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Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within

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In her fifteen years of teaching, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett has found that the biggest stumbling block for aspiring writers (especially women) is not fear of the blank page but frustration with the lack of time. What woman doesn't have too much to do and too little time? Finding an hour free of work, children, or obligations can seem impossible.

But anyone can find fifteen minutes, whether you're sitting in traffic, waiting at a child's soccer practice, or watching the coffee drip. DeMarco-Barrett has created a practical, inspirational guide for fitting serious writing into those stolen moments. She offers writing exercises and techniques for generating ideas, as well as pragmatic advice from the well-known authors who appear on her radio show. With fifteen minutes a day, she can help you to ignite your pen and become the writer you have always wanted to be.

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

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About the author

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

8 books135 followers
I host "Writers on Writing," podcast wherever you get your podcast and on www.penonfire.com. My first book, Pen on Fire (originally published by Harcourt; reprinted by Mars Street Press). Short stories USA noir: Best of the Akashic Noir Series, Coolest American Stories, 2023, Rock and a Hard Place, Literary Hatchet, and more. My most recent book is Palm Springs Noir (Akashic), which I edited and contributed a story to. I teach at Gotham Writers Workshop, Saddleback College's Emeritus Institute, and privately. My last published short story, "Rowboat," (Kelp Journal, Dec. 2023) was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

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5 stars
206 (37%)
4 stars
196 (35%)
3 stars
119 (21%)
2 stars
20 (3%)
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10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Lisa Montanaro.
Author 1 book138 followers
February 16, 2017
Great book all about how to find time to write, how to find content to write about, and how to live the life of a writer, etc. I love how accessible the material was, and comprehensive. Some may say that the book is too basic, but I loved how the author covered everything. It was organized into different sections which made it very easy to follow. It took me months to read because I did all of the exercises as I went along. It includes so many wonderful writing prompts that I may incorporate into my writing process. I can see myself going back to this book over and over like an old trusted writing friend. If you are a writer, or interested in becoming a writer, I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Matthew.
1 review
December 30, 2007
When you read through this book and get to the end of every section you will want to write someting down about that chapter and the memory that it stirred up....You have to pace yourself through this book and keep a journal with you as writing ideas will pop up....wonderful read...going through it again....
Profile Image for Ciara.
Author 3 books371 followers
November 22, 2009
i wasn't crazy about the title of this book, because it seemed kind of narrow & gimmicky. this impression was strengthened by the cover design, which riffs on "chick lit" & seems geared for a demographic that i prefer not to include myself in. but i gave the book a shot anyway, & i'm glad i did because i really liked it! i have a weakness for books about writing (read about other people's writing processes, tricks, tips, ideas, & exercises always helps me feel creative & inspired), but they can be hit or miss & not all of them are applicable to the kind of writing i do. there are a lot of books about fiction writing out there, which is tough for me because i don't write fiction. i usually try to adapt ideas for the kind of writing i do, but i didn't really have to do that with this book because it struck a nice balance of having practical advice one can apply to just about any form of writing. the writing exercises were clever & useful, covering all stages of the writing process, & the author draws on her many interviews & conversations with working published authors to ask what works for them & how they respond to conventional wisdom about writing. the underlying premise of the book is that, in order to be a writer, you have to write, & that means writing when you can--not just when you feel motivated or inspired. i think this is very good advice.

this book gets the ultimate compliment: even though i initially checked it out of the library, i liked it enough that i bought my own copy.
76 reviews
August 21, 2017
The good read "I'm finished" button doesn't really do it for me, because this classic is constantly by my bedside and on my desk, waiting to inspire, instruct and encourage me every time I open it. I first read it as a less-experienced writing loner. Now I am part of a regular writing group and have way more confidence. Still, I find that this volume is as essential as my reading glasses are. It goes from bedside, to car, to purse to beach bag, a consistent companion on the writing journey with me.
2 reviews
October 25, 2007
On first read through, found that it is a good read for men also; good insight and great tips for getting started in writing as a hobby or career.
6 reviews7 followers
May 9, 2014
Loved this book! It has so much practical advice for writers, regardless if you are a woman or not. This book has been essential for me in starting my writing journey.
14 reviews
August 27, 2023
This had really good tips in it but there was so much around them. Maybe it's just me and the fact that I was in a time crunch to finish it but I had such a hard time reading it and would want to just skip to the tips but would feel bad about not reading the rest.
Profile Image for Wendi Lau.
434 reviews31 followers
March 29, 2020
“Think about what you wish for and imagine how you’d like your life to be in six months, a year, five years from now…Now set your timer for fifteen minutes and write down your ideal scenario…If you can’t see yourself as a writer, how will you ever find your way there?” Loved this Set Your Timer exercise early on in the book.

