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A Writer's San Francisco: A Guided Journey for the Creative Soul
Every writer needs a simpatico environment to be productive, and what better place than that mecca of creativity, San Francisco? The city by the bay has been home to generations of writers, from Rudyard Kipling to Mark Twain to Armistead Maupin. In this lively book, Eric Maisel gives writers the guidance they need to take a literal or figurative soul-renewing sojourn to San Francisco. Maisel, one of America’s foremost creativity coaches, explores the how and why of making an artistic pilgrimage to the city, including the pesky problem of finding the perfect pied-a-terre for writing that elusive masterpiece. Thirty individual essays profile the best sections of the city for pumping up the juices (“The View from Bernal Hill,” “South of Market”), noted literati of the past (“Mark Twain and the Onion”), how to find the perfect landlord, dealing with those inspiration-inhibiting earthquake fears, and much more.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2006
About the author
Eric Maisel
134 books155 followersEric Maisel, Ph.D., is the author of more than 40 books in the areas of creativity, coaching, mental health, and cultural trends. He is a psychotherapist and creativity coach, and writes for Psychology Today and Professional Artist Magazine and presents workshops internationally.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 28, 2014
Living in San Francisco and specifically, writing in San Francisco for the past two years, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. (I must say that the pretty artistic rendition of Nob Hill lured me to pick it up in the first place) Slim as it may look, the book is actually a meaty, profound read, something that can be read in a few hours, but whose effects will last for years together. Dr. Maisel, who happens to be a creativity coach by profession, pours his heart out into why loves this amazing city, and his brain into how he helps his clients to get out of the doomed “writer’s block”. While it may not be as inspiring as Stephen King’s On Writing, the beauty of the book lies in a treasure chest of phrases and quotations that manages to thrill me at an emotional level.
Quoting Dr. Maisel :
"I am an urban writer by nature. My true homes are Paris, London, New York, Tokyo and San Francisco. I need cafes, video stores that stock independent films, and bars where everyone is an outsider. I need bookstores, small parks with a comforting glimpse of the concrete beyond, and markets filled with people speaking languages I don’t understand."
“(When) the writer says, ‘I love San Francisco’, he loves the iconography of the Summer of Love, Free Speech Movement and Jefferson Airplane. The writer loves the fog as it pours in; he loves the sun when the fog pours out.”
"The rest of California is Beach Boys country, but San Francisco has that moody thing going, those blues notes wrapped in moisture, an atmosphere that tempers California dreaming and makes life more real."
"It is a trick of dualistic thinking to say that only the poor writer, steeled in the streets, will write, or that only the comfortable writer, not worried about starving, will continue to write. The fact of the matter is that the only writer who will write is the writer who writes. He will write one-armed, blind or with a billion in the bank. He will write in a good suit or naked at his makeshift desk."
Quoting Dr. Maisel :
"I am an urban writer by nature. My true homes are Paris, London, New York, Tokyo and San Francisco. I need cafes, video stores that stock independent films, and bars where everyone is an outsider. I need bookstores, small parks with a comforting glimpse of the concrete beyond, and markets filled with people speaking languages I don’t understand."
“(When) the writer says, ‘I love San Francisco’, he loves the iconography of the Summer of Love, Free Speech Movement and Jefferson Airplane. The writer loves the fog as it pours in; he loves the sun when the fog pours out.”
"The rest of California is Beach Boys country, but San Francisco has that moody thing going, those blues notes wrapped in moisture, an atmosphere that tempers California dreaming and makes life more real."
"It is a trick of dualistic thinking to say that only the poor writer, steeled in the streets, will write, or that only the comfortable writer, not worried about starving, will continue to write. The fact of the matter is that the only writer who will write is the writer who writes. He will write one-armed, blind or with a billion in the bank. He will write in a good suit or naked at his makeshift desk."
March 26, 2014
Please read my brief review here: http://realbooks4ever.tumblr.com/post...
December 28, 2019
Cute book. Read it at a cafe.
May 25, 2024
Sweet, encouraging, charming, and inspiring. Made me miss the times before TikTok and wonder about how everything is different now.
January 4, 2013
I bought this book because of my love for San Francisco and deep admiration for a number of San Francisco literary figures from the past. I was hoping there would be lots of resources for places I could go visit and sort of "catch the San Francisco writing vibe."
The book did have its merits but it wasn't at all what I expected.
I learned quite a bit about Eric Maisel and his process which is interesting considering he is such a prolific writer. I literally just returned from his neighborhood two days ago, though I didn't bring his book with me on this visit or I would have poked around that particular neighborhood more.
I do enjoy Maisel's concept opf the "bohemian international highway" and adore the thought of a writing sojourn in San Francisco. I might, if I were writing such a book, suggest places to sublet an apartment for a month of writing. I might include a list of resources such as tiny neighborhood parks with incredible views to bring your notebook along (no mention of my favorite park named for the first Poet Laureate of Californian and San Franciscan Ina Coolbrith was almost too much for me to bear.)
The chapter about the Green Apple was one I hoped would talk a lot about the legendary book store, instead it was a short chapter on performance and readings.
