The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch

Julia Cameron is probably best known as the author of "The Artist's Way," a course she developed to help others (as well as herself) get over writer's block, although she discovered that the plan worked for painters, sculptors, anyone whose job or life's passion requires creativity. In "The Sound of Paper," Cameron has expanded this vision, offering more exercises and examples, as well as a more personal look at her own struggles as a writer. Cameron practices what she preaches: She is an accomplished author and playwright, and the book itself is testament to her talent. Her writing appears so effortless, mere musings. Try and copy that! It's no easy task. Even after I was long done reading the book, her descriptions of the New Mexico landscape have stayed with me, inspiring me to create a little of that magic. At the very least, it makes me long for a trip to the Southwest, again a testament to the power of words so carefully crafted. What Cameron demonstrates so effectively is that to be aware of your surroundings is to make your life your art, and that is the key to it all. Of course, another part of that equation is simply doing art, without the expectation of perfection. And that perfection is a tricky thing, a common trap for artists of all stripes. In the end, what "The Sound of Paper" conveys is much the same as "The Artist's Way." However, this book moves one step closer to illustrating the lessons so clearly delineated in both books, and that is something fine indeed.

I read this book one chapter a day to get me focused on my own writing and reading for my dissertation. This book brings my soul to where I am. Without this book, I don't know how to get rid of my other worries in life and concentrate on my study. So I strongly recommend this book to others who need some comfort concentrating on what they are doing.

This book of essays follows the familiar path of Cameron's non-fiction writing, teaching writers how to deal with themselves and their work. Roughly following the cycle of a year, first living in New York and then retiring to her summer retreat in Taos, New Mexico, Cameron covers the ins and outs of a writer's life.Unlike The Artist's Way and others, this is not a workbook, divided into a series of weekly exercises. While each essay has a quick "Try this" section, they are gentle proddings to think further about the essay you have just read. This is not a book to be swallowed whole in one sitting. I found myself reading 1 or 2 essays and then spending a bit of time absorbing what I just read. It was a fine companion for 3-4 weeks as I dipped into it again and again.I have enjoyed Cameron's other books, so I was pre-disposed to read her latest. There is a highly spiritual element to these essay if not specifically religious. Here idea of "The Great Creator" might put off some readers, but if they supply their own verison of the "creator" that they relate to, this helps to put the essays into perspective.Cameron takes a gentle hand with writers, not giving them full rein to be obnoxious parodies of how they think writers should act, but giving them and understanding on how they are different from those around them. Understanding, even from a distant writer of books, can be a well-spring of relief to an isolated writer wondering if they are crazy.

Maybe you aren't an artist in the usual sense. Maybe your canvas is simply your day....how you feel about it, how you live in it, how you experience it. BUY THIS BOOK! It is comforting. It is inspiring. It is exciting. It is fun. It is challenging. I simply cannot say enough about how much I am enjoying it. If you are a fan of examining your inner life and your creativity, this is one for you! Thank you Julia.

I am a big fan of Julia Cameron's. My copy of "The Artist's Way" is tattered and written in so much I would probably do well to get another copy.It has been life changing for me -- and yet her tone tends to annoy me in this earlier work of hers.In comes "Walking in this World" -- much calmer writing with same approach -- a 12 week writing/life discovery course. Many people I knew had challenges with staying the course over the entire 12 weeks which brings us to this new book which does not have a week-by-week approach, instead it reminds me more of a Natalie Goldberg approach: short, easy to digest chapters followed by an application step or a "try this" where the reader gets to DO SOMETHING from the lessons of the chapter.I remember when I was younger I used to go to James Taylor concerts every summer. I always knew I would get a quality show and as I aged along with JT, it just got better.Same thing is true here: Julia Cameron is more human, more true, more approachable and more - dare I say it - loveable? than she has been in the past.It is difficult to express what a treasure this book is to me already, even in the week or so I have owned it. I know I will go back to it repeatedly and it will become probably even more worn and jaded than The Artist's Way. I have already been recommending it to every Julia Cameron fan I know and I would like to run and hug and kiss my friend who recommended it to me!What I love is that for people who could not see themselves committing to 12 weeks of work can easily commit to choosing a chapter (one of my friends just opens the book and reads wherever it opens!) and spending three minutes with the chapter itself and then, when inspired, do the additional work Cameron offers.I can't say it enough. You'll just have to buy this book and see for yourself.