Writing Motherhood: Tapping Into Your Creativity as a Mother and a Writer

Counsels women on how to develop their creative writing and parenting skills simultaneously, outlining a step-by-step program for drawing on one's experiences of motherhood in order to find literary inspiration, in a guide that also shares uplifting stories from the author's writing workshops. 40,000 first printing.

"For any mother who longs to find more time for herself, for any writer who wonders if the demands of motherhood will compromise her craft, here is a welcome reminder that art and life are gloriously, messily, inextricably intertwined. At once creative writing manual and mothering memoir, "Writing Motherhood" inspires us to honor our own everyday lives as mothers by giving shape to them on the page."

-- Katrina Kenison, author of "Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry"

"Lisa Garrigues is the real animal, a trailblazer and a muse. Her techniques are both grounded and inspirational. May she lead a revolution." -- Julia Cameron, author of "The Artist's Way"

"I wish "Writing Motherhood" had been around when I was a new mom. Women deserve to own and record their words. "Writing Motherhood" -- honest, practical, and inspiring -- helps us overcome our fears and unlock the thoughts and feelings we all have inside. Thank you, Lisa Garrigues!" -- Brooke Shields, author of "Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression"

""Writing Motherhood" reclaims the old-fashioned, spirit-lifting, life-grounding act of writing as an elemental part of our motherly lives. Grab your Mother's Notebook and a speck of time, throw away the rules, and start writing!" -- Miriam Peskowitz, author of "The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars: Who Decides What Makes a Good Mother?"

"During an afternoon absorbed in "Writing Motherhood, " I suddenly realized that Lisa Garrigues was describing what my head and my heart and my hands have been doing ever since I became a mother. Lisa's inspirations and invitations smooth the path to recording motherhood in real time, exactly how we wish our mothers and grandmothers for generations before us had done. My mother and I are now sneaking Lisa's book out of each other's homes, knowing that it will be missed within hours, and loving that it will be days before its return."
-- Melinda Roberts, author of The Mommy Blog and "Mommy Confidential: Adventures from the Wonderbelly of Motherhood"

"I thought I'd read Lisa Garrigues's intimate, lively book in an afternoon -- but I kept putting it down to grab pen and paper instead, so inspired was I by her determination to to clear the hurdles, duck the obstacles, and write --no matter what. For any mother who longs to find more time for herself, for any writer who wonders if the demands of motherhood will compromise her craft, here is a welcome reminder that art and life are gloriously, messily, inextricably intertwined. At once creative writing manual and mothering memoir, "Writing Motherhood" inspires us to honor our own everyday lives as mothers by giving shape to them on the page."
-- Katrina Kenison, author of "Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry"

""Writing Motherhood" is a fantastic resource for any woman who finds herself transformed by mothering and seeks to give a literary voice to her experience. With both practical and creative advice, Writing Motherhood guides the literary mother towards giving birth to herself as a writer."
-- Andrea Buchanan, author of "Mother Shock" and co-founder of LiteraryMama.com

"With both wit and wisdom, Lisa Garrigues depicts creative ways to capture and communicate the essence of motherhood. I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to any woman I coach who wants to explore and express her experiences as a mother and learn about her Self in the process."
-- Bria Simpson, MA, Life Coach and author of "The Balanced Mom: Raising Your Kids Without Losing Your Self"

"Motherhood was the catalyst for making my dream of writing a book a reality, and I believe there are many other mothers who also have a story or passion to share but they may not know how to begin. "Writing Motherhood" is a wonderful guide to help mothers channel the creativity that is at the core of mothering into art."
-- Cali Williams Yost, author of "Work+Life: Finding the Fit That's Right for You"