Throughout the book, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett urges writers to set aside tiny blocks of time to devote to their passion. Despite all our responsibilities, we can eke out just 15 minutes for ourselves.

Like other books, Pen covers listening to our surroundings for inspiration and dialogue, creating a writing space, applying writing craft, revising, etc., but it also gives specific direction if you need ideas to fill the daily 15-minute window, which will hopefully grow to more.

This book is a great start for people who want to write but feel they don’t have the time. For people who don’t know what to write about. For those who aren’t sure they have what it takes.

Every journey starts with a few steps, and then a few more. DeMarco-Barrett encourages readers to expose bits of their writing soul a little at a time. A reader/writer will increase the time as she takes ownership of her writing and frees the writer within.
Profile Image for Djrmel.
724 reviews34 followers
September 3, 2009
Every writer occasionally needs someone to give them the reality check that the only way to get something written is to actually do some writing. DeMarco-Barrett's book is that along with a bunch of helpful ideas on where to find the time to write, how you might want to organize that time as well as your thoughts, and how not to feel quite so guilty about taking the time. I think the "busy woman's portion of the title might be a bit out dated, though, because I know lots of men who are just as involved in the mundane aspects of business and family and don't think they have the time to answer the call of their muse.

The book works off of one premise: that everyone has 15 minutes here and there through out their day that could be used for writing. It expounds on how to add those 15 minute gaps into bigger chunks of time by cutting the internet cord, turning off the television (although I don't think she's aware that television can be a window as well as a wall), and changing your surroundings. There are writing exercises at the end of each chapter that make use of the skill set she's introduced, and again, there's a repetitive thread, this time it's freewriting.

So, why the high stars if the book is shallow on new ideas and excercises? Because the one idea that she hammers home again and again, the only person stopping you from writing is yourself, is one of the truest trueisms ever stated about self-expression.
Profile Image for Meg Wheeler.
35 reviews6 followers
June 3, 2016
I was so pumped to read this book. Upon first glance, this was going to be THE book. I loved the title - "Pen on Fire" - I pictures a Rocky-type scene where I'm bouncing around on both feet, hands in the air, ready to write magical works that launch me into being a bestselling author.

The actuality of this book, however, was somewhat disappointing. The writing itself never clicked for me - perhaps it was a preference but I just didn't enjoy the author's style of storytelling. I also felt like the advice she gave was overly personal and somewhat obvious. Not to say that obvious is always bad - often times, it helps to have the obvious put right in front of you as a reminder that the simplest answers are often the best. But I went into reading this book expecting to be motivated, engaged, excited and launched full steam into writing, and instead I found myself skimming sentences and skipping pages. Given that the book is meant to help busy women find time to write, a part of me wishes I had spent my time writing instead of reading this book! That said, I'm always hesitant to slam a book simply because I don't like it or because it doesn't have the effect on me that I desired. This book may work well for others looking for a guide to building a life of writing amidst "real" work, family, chores and life.
2 reviews
November 13, 2010
I can relate to so much of this book it's ridiculous. I am always amazed at how women who are so much busier than I am can find time to write. If they can do it, I can certainly do it too! I read through this book the first time and didn't do the exercises that are at the end of each chapter, but I am now re-reading it and doing each of the exercises as I go. This book is so motivating!
Profile Image for Cyn.
600 reviews4 followers
September 25, 2011
What a *great* book - highly motivational, crisply written, just so well done overall. It's written specifically for women, but I highly recommend this to anyone who's either interested in writing or already a writer themselves. Wonderful read.
Profile Image for LS Schulz.
162 reviews
May 18, 2017
This was my second time through "Pen on Fire". The first time I just read it to see what I thought of the advice inside. I enjoyed it enough during my first read through to realize that I'd actually like to try my pen at completing the writing exercises within. That is what I did this time. While I doubt it would take a person this long to finish the book if they worked on an exercise a day, it took me this long because, sadly, I did not always complete an exercise daily. I am happy, however, to finally be able to say I have finished working my way through it. Yay!

