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Publication
Persephone Books Ltd (2012), 392 pages
Description
An invaluable guide to the art and mind of Virginia Woolf, drawn by her husband from the personal record she kept over a period of twenty-seven years. Included are entries that refer to her own writing, others that are clearly writing exercises; accounts of people and scenes relevant to the raw material of her work; and comments on books she was reading. Edited and with a Preface by Leonard Woolf; Indices.
User reviews
LibraryThing member solicitouslibrarian
I don't really know much about the relationship between Leonard and Virginia Woolf, but this book was lovingly edited. Excerpted from her unabridged diaries, Leonard Woolf culled the bits that he thought to be most about writing--the process, exercises, etc. These entries detail her exhaustive
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writing and revision process, as well as the relationship between her own reading and writing. She often sets herself schedules and tasks here, which were interesting to read. Reading this book has re-invigorated my writing self. Show Less
LibraryThing member LauraJWRyan
I lingered through this gorgeous book, all the while connecting with Virginia Woolf as a writer, especially understanding her exhaustion after finishing the final corrections of a novel, and the unsettled feeling after it's published...thinking: It's no good, no one's going to like it, it's
I loved this entry from Wednesday, September 6th 1922:
"My proofs [Jacobs Room:] come every other day and I could depress myself adequately if I went into that. The thing now reads thin and pointless; the words scarcely dint the paper; and I expect to be told I've written a graceful fantasy, without much bearing upon real life. Can one tell? Anyhow, nature obligingly supplies me with the illusion that I am about to write something good; something rich and deep and fluent, and hard as nails, while bright as diamonds."
Leonard Woolf gleaned some gems from the years to make the thoughts of Virginia Woolf accessible to readers...and for writers. I believe it is essential reading for a writer...not in the "how to" sense, but in the emotional level as a writer goes through the process of writing... There's something very comforting knowing that you're not alone while you're at the computer typing with your emotional spigots on full blast and wondering all the while if you're going mad...chances are, you're not...you're just more aware, more curious, more sensitive, and thankfully, you've tapped into that beautiful vein of creativity and you're doing something with it...that is a good thing (just go with it!)
As far as insight about the grim "why" she filled her pockets with stones and walked into the river to drown herself, if that's what you're looking for it's not really there, yet it is... but try not to think about that "end" while reading it because you'll miss out on the good stuff...she had troubles, yes, we all do get headaches and anxieties and we can relate to the suffering through various ailments...but please, don't try to diagnose her, just enjoy her. Learn from her.
This book is a beautiful human document, and I love it. A Writer's Diary is going to have a permanent home on the shelf next to my writing desk.
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nonsense...and then being surprised when people do like it (she pretty much knew out of her critics who wouldn't.)I loved this entry from Wednesday, September 6th 1922:
"My proofs [Jacobs Room:] come every other day and I could depress myself adequately if I went into that. The thing now reads thin and pointless; the words scarcely dint the paper; and I expect to be told I've written a graceful fantasy, without much bearing upon real life. Can one tell? Anyhow, nature obligingly supplies me with the illusion that I am about to write something good; something rich and deep and fluent, and hard as nails, while bright as diamonds."
Leonard Woolf gleaned some gems from the years to make the thoughts of Virginia Woolf accessible to readers...and for writers. I believe it is essential reading for a writer...not in the "how to" sense, but in the emotional level as a writer goes through the process of writing... There's something very comforting knowing that you're not alone while you're at the computer typing with your emotional spigots on full blast and wondering all the while if you're going mad...chances are, you're not...you're just more aware, more curious, more sensitive, and thankfully, you've tapped into that beautiful vein of creativity and you're doing something with it...that is a good thing (just go with it!)
As far as insight about the grim "why" she filled her pockets with stones and walked into the river to drown herself, if that's what you're looking for it's not really there, yet it is... but try not to think about that "end" while reading it because you'll miss out on the good stuff...she had troubles, yes, we all do get headaches and anxieties and we can relate to the suffering through various ailments...but please, don't try to diagnose her, just enjoy her. Learn from her.
This book is a beautiful human document, and I love it. A Writer's Diary is going to have a permanent home on the shelf next to my writing desk.
Show Less
LibraryThing member caanderson
A fantastic view on how an author splits her time between writing and being a wife, sister, friend, and neighbor.
Subjects
Awards
Notable Books List (1954)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1953
Physical description
392 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
1903155886 / 9781903155882
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 828.912 |