Word for Word: A Writer's Life

Great for fans of Vivian Gornicks Fierce Attachments and Rebecca Solnits Recollections of My Nonexistence. -BookLifeLaurie Lisles beautifully written memoir will inspire writers and women everywhere to find their voices. -Lynn Povich author of The Good Girls Revolt: How the Women of Newsweek Sued Their Bosses and Changed the WorkplaceIn Word for Word accomplished author Laurie Lisle shares her hard-earned wisdom about the writing life. A perfect book for aspiring and seasoned writers as well as fans of Anne Lamotts Bird by Bird.Raised in a traditional 1950s New England family Laurie Lisle rejected the boundaries of her upbringing and followed her drive to write. Coming of age during the womens liberation movement she joined Newsweek shortly after it was sued for sexism hoping to find new opportunities for women writers but she had to fight for every step forward. Word for Word is the dramatic story of Lisles determination to become a published author from her early days in journalism to writing her groundbreaking biographies of legendary artists Georgia OKeeffe and Louise Nevelson. Lisle discusses the demands of writing honestly about others and herself while unflinchingly sharing successes stumbling blocks and relationships that threatened to silence her written voice.In this frank memoir Lisle asks what a writer-or anyone devoted to self-expression in the arts-needs to flourish and find fulfillment in work and life. She shares insights from artists and other authors and reflects on the way nature nurtures a literary life. Throughout she examines how the private and professional parts of a writers life intertwine explores what enables words to flow and what stops them and shows where the writing life can ultimately lead.