Creativity Double Feature: "Letters to a Young Writer," and, "Turn Your Pain Into Art"

“Letters To A Young Writer,” by Colum McCann

Part practical, part philosophical, this book aims to provide guidance to anyone who considers themselves to be a “young writer.”

Pros:

There are a number of specific, useful points made by this (audio)book. The points themselves cover everything from the first sentence of the novel to, “blurbs.”
This is a minor point, but I found the performer’s accent to be charming
I appreciated the use of “traditional” words and phrases like, “6 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag,” and, “using charm and flattery to bend someone to your will.”
The audiobook is short, clocking in at around 3 hours (meaning the book doesn’t overstay its welcome)

Cons:

The book can be a tad repetitive (though I suppose this can be forgiven considering the author’s message: “get your arse in the seat and write!”)
While I can appreciate the philosophical sections of the book, I generally found them to be less useful than the more practical advice

In Conclusion:
I enjoyed this book, and may well return to it should I need a pep talk when working on my own writing. It was short and to the point (for the most part), so it is worth a listen for the aspiring (or even established) writer.

Check it out here.

“Turn Your Pain Into Art,” by Ariel Bloomer

Part memoir, part self-help book, “Turn Your Pain Into Art,” serves as an interesting, if imperfect freshman outing from Ariel Bloomer.

Pros:

There are a number of self-help tips and tricks littered throughout the book (though revelations / completely new ideas are few and far between to anyone who’s read other books on mindfulness)
The book brings a woman’s perspective on issues of self-esteem and beauty; this is something I haven’t encountered in my previous forays into the self-help space.
The vocal performance come across as extremely earnest (if a bit saccharine at times)

Cons:

About 1/2 of the book is a memoir of the author’s life. On one hand, this helps establish the author’s credibility to discuss the topics at hand. On the other hand, if you are not invested in the author or her band, “Icon For Hire,” these sections are not always the most engaging.
I was surprised how little therapy came up as an option. Given the author’s self-proclaimed struggles with depression and self-hatred I’m surprised this didn’t play a bit more of a role.
In spite of what the title suggests, this book is more about self-care and mindfulness than the act of creating art. For that, I would recommend “Your Inner Critic Is A Big Jerk,” instead.

Conclusion:
If you are a fan of the author or her band, you will likely enjoy this work. If you are new to the self-help or mindfulness space, this may also be a formative title for you. I can’t say the book rocked my world, and I can’t say it does precisely what it sets out to do, but it is good enough for what it is.

Check it out here.