Book recommendation: I Should Be Writing, by Mur Lafferty

Despite not writing as much as I’d like lately, I have been trying to keep my motivation and inspiration up. A big part of this has involved reading books related to everything from creativity to simply making time for your work.

It’s been a hit and miss strategy, to be honest. One of the books I really enjoyed, however, was I Should Be Writing: A Writer’s Workshop, by Mur Lafferty. It hit the notes I needed in terms of both motivation and inspiration, fueling my need to write while getting some new ideas flowing.

I Should Be Writing is essentially a workshop in a book. It starts with an overview of what you may be experiencing in your own writing life—the accomplishments, the challenges, the feelings of pride that can only come with a successful writing session. After walking you through plenty of inspirational material, the book ends with a series of exercises to get you started on your next best-seller.

This book hit me hard and quick. By maybe 25 pages in, my motivation to write was renewed—and it didn’t take much longer for me to see why I had paused my writing in the first place.

It’s also true, though, that some parts had a more negative affect on me. But that was only because they’re so honest, which I appreciated. They forced me to really think about why I write, which, while initially prompting those negative feelings, brought me full circle back to that motivation I needed.

And then, finally, there are the exercises in the back. While I wasn’t as diligent in doing them as I should have been, they did inspire some new ideas. I intend to return to them when I need more.

So if you’re in the same sort of writing rut I’ve found myself in on occasion, do pick up I Should Be Writing. It could very well be what gets you writing again.

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Goodreads Summary

I Should Be Writing  is everything you’d hope to find in a writing workshop, condensed into one highly effective journal. It’s time to stop dreaming about what you want to write and finally do it!

Let award-winning podcaster Mur Lafferty, who in the past has interviewed authors including John Scalzi, Neil Gaiman, Gail Carriger, Adam Christopher, and Kameron Hurley, guide you through the nuts-and-bolts process of honing your craft, including which writing myths to ignore, how to refine your creative process, listening to your inner muse while ignoring your inner bully, and more. 

This book also contains writing exercises that will help the blossoming writer strengthen the writer’s muscle of writing every day. These include everything from situational writer’s prompts to lists of ideas writers should try to jot down between writing sessions.

With this helpful guide, you can make the phrase, “I’ve always wanted to write a story…” a thing of the past. Because you should be writing!