“A rare and inspiring guide to writing from the soul.” - Alan Cohen, award-winning author of A Deep Breath of Life The Gifts of Writing is a deep exploration into the mystery, magic, and wonder at the heart of creativity. It’s filled with encouragement, practical advice, thoughtful questions, and gentle invitations to help you step into the creative process and discover the artist within. 200 Passages about Writing, Life, and Creativity (Plus 100 Writing Prompts) From overcoming the obstacles that stand in our way, to summoning inspiration to work on our behalf, to developing a consistent practice each day, The Gifts of Writing touches on both the spiritual and practical aspects of creativity. It explores topics that both aspiring and seasoned writers deal with every day, including: Why do we write? - Who can be a writer? - Where do we start? - How do we stay committed to it? - And how can we make writing a priority in this day and age when there are so many other demands and distractions? A Book for the Awakening Artist in Everyone… This book is for anyone who is: Seeking to deepen and expand their writing practice and grow as a writer. - Experiencing resistance and having a hard time getting started and/or feeling creatively blocked. - Interested in using writing as a tool for creative exploration, self-discovery, healing, and growth. Interested in writing as a spiritual practice that can lead to greater peace, clarity, and awareness. - Wanting to grow their creative practice beyond writing – to include artful living. - A fan of works by Julia Cameron, Natalie Goldberg, Annie Dillard, Anne Lamott, Mark Nepo, Madeleine L’Engle, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and Mary Oliver. “The Gifts of Writing is masterfully written with love and a true passion for the mystery of our own ability to create.” - Mike Dooley, New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Possibilities "Words have incredible power to heal and transform us. They help us feel and face things, enliven and stir things within us. They are an expression of our human art; who we are. Hope Koppelman is an art whisperer who makes art of her prose. Born surrounded by art and artists -- it is the language she speaks. For years, she has made art of the work of others -- and finally, she births her own. The Gifts of Writing is the soul kiss to the art and the artist within each of us that we have all been waiting for. It is our permission slip and our prayer to step in and claim our inner writer -- and to get our words out." - Kristen Noel, Editor-in-Chief Best Self Magazine "In the ways that Julia Cameron and Mark Nepo have revealed the sacred possibilities that lie within the written word, so too does Hope Koppelman take us on a journey with her debut book, The Gifts of Writing. Masterfully written with love and a true passion for the mystery of our ability to create." - Mike Dooley, New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Possibilities "Hope Koppelman's heart and vision shine through this rare and inspiring guide to writing from the soul. I am deeply inspired by the sensitivity that Hope masterfully displays in her many well-thought-out and highly stimulating perspectives on using writing as a tool to deliver healing and transformation not just to readers, but to the writer as well. If you are a writer or are thinking about becoming one, this will serve as a valued and trustworthy companion as you share your most cherished ideas, and grow through the process. Highly recommended!" - Alan Cohen, award-winning author of A Deep Breath of Life Hope Koppelman has devoted her life to writing as a spiritual practice. Inside her debut book,  The Gifts of Writing,  you will find her most evocative insights on writing, life, and spirituality. She weaves together stories and observations about writing, while examining the writer's role in the world and showing us how and why creativity is essential to life.