Wild Words

Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path

By: Nicole Gulotta

Narrated by: Nicole Gulotta

Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

A guide for the next generation of writers - self-care rituals, creativity-generating rhythms, and personalized strategies for embracing your craft no matter what life throws at you.

Part memoir and part spirit guide, Wild Words is a book about the intersection of our creative soul with everything else, and how to make peace, make priorities, and ultimately, make progress by slowing down and embracing whatever season we’re in, right now. This isn’t a how-to guide filled with systems and formulas that promise a first draft in 90 days. Instead, Wild Words is an invitation to explore the emotional aspects of living a creative life, and the myriad ways to establish routines and rhythms that support a sustainable writing practice.

Wild Words shares lessons the author has learned the hard way, like how powerful it can be to embrace your creative history (and how to access your own), why self-care is an essential aspect of any writer’s path (with suggestions for how to make these practices accessible), and small but essential mindset shifts, like how to see your career as a partner (rather than an obstacle) in your writing life. Above all, Wild Words offers a new way to approach our creative life. It helps untangle the messy process of embracing our circumstances, trusting our own voice, and making time to put pen to paper, year after year.

©2019 Nicole Gulotta (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

A gem of a book

This book is a very helpful guide for the mind & heart of writers. The content is both inspirational and methodical, which is a great springboard for any budding poet or essayist. The ideas come from a deeper place and I appreciate the many tips for mastering the craft —writing in the edges. Great narration! Highly recommend this book!!

A window into her creative process

I’m a 35 year old man. I say this because much of what was written, on the surface at least, is for moms. As Gulotta moves through her process a rhythm emerges and she drops insignificant pebbles about the writers life into her story. It’s those insignificant pebbles that get into your shoe and become something you can’t get your mind off of.

Overall, I’m glad she read the book. I like when authors read their own stories. I wish there was a little less self depreciation -though I did enjoy the crescendo of her confidence building. We, as authors and writers, tend to fall into that pattern far too easily.

Practical, Realistic, and Helpful

I really appreciate this writer’s realistic approach to writing, especially if you have a family and/or other major obligations.

Good Listen

I enjoyed the stories and the recommendations Nicole gives in this book; despite being in a very different place in life, and not relating to all the anecdotes, the suggestions are applicable and easy to see how they work in different circumstances. Her narration was good, it was a quick listen.

meditative and thoughtful advice

I would have liked to read this as a first time parent when the child was under 4 years of age. I highly recommend this book for writers looking for their focus and organization while raising a very young child. at times, this was difficult for me to listen to as I'm battling depression from grief whilst the author/narrator sounded like she was battling postpartum depression. meanwhile, she did list very helpful ways to succeed whilst under stress. much of this was written like a memoir. which bothered me because it didn't reflect my challenges. but the advice is clear and excellent for any unseasoned writer. which brings me to my next critique in that the seasons metaphor (metaphor? simile? something else?) was the foundation for the book and I tired of it. but another person might find it helpful and insightful.

For the writer

From the moment Nicole mentioned her purple pen I was hooked! A great combination of sample writing, poetry, and real life connections to being a writer.

Beautifully understanding

This book was exactly what I needed to fill the liminal space after grad school. Each personal compassionate story, tip, and vulnerable experience shared was a joy to read. So helpful and grounding that I read it twice back to back. Must read for any creative maker and writer at any level.

glad this was included...

because I would have been upset if I'd spent money on it. wish the author realized that there's nothing wrong with blogging because it reads like a really very extremely overwritten blog post. her voice is nice but it's not a revelation to say "write when you can and be flexible" which is the only applicable advice for anyone who isn't very well off in California.

Sparked my desire to write

The exact advice I needed to hear on this portion of my writer’s journey. Purchased a copy of the book to keep as a guide.

Meant To Be Deep

Nicole Gulotta takes everything and compares it to writing. This reminded me of Bird by Bird. This was about her life and finding time to write. It was pretty boring and she didn’t give enough advise verses telling readers about pointless things in her life, yet she probably put a lot of effort into it. It reminded me of a school paper meets memoir.