A Bounty of Books

Dancing on the Head of Pen: The Practice of a Writing Life by Robert Benson is a short collection of stories, wisdom, and advice about the art of writing. Benson has written close to twenty books in varying genres and about different subjects. In this book, he passes along some of what he's learned in his forty years living the life of  a writer.

From the beginning, Benson makes it clear that there are no right or wrong ways to approach being a writer. Every piece of advice he offers is just that - advice. He shares what works for him, and some general guidelines about finding what works best for each individual as a writer. He goes through the entire process of writing a book, from the initial capturing of an idea through all of the editing and trying to get it published. He offers just enough advice about each phase to get the reader started. He offers guidance while affirming that there is no right or wrong to get started; the point is to get started. 

As one who has always enjoyed writing, and often toyed around with the thought that there was a story inside of me worth sharing, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dancing on the Head of Pen. It was witty, practical, and full of helpful information. It is broken down into easy to digest sections that can be referred back to if one is seeking guidance in a particular area. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has ever entertained the thought of being a writer of any kind. Whether that leads to a book, a blog, a journal, or even nothing tangible that no one else ever sees, this book is good for a writer's soul.

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255