Writing Is My Drink: A Writer's Story of Finding Her Voice (and a Guide to How You Can Too) - Softcover

"Theo has a big heart and a real feel for the pain and craziness of human life."--Frank McCourt "bestselling author of Angela's Ashes "

"As keenly observed, wickedly funny and haunting as a fine novel, Nestor gives us a field guide to the writer's life and how to navigate it without losing hope. "Writing Is My Drink" fearlessly plumbs the coming of age of a writer in a tough market -- offering not just signposts but effective exercises that will get you out of your head and onto the page. Nestor's triumphs are hard won and yet accessible to authors of all persuasions; she finds a way to unleash your voice and still the negative chorus that all writers inevitably face on the road through rejection and doubt to publication. This is not just a How To, but a gripping memoir as icy and refreshing as a cool martini on a hot summer's day. If you buy only one book about the writing life, make it this one."--Suzanne Finnamore "author of Split: A Memoir of Divorce and Otherwise Engaged "

"For those feeling battered by writer's block, overwhelm, or self-doubt, this book is a magic carpet ride out of that muck and into wide-open, soul-connected creative flow, uncannily engaging for people who generally can't abide writing guides. And Nestor is a quietly captivating, intimate, healing storyteller--the best and rarest kind."--Candace Walsh, author of Licking the Spoon: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Identity

"If you don't like wisdom, then you probably shouldn't read this book. Also, if you hate good stories. Theo Pauline Nestor's beautifully useful book gives us necessary wisdom about writing, and in the offing she spins a great yarn about how she became the person she was meant to be."--Claire Dederer "New York Times bestselling author of Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses "

"In this thoughtful, yet practical guide, Theo Pauline Nestor will help writers find arguably the most elusive element of the memoir trade - finding one's voice on the page."--Kathleen Flinn "New York Times bestselling author of The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry "

"This is a book to savor, each delicious and thoroughly entertaining chapter revealing not just more of Theo's brilliance, but your own as well. For all those yearning to discover your own creative and unique inner literary genius, look no further. You've come home."--Katherine Woodward Thomas "bestselling author of Calling in "The One" "

"Self-expression is the new entertainment; consider the explosive growth of blogs, self-publishing, and NaNoWriMo! Increasingly, people recognize that creativity is an important element of happiness, and Writing Is My Drink by Theo Nestor will be the new Bird by Bird for the vast group of people looking for guidance and inspiration as they tackle their dream of being a writer."--Gretchen Rubin "New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project "

"Theo Nestor has an uncommon ability to evoke common yet very intense emotions. How to Sleep Alone in a King-Size Bed is smart, astringent, funny, precise, candid, and possesses not an ounce of self-pity."--David Shields "author of The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead "

Whether you’re aiming for a New York Times bestseller or a short personal essay to share with family and friends, a popular blogger and memoirist shows you the way in this witty writing guide and disarmingly candid account of discovering her own voice.

Whether you’re aiming for a New York Times bestseller or a short personal essay to share with family and friends, a popular blogger and memoirist shows you the way in this witty writing guide and disarmingly candid account of discovering her own voice.

“Theo Nestor is a writer who, I am positive, will be heard from,” wrote Pulitzer Prize–winning author Frank McCourt, and hear from her we do in this enthralling memoir that doubles as a witty and richly told writing guide. Yet the real promise in Writing Is My Drink lies in Nestor’s uncanny ability as a storyteller and teacher to make sure we’ll also hear from you, the reader. Brimming with stories from her own writing life, and paired with practical “Try This” sections designed to challenge and inspire, this disarmingly candid account of a writer’s search for her voice delivers charming, wise, and often hilarious guidance that will motivate writers at every stage of their careers.