Holy bowl of awesome sauce, this book is incredible!
I’ve read countless books on poetic form and theory in various undergraduate and graduate writing workshops. I did a six-week retreat in Ireland with some of the best writers across two continents. I’ve picked the brains of nearly every professional writer I’ve ever met. The simple truth is that this is the best book on writing poetry in print. Mindy doesn’t just unpack the writing process, she sets the curtain on fire and shatters the looking glass; she tears down the fourth wall.
Glitter in the Blood is not a one-dimensional manifesto of one woman’s journey into the poetic. It’s an unbridled and vulnerable dialogue with the reader. Mindy walks the reader through every poem, from prompt to brainstorming to first draft to revision. She invites you into the thought process and, at times, leaves an actual map of her cognitive leaps for you to follow. I came away with a better understanding of writing, but also a better understanding of myself. This is more than a book on writing – you’ll learn fascinating tidbits about feminism, coming of age in a patriarchal society, the economy, and plenty more.
Not convinced? Consider this: I’m a public school teacher at one of the poorest schools in our state, and I’m already taking the steps to buy a class set with my own money just to get this book into my students’ hands.
Don’t just get better at poems. Get better at life. Get this book.