There was good advice in here. The exercises were interesting and some of them challenging, because they were focused on something I don't generally write about, but I worked my way through them anyhow. If you are looking for something to help get your creativity flowing and perhaps to help you start a writing habit, Pen on Fire may be the book for you.
Profile Image for Chandrashekar BC.
65 reviews8 followers
October 19, 2017
Wonderful book. There are tons of books on how to write, but this rare books guides you how to find time to write in your busy life. For the famous question "How to write?" the answers can fill an ocean. There can't be a single books, which can effectively guides you on all aspects of writing. All though this book covers all aspects of writing (ex: creative thinking, Crafting, plot, scene, dialogs, POV, marketing etc..) the main objective is to help you to find time to wirte. To help you to stop procrastinating your writing and start immediately. All those 15 minutes tips which are given at the end of each chapter are really worth exercising.( At least we must attempt few). The tips and tricks suggested by author is practical and possible. The book is easy to read and easy to grasp. Go read it !! and start writing. Yes you are a writer !
Profile Image for Luckylyn86.
560 reviews66 followers
February 18, 2023
If you're just beginning your writing journey then this book is for you, especially if you're a woman that seems to have a million things on her plate. This book offers short bits of advice on every facet of writing--from craft to tools to obstacles--in quick, easy to digest chapters. It also offers a variety of unique 15 minute writing prompts that any writer can use. Overall, it made me think of a lot of different aspects of my writing without the text being too dense or complex which was exactly what I was looking for. The more I pick up books like this, the less alone and terrified I feel in this adventure I've begun to write my own novel.
Profile Image for Patrice.
42 reviews
November 24, 2020
Pen on Fire is not a book to read front-to-back and be done. It is to be absorbed, marked up and kept on a shelf nearby to reference again and again. DeMarco-Barrett has gleamed wisdom from many fellow writers and written an easy to understand guide. Her short, to-the-point chapters are well-grounded and easy to read whenever you have a few minutes. I found the fifteen minute exercises helpful to solidify the content as I pursue my own writings. Pen on Fire is easily at the top of my list of books to reference with it's organization and valuable guidance.
Profile Image for Tanja.
514 reviews8 followers
July 9, 2017
I don't know what I expected with this book but I only made it to page 27 before I got to the point where I just can't go on. There are some writing "exercises" that sound interesting but I'm not one of those people who always have a pen and a scrap of paper with them at all times. And with my current job at a busy doctor's office I'm so tired after work that it's much easier to sit down with a good novel and read a few pages before I drift off to sleep at the end of the day.
Profile Image for Diane Dreher.
Author 23 books44 followers
January 2, 2022
Terrific book, filled with stories and insights on creativity, the writing process, navigating challenges from distractions to rejection, and maintaining our passion and writing commitment. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for DMuse.
424 reviews
August 23, 2020
Excellent book! I found it at the library and then I had to buy it. It got me writing so much! I still refer to it over and over again
Profile Image for Candi Sary.
Author 5 books137 followers
April 28, 2023
“You can’t undo what’s been done to you, but you can make some sense of it through writing.”
I’ve been listening to Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s writing show ‘Writers on Writing’ for years, and I don’t know how I hadn’t yet read her book until now. I found it so inspiring! The chapters are really short, and each one dives into a specific aspect of writing. She offers her wisdom along with quotes from other authors, and tells personal stories that give the book such color (her stories are so entertaining I’m hoping she writes a memoir one day!) Then each chapter ends with a 15 minute writing exercise. It’s the kind of book that speaks to both beginner and seasoned writers. I know I will read it again when I need a spark of inspiration.
Profile Image for Cathy.
186 reviews27 followers
March 20, 2011
This was an excellent book for women writers everywhere. Who doesn't need help learning how to do any task in a short amount of time? We all lead full and busy lives especialy in today's fast paced society where we have become so accustomed to everything (literally) at the touch of a button. Barabara Demarco-Bennett's novel Pen on Fire eloquently and succintly teaches writers how to hone their craft in the shortest amounts of time possible. Written in seven parts divided by topics such as craft, tools & rituals, living the life, overcoming obstacles and mining your life, each chapter tackles one of the many controversial topics every writer wants to know about on how to improve your writing, how to make the most of your time, where to find and how to use inspiration and what to do once you've written your first draft. Each chapter starts with an inspirational quote by famous authors and notables and concludes with a 15-minute exercise to try on your own. I would definitely recommend this one to all my writer friends, whether you are just starting your journey or have been writing all along, this was an inspirational, motivational and educational handbook on the craft of writing.
18 reviews
November 15, 2011
“Pen On Fire: a busy woman’s guide to igniting the writer within” is a great reference book for aspiring writers and for busy writers who feel they lack adequate time to write. I picked this book up because my life became very hectic and I thought it could help in getting me back into writing by showing how to fit in time to write. Barrett offers great insight on how manage your time and busy schedule to incorporate a few minutes of writing each day. The chapter “trusting fear” is a chapter that shouldn’t be overlooked. Barrett writes “if you are a worrier, rather than fretting away the day or eating too much or calling your friends your tales of woe, write. Writing helps diffuse worry, helps you become more rational and see worry for what it is” (215). This book helps you to realize that wasting time being frustrated with the fact that you have no time to write is actually the time you should be writing. In order to improve my own writing, I need to write and this book has helped just that. It not only helps you to organize your time but also helps you work on your craft, generate ideas, and gets your creative juices flowing again.
Profile Image for Jessica Snell.
Author 4 books33 followers
January 23, 2014
I just finished this (quite enjoyed it, too!), and while I'd like to go back and take a closer look at some of the exercises, I first wanted to jot down a couple of quotations from it that I particularly liked:

"Good first lines hook the reader. They also hook the writer."

So true! Get a first line intriguing enough, and you can't help but write the rest.

And I appreciated this, an excerpt from an interview with Jodi Picoult:

"When I write, I never feel particularly creative. Instead, I see a succession of scenes in my head that, apparently, it's my job to translate into words so that everyone else can see them, too."

That's exactly how it feels to me, but I've never heard it put so well.

"Pen on Fire" was a nice surprise I happened upon during the holiday season. It was interesting but still easy-going, and exactly what I was in the mood for.
Profile Image for Jenny Mckeel.
46 reviews6 followers
September 28, 2009
My mother gave me this book a few years ago, as kind of a creative writing self-help how-to book. It wasn't great, and is geared for people who are trying to get started with creative writing and trying to fit it around an already full life, which isn't my situation. But I actually got a lot out of it. The last half of the book has a lot of good pep-talk wisdom about coping with rejection, sticking with writing projects for the long haul, and that sort of thing. There were also some exercises and ideas that I thought would be helpful for teaching undergraduates about creative writing.
Profile Image for Susan Wyler.
Author 2 books19 followers
Read
September 21, 2013
This book lends comfort to those struggling to write, through helpful reminders and tasks, and lots of quotes from accomplished modern writers who share their own frustrations. I advocate writing for writing's sake, believe that everyone would benefit from keeping a journal, but I don't think most people who want to write a book are called to be writers.
If you can live without writing, maybe it's better to do that. I worry that we're inclined toward mediocrity, with so much written, everything in a hurry.
Deep writing takes quiet, emptiness, and great swaths of time.
Profile Image for Karen (Living Unabridged).
1,081 reviews56 followers
December 12, 2013
Fabulous advice. Helpful writing exercises. Encouragement. A reminder that we don't have to have huge chunks of time or a retreat in order to write.

(One quibble: there is nothing in this book that wouldn't also apply to a man, but I guess that's not how they wanted to market it. Men might want to wrap the cover in brown paper and read without shame. Or you could always say you were just holding it for your wife.)

Recommended for: those who want to write, those who are writing but need more encouragement and those who would like to improve their writing.
Profile Image for Sidra.
161 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2011
First, I need to say, I am not the demographic for which this book was written, so take my review with a grain of salt. I thought the first part of the book was slow and nothing too unique about it, but towards the middle I enjoyed the chapters and felt there were many good prompts and suggestions. It slowed down again for me at the end. I do like the author's writing style so I'll probably pick up a few of her other titles.
Profile Image for Cindy Miller.
6 reviews
October 22, 2023
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett gives actionable advice to anyone who would like to add more writing to their life. She makes it very doable for the busy person who wants to be more creative but feels like they don't have the time. She also has a podcast "Writers on Writing" where she interviews authors and delves deep into their writing process. Very insightful.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Profile Image for Beth Lind.
1,195 reviews43 followers
December 17, 2013
3.5 stars. It had some good advice within the pages -- but not a lot that really applied specifically for women. Most of the advice was just about getting into the habit of writing (which is apparently harder for me than I'd like to admit). Overall, a good pep talk with lots of writing prompts that seem good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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