There are more outlets than ever for writers to spread their messages and share their work, more opportunities to speak out and be seen. Writers expose themselves freely and willingly in a way that would have been unfathomable fifty years ago, and more people than ever are writing and publishing. Men and women are writing with equal fervor and commitment to their message and craft. As a result, … result, it’s easy to assume, or hope, that the gendered playing field is a thing of the past, too. Unfortunately for women writers, it’s not. Knowing what we’re up against and how to fight back is the heart and soul of Write On, Sisters!
Inside these pages, Brooke Warner draws upon research, anecdotes, and her personal experiences from twenty years in the book publishing industry to show how women’s writing is discounted or less valued than men’s writing, then provides support to overcome these challenges. This book also shines light on how women writers face not only ever-present historical and social challenges but also their own self-limiting beliefs. Write On, Sisters! is for every woman writer ready to be done with all that, and who’s ready for the next revolution.
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Informative. Insightful, & Inspirational!
After reading Write On, Sisters, I came away with a broader perspective on the history of women writers from Sappho to Strayed, a deeper understanding of gender politics in the world of publishing, and ultimately, a renewed and empowered self-confidence in my voice and its rightful place on bookshelves everywhere. If you are a writer, and especially, if you are a woman who feels like a writer, but lacks the confidence to say “I am a writer,” then this book is for you. Get ready to “claim your boldness”!
Choosing to write is a solitary decision. Deciding to publish makes that decision very public, and following that very bold move is usually a marching band of obstacles that immediately jump in to shake things up: self-doubt, outside criticism, fear of rejection, rejection, confusion, self-esteem struggles, lack of resources, marketing inexperience, and so on. That noisy list grows and changes as progress is made, but there is never a shortage of “those things that can stop you in your tracks.”
What I love about WRITE ON, SISTERS! is its challenge to accept that, yes, you might be bombarded with some version of that cacophony, but none of it should stop you. Ever. No way, no how.
It’s a book whose message is: seek out, find, then listen closely and carefully to your own voice, and, from there, trust it; give it permission to speak louder than any other voices that might get in your way. That’s writing advice I can not only applaud, but live by.
There are many books that guide and tutor on the craft of writing. This is not one of those; this is a book that guides and tutors women on the psychology of BEING a writer, most specifically, a female writer, a demographic that comes with undeniable challenges built into both the culture and the way we women have been imprinted throughout time.
Author Brooke Warner, a writer and publisher who well knows the terrain, defines and describes the cultural foundation upon which any female writer sets up camp, a place too often rife with self-doubt and negation. But, given her specific expertise in the field of publishing and the patriarchal constructs that too often keep women writers from opportunities on a par with their male counterparts, she also itemizes the unique list of professional challenges and obstacles women face… then offers hearty ways and means to overcome, including a list of online resources that offer a tremendous amount of information and assistance toward moving ahead in an atmosphere of support and success.
As one who puts her actions where her thoughts are, Warner is known and lauded for her innovative small press, She Writes Press, an imprint that focuses on championing the voices of female writers. She is a vanguard, a true believer committed to leveling the field, passionate about bringing as many women along with her as possible. Given that, one is wise to listen to her thoughtful, unvarnished, invigorating take on the wild, wonderful experience of being a woman in the world of writing.
A very clearly-written overview of the barriers women have faced, and continue to confront today, in the world of publishing, with constructive advice on how to overcome obstacles to success. Based on her years of experience in the publishing industry, reinforced with detailed research, Warner offers specific suggestions and heartfelt encouragement to women who want to get their story out into the world, whatever their inner or outer critics might be saying. This slim volume is packed full of gems that you’ll want to re-visit time and again.
This is a brave and inspirational book that remind women they have a seat at the table now. Brooke’s work in hybrid publishing will enable more and more important and compelling stories by women to reach the reading public. Hooray!