Book Review: The Sound of Paper

She splits her year between New York City and Arizona. I have been a fan since her first book and especially enjoyed "The Artist Way." I like to believe that I was one of the first to devour it page by page, exercise by exercise. Not just once but six times. Having studied with Julia through the years, not just in my pajamas but in workshops and one- on-one, I ponder how "The Sound of Paper" escaped my notice until last month.

One of Julia’s gifts for showing readers instead of telling them, I believe, begins with her perception. As a writer myself, I saw myself as a writer for some years. But Julia sees herself as an artist. And as I read the rhythmic cadence, I see Julia swaying in front of a large white canvas swirling colors on a brush getting ready to paint with words. A creator of language, of prose, singular words that say in just an instant what a picture says in a thousand brush strokes. Mona Lisa step aside.

Julia took a year’s worth of morning pages and spun them into this book, adding an exercise at the end of the chapters, and leaving off the table of contents, as if we wouldn't notice. It doesn't really matter though, her eloquence sent visions of possibilities for myself into my heart.

The exercises show us how to step beyond who we are or what we can accomplish as a writer. It is from here that one can make the transition to artist. At times the exercise seemed too simple and began to lull me to mindful meditation. Her words from earlier years, ones of trust, kicked me out of my trance and allowed me to place the ink onto the page. These resisting moments let go of the word writer and transferred my view to artist.

Julia shares her love for Manhattan and Taos and the music of Rogers and Hammerstein. She shares experiences about writing music and plays. In Taos, she shares too many chapters on its drought and how it compares to writer block. In frustration, I skipped several chapters because the drought was giving me drought.

You will enjoy this book, not as a fast read, but like a multi-vitamin -- one (chapter) a day. You can sit back, as if in a five-star restaurant, smile at the penguin-style waiter, place the satin napkin in your lap, and let the rhythm roll off the page onto your plate. The feast will definitely empower your artist view. A book worth keeping for additional takeout.