Book review by Andrea K. Hammer
As a non-fiction book offering validation, Writing, Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd allows a writer to recognize a tribe sharing common experiences. Filled with meaningful quotes and insights from masterful writers including Maya Angelou and Anais Nin, the author’s reflections on subjects ranging from longing to rituals explore the challenges and rewards of a writing life.
Sue Monk Kidd draws from her own process to offer inspiration, guidance and support for new and longtime writers. Plumbing personal turning points in unfiltered and moving descriptions, sections about feeling “homesick” for herself, dealing with paralysis during the second-novel syndrome and writing to cope with her husband’s illness strike chords of empathy. On an even deeper level, discussions about needing silence beneath words, finding an “empty” space to listen to characters and returning to longings have a spiritual, breathtaking quality.
Balancing a focus on going within to capture images, ideas and stories as part of the creative mystery, the tangible aspects of the craft are identified with equal skill. Excellent questions are posed to help shape characters while the elements of story and plot structure are pinpointed with precision. Astute discussions about creating scenes and the functions of dialogue also serve as helpful reminders.
Other highlights cover some of the author’s favorite techniques including the focus on a sense of place, thinking the opposite and artful prose. Details about the three basics of writing memoir also provide clarity when approaching these projects.
Touching on her sense of writing as a “sacred” way of coping with the sorrow and “brokenness” of the world, Writing, Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd is a non-fiction book of comfort and illumination for writers and readers.
Copyright 2026 by Andrea K. Hammer who has written book reviews and articles for international publications. Read additional book reviews on Artsphoria’s other sites.