Even with my complaints about the shortcomings, I feel compelled to re-read this book before my next visit to San Francisco, underlining and plucking out the pieces that have meaning for me as a writer rather than simply "writer in love with San Francisco seeking writerly spaces to romance." For that, I will check out Ploughshares Literary Boroughs blog instead... (which I am attempting to link - otherwise google it!
The book did have its merits but it wasn't at all what I expected.
I learned quite a bit about Eric Maisel and his process which is interesting considering he is such a prolific writer. I literally just returned from his neighborhood two days ago, though I didn't bring his book with me on this visit or I would have poked around that particular neighborhood more.
I do enjoy Maisel's concept opf the "bohemian international highway" and adore the thought of a writing sojourn in San Francisco. I might, if I were writing such a book, suggest places to sublet an apartment for a month of writing. I might include a list of resources such as tiny neighborhood parks with incredible views to bring your notebook along (no mention of my favorite park named for the first Poet Laureate of Californian and San Franciscan Ina Coolbrith was almost too much for me to bear.)
The chapter about the Green Apple was one I hoped would talk a lot about the legendary book store, instead it was a short chapter on performance and readings.
Even with my complaints about the shortcomings, I feel compelled to re-read this book before my next visit to San Francisco, underlining and plucking out the pieces that have meaning for me as a writer rather than simply "writer in love with San Francisco seeking writerly spaces to romance." For that, I will check out Ploughshares Literary Boroughs blog instead... (which I am attempting to link - otherwise google it!
November 12, 2008
Some of Eric Maisel's writing books really work for me, and some of them leave me cold. This one was kind of in the middle.
It isn't nearly as inspiring as "A Writer's Paris," perhaps because Maisel lives more of his life in San Francisco than in Paris. The Paris book inspired me to go spend three weeks in France last year and play at being an ex-pat writer for a week of that time.
This book doesn't quite reach the same elevation. But it does have a few choice pieces of advice. There's always something in his writing books that really hits the nail on the head for me, and this time it had to do with keeping the desire to write alive. When working on long pieces, rekindling the passion is essential.
Also, he's always, always a great proponent of writing in order to get writing done. Not running off, not taking a class, not starting a new MFA. Just writing.
Oh, and the illustrations are loving and fabulous.
It isn't nearly as inspiring as "A Writer's Paris," perhaps because Maisel lives more of his life in San Francisco than in Paris. The Paris book inspired me to go spend three weeks in France last year and play at being an ex-pat writer for a week of that time.
This book doesn't quite reach the same elevation. But it does have a few choice pieces of advice. There's always something in his writing books that really hits the nail on the head for me, and this time it had to do with keeping the desire to write alive. When working on long pieces, rekindling the passion is essential.
Also, he's always, always a great proponent of writing in order to get writing done. Not running off, not taking a class, not starting a new MFA. Just writing.
Oh, and the illustrations are loving and fabulous.
April 30, 2014
I thought this was going to be more about finding inspiration in San Francisco, about places to find stories and to write them. That's not what it turned out to be, although it touches those topics. It's more about the author's personal relationships with the City and writing in it. Part love poem to San Francisco, part affirmations about writing, and part personal essays about the writer himself, the book is worth reading. There's good stuff here. I think it can benefit writers who don't know the City very well, but that's hard for me to judge. Those of us who do, will find plenty to relate to.
It's a slim book and a light read, probably overpriced for its size, but it is an enjoyable exploration of how Place affects a writer. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think if affected me much (time will tell) and I suspect one time through was enough.
It's a slim book and a light read, probably overpriced for its size, but it is an enjoyable exploration of how Place affects a writer. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think if affected me much (time will tell) and I suspect one time through was enough.
December 23, 2013
My brother bought this book on his first visit to San Fransisco and gave it to me as a present. I thus thought it would be appropriate to read it during my first visit to San Fransisco. I thought the book was an overview of writers and their connection to the city. Turns out it is the authors personal experience and his writing habits. He does provide some insightful information about the city and great suggestions regarding literary related spots but other than that i thought the novel was too personal, biased and self-promoting for my taste.
April 18, 2010
Wasn't what I was expecting it to be...though, I don't really know what I was expecting, really. A book about one writer's journey with San Francisco as a backdrop rather than an actual character in the book (and perhaps this is what I was expecting). Short, easy chapters which do not have to be read in order.
July 9, 2012
This book reminds you that the written word is important and that you should take every opportunity to write! Maisel sets this group of essays in San Francisco encouraging creativity with its many neighborhoods as inspiration. The real bonus to this book is its artwork, drawings by Paul Madonna. He is one of my favorites and his work truly captures the essence of my home town, San Francisco.
January 6, 2011
sort of cheesy self-help So You Wanna Be A Writer? vibe never really goes away, but some of the book is kinda endearing. I'm not quite in the apparent target audience of people-moving-to-San-Francisco-in-hopes-of-writing-their-first-novel, but I don't so much mind being treated as if I am.
December 1, 2016
This book was a comfort to me and made me super proud of being a Californian. Highly recommend if you reside in the great state of California, ESPECIALLY NorCal. Extremely