51 Comments

I have this book. It’s inspirational! Glad to see another writing teacher is enjoying it as much as I am.

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author

Yes! I’ve really enjoyed using it! Lots of good discussions!

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Oct 6Liked by Kelcey Ervick

This is absolutely amazing Kelcey! 😭

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author

Thanks, Jamal!

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Oct 6Liked by Kelcey Ervick

Tharp is indeed an inspiration!

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author

Yes, I'm enjoying having a book club of sorts with my students!

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Oct 6Liked by Kelcey Ervick

And I love the presentation!

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This is beautiful. Thank you and your students for sharing!!

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author

Thanks, Catie!

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Oct 5Liked by Kelcey Ervick

I read this book many years ago. I need to revisit it. I remember her talking about getting up and going to the gym, a habit she was religious about because it was an important part of dancing.

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author

Yes, she talks about that in the first couple of pages! And then she talks about the things that can get in the way of rituals like that: fears! So this came from the first chapter.

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Oct 5Liked by Kelcey Ervick

Good Stuff! Dump those fears and reframe them. I love it.

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author

Exactly! Thanks!

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Oct 5Liked by Kelcey Ervick

Love this, Kelcey. I enjoyed this book. I just read Twyla’s other book, Keep It Moving, which I thought was good as well.

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author

Oh I didn’t know about that one! I’ll check it out!

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This is truly awesome!

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This is fabulous! What an empowering exercise!

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author

Thank you! I see your IU logo. I teach at IU South Bend!

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I'm teaching a grad class called "The Writing Life" which is more about the philosophical approach to writing and how to be a writer in the world. I'm using "The Artist's Way" but if I teach it again I will consider the Tharp book, because I've read it and like it a lot.

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author

Ooh, I’d love to take that class with you! We talked about The Artist’s Way last week in class. You can’t go wrong with either of these books!

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So powerful. Twyla Tharp's book changed my life. She made me see that good writing can be taught, which made me realize that book coaching is a skill, which led me to the work I am doing today to set the standard for excellence in this new industry. I am forever indebted to this book. I'm so glad you are sharing it with more creative souls!

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author

Wow, that’s a powerful testimony! I had a similar experience with The Artist’s Way. After growing up as an athlete, that book helped me realize that being an Artist was a WAY, a series of actions and a mindset, and not a fixed identity in conflict with being an athlete. (I hope that sentence makes sense!) Any of us who are teachers or writers or artists have to believe that skills can be taught/learned! And that growth happens through habits!

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So interesting! We took away the same message from totally different kinds of books 🙌

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Oct 6Liked by Kelcey Ervick

Good job--it helps to get people thinking about their own creativity so we can break through the "my work sucks" mindset.

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author

Thank you! We are too quick to dismiss our work!

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Oct 6Liked by Kelcey Ervick

Love this!

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author

Thank you!

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Oct 6Liked by Kelcey Ervick

Our students never cease to amaze me. I’ve been teaching for >30 yrs now & it remains true. & it’s still a surprise whenever it happens again.

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author

Hell yeah! They are the best.

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Wow! So helpful, thank you for sharing with all of us.

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author

Thank you!

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