Story Is a State of Mind: Writing and the Art of Creative Curiosity

Why I recommend it

I recommend this gentle, whole-minded approach to writing for treating curiosity, attention, intuition, and craft as parts of the same practice. Selecky combines exercises, contemplative practices, and encouragement to help writers become more present to what they are making.

What stayed with me

The writer’s state of mind is not separate from the writing. Slowing down, becoming curious, and listening to the body can reveal connections that effort and analysis alone may miss.

Who it’s useful for

Writers developing a sustainable practice, people who feel blocked or overly self-conscious, and artists interested in bringing mindfulness and creative intuition into their work.

A tension

An intuitive approach still needs to meet the demands of technique and revision. Presence can generate surprising material, but the writer must eventually shape that material for a reader.