“
Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love and Lose at Both” by Laura Sessions Stepp (2007)
If you’re writing about young women and you’re over 30, this is a book to read (or download an abridgement from www.
audible.com the way I did).
Interviews three high school girls and six college women over a year helped Stepp write an insightful study of the
affect sexual practices is having on young women (and men). She observes how the “hookup” culture affects the way
women behave now and speculates how it will affect how they build relationships and look for love in the future.
Stepp explores a society where oral sex is ordinary, but dating and holding hands is “yucky” and women looking for
success don’t have time for “real relationships.” She shows these exceptional women, scholars and athletes, who seem
able to do it all. She talks to them about pressures placed on them by a post feminist society, their views of their
parents marriages, and the feelings of empowerment hooking up provides.
The author has done good research and presents the material sympathetically, avoiding sensationalism—not easy with
this edgy topic.
Worst-case Scenarios Handbooks
Having trouble writing that action scene? Even if you’ve never been in a sword flight, escaped from a sinking car, or
fought off a shark, do not despair, the Worst-Case Scenario books can help.
The authors have more recently gone beyond survival skills and gone into he dangerous waters of travel and holidays and
work. www.worstcasescenarios.com
Worst-Case Survival Handbook: Dating and Sex by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht and Jennifer Worick (also in
audio). This book is a romantic comedy. It offers great ideas for dealing with awkward situations like removing difficult
clothing and determining the gender of your date, scientifically. It includes a “Dear [fill in ex-lovers name] form letter”
to end a relationship.
The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues by George Choundas (Writers Digest
Books, 2007)
Choundas claims his book includes every pirate reference in film, TV, literature, and historical accounts over the last
three centuries. Entries have sources, though many are fictional – So how did pirates really talk? Complete with
pronunciation, grammar, and syntax.
This is a great book for Johnny Depp fans, to help prepare for a cruise, or for finding new curses and insults without
resort to modern four-letter words. Did you know there is an International Talk Like a Pirate Day? (9/19, if you’re
curious.)
I bought this book because the sequel to “Romancing Rebecca” takes place in the Caribbean. (I’ll be posting the first
chapter soon, so you’ll be able to meet Joy’s pirate. Ooops, just gave away that my heroine will be the psychic concierge
Rebecca meets in “Romancing Rebecca.”)
The book’s cover resembles a leather pirate journal and inside the pages are colored as if weathered and torn. An
amazing piece of research which had to be goodly, hearty fun.
Arrgh! (the “gh” is not pronounced.)
The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right Size by Julia Cameron (Penguin, 2007)
Julia Cameron, guru author of The Artist's Way and other books on creativity has transformed lives for 25 years. With
this book she turns her inspirational style to the artist’s battle with weight.
The Writing Diet proposes writing as a weight loss tool to metabolize life. If overeating blocks creativity and feelings,
writing wakes up consciousness and returns clarity and productivity. Her tools will work for anyone with food
relationship issues.
She doesn’t mention research that shows meditation and yoga aid weight loss, but Morning Pages must achieve results
for the same reasons. Slowing the mind creates better choices for the body.
Not just for writers, artists, and musicians, Ms. Cameron says many things other books have told you, but does it
exceptionally well. If writing is your natural response to life or not, her sensible, clean eating plan may make more sense
than most popular diets.
What can a writer learn about writing from The Writing Diet (besides how to deal with weight and food)?
• Select an important topic and a great title.
• Write a book that is a joy to read.
• Make the book beautiful, not imposing or intimidating.
• Create interesting, easy to read short chapters.
• Give practical advice and don’t talk down to your reader.
• Illustrate points with interesting, powerful examples.
• Add one meaningful exercise per chapter.
• Write as if you were an understanding fellow traveler.
• Convince your reader you are a supportive friend who went from a size 16 to size 10 in one year.
For twenty five years Julia Cameron has taught creativity using Morning Pages, Journaling, Writer’s Dates, and
Walking. The Writing Diet adds the delightful Culinary Artist Date to the list.
Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love and Lose at Both” by Laura Sessions Stepp (2007)
If you’re writing about young women and you’re over 30, this is a book to read (or download an abridgement from www.
audible.com the way I did).
Interviews three high school girls and six college women over a year helped Stepp write an insightful study of the
affect sexual practices is having on young women (and men). She observes how the “hookup” culture affects the way
women behave now and speculates how it will affect how they build relationships and look for love in the future.
Stepp explores a society where oral sex is ordinary, but dating and holding hands is “yucky” and women looking for
success don’t have time for “real relationships.” She shows these exceptional women, scholars and athletes, who seem
able to do it all. She talks to them about pressures placed on them by a post feminist society, their views of their
parents marriages, and the feelings of empowerment hooking up provides.
The author has done good research and presents the material sympathetically, avoiding sensationalism—not easy with
this edgy topic.
Worst-case Scenarios Handbooks
Having trouble writing that action scene? Even if you’ve never been in a sword flight, escaped from a sinking car, or
fought off a shark, do not despair, the Worst-Case Scenario books can help.
The authors have more recently gone beyond survival skills and gone into he dangerous waters of travel and holidays and
work. www.worstcasescenarios.com
Worst-Case Survival Handbook: Dating and Sex by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht and Jennifer Worick (also in
audio). This book is a romantic comedy. It offers great ideas for dealing with awkward situations like removing difficult
clothing and determining the gender of your date, scientifically. It includes a “Dear [fill in ex-lovers name] form letter”
to end a relationship.
The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues by George Choundas (Writers Digest
Books, 2007)
Choundas claims his book includes every pirate reference in film, TV, literature, and historical accounts over the last
three centuries. Entries have sources, though many are fictional – So how did pirates really talk? Complete with
pronunciation, grammar, and syntax.
This is a great book for Johnny Depp fans, to help prepare for a cruise, or for finding new curses and insults without
resort to modern four-letter words. Did you know there is an International Talk Like a Pirate Day? (9/19, if you’re
curious.)
I bought this book because the sequel to “Romancing Rebecca” takes place in the Caribbean. (I’ll be posting the first
chapter soon, so you’ll be able to meet Joy’s pirate. Ooops, just gave away that my heroine will be the psychic concierge
Rebecca meets in “Romancing Rebecca.”)
The book’s cover resembles a leather pirate journal and inside the pages are colored as if weathered and torn. An
amazing piece of research which had to be goodly, hearty fun.
Arrgh! (the “gh” is not pronounced.)
The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right Size by Julia Cameron (Penguin, 2007)
Julia Cameron, guru author of The Artist's Way and other books on creativity has transformed lives for 25 years. With
this book she turns her inspirational style to the artist’s battle with weight.
The Writing Diet proposes writing as a weight loss tool to metabolize life. If overeating blocks creativity and feelings,
writing wakes up consciousness and returns clarity and productivity. Her tools will work for anyone with food
relationship issues.
She doesn’t mention research that shows meditation and yoga aid weight loss, but Morning Pages must achieve results
for the same reasons. Slowing the mind creates better choices for the body.
Not just for writers, artists, and musicians, Ms. Cameron says many things other books have told you, but does it
exceptionally well. If writing is your natural response to life or not, her sensible, clean eating plan may make more sense
than most popular diets.
What can a writer learn about writing from The Writing Diet (besides how to deal with weight and food)?
• Select an important topic and a great title.
• Write a book that is a joy to read.
• Make the book beautiful, not imposing or intimidating.
• Create interesting, easy to read short chapters.
• Give practical advice and don’t talk down to your reader.
• Illustrate points with interesting, powerful examples.
• Add one meaningful exercise per chapter.
• Write as if you were an understanding fellow traveler.
• Convince your reader you are a supportive friend who went from a size 16 to size 10 in one year.
For twenty five years Julia Cameron has taught creativity using Morning Pages, Journaling, Writer’s Dates, and
Walking. The Writing Diet adds the delightful Culinary Artist Date to the list.
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| Book Reviews |
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Rodney Yee’s or Patricia Walden’s yoga) teach simple breathing, standing, and relaxing techniques to allow gentle
connections within your body to assist your writing process and allow your characters to speak.
On every page Laraine’s words float, flow, tumble, and surprise as she talks to you, her student, her friend, and
fellow writer. Yes, she takes risks and opens veins; Laraine practices what she teaches.
“Writing Begins with the Breath” is an important book for writers. But don’t take my word; Natalie Goldberg’s
publisher chose to publish it.
