MARK FREEMAN, PhD
“By listening to ourselves and being aware of what we are saying and feeling, the true story of our life’s past experience is revealed. Diana Raab’s book gives us the insights by which we can achieve this through her life-coaching wisdom and our writing.”
–BERNIE SIEGEL, MD, author of The Art of Healing
“Only a talented writer who has fought hard to overcome life’s many obstacles could take her readers by the hand and lead them through
the writing process with such enormous compassion, amazing insight, and kindness. Diana Raab is a powerful, wise, intelligent guide well worth our following.”
–JAMES BROWN, author of The Los Angeles Diaries and The River
“Writing for Bliss is far more than a ‘how-to manual’; it enlightens the creative process with wisdom and a delightful sense of adventure. Bravo to Bliss!”
–LINDA GRAY SEXTON, author of Searching for Mercy Street: My Journey Back to My Mother, Anne Sexton
“Uniquely blending inspiring insights with practical advice, Diana guides you on a path to discover the story that is truly inside you and yearning to be told.”
–PATRICK SWEENEY, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Succeed on Your Own Terms
MY MISSION – Author Diana Raab
“Through my writing, mentoring and workshops, I guide others to discover and tell their own unique stories and abiding truths. The craft and practice of writing can be transformative and empowering—a cornerstone for emotional and psychological well-being, and a way to tap into one’s true inner voice and passions.” — Diana Raab
About the author
Diana Raab, PhD is an award-winning memoirist, poet, blogger, workshop leader and speaker. Her passion is writing for healing and transformation.
She’s the author of eight books and over 500 articles and poems, and editor of two anthologies, WRITERS ON THE EDGE: 22 WRITERS SPEAK ABOUT ADDICTION AND DEPENDENCY and WRITERS AND THEIR NOTEBOOKS. Raab’s two memoirs are REGINA’S CLOSET: FINDING MY GRANDMOTHER’S SECRET JOURNAL and HEALING WITH WORDS: A WRITER’S CANCER JOURNEY. Her fourth and most recent poetry collection is called LUST.
Raab has been writing since the age of 10, when her mother gave her a Khalil Gibran journal to help her cope with her grandmother suicide. Since then, she has been using writing as a way of healing and transformation and inspiring others to do the same.
She is the mother of 3 adult children, and grandmother to two. She lives in Southern California.<
She blogs for for Psychology Today, PsychAlive, and Boomer Cafe.
Find the author on the following sites…
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Pinterest Goodreads Amazon
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.
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I definitely do believe in timing, books seem to appear as you need them, fate for sure x
Thank you for this review! I’m always on the lookout for writing help books, and Writing for Bliss sounds fab! Though I don’t *plan* on writing a memoir, I feel a lifestyle blog has memoir-writing elements. (Also, who says I won’t write a memoir in the future, right?) I’d one day like to write a series of fantasy novels.
Thanks again for the review!
Kaiya x
Thank you for taking the time to read WRITING FOR BLISS and writing such a stellar review. I am very grateful.
Blissfully yours,
Diana Raab
dianaraab.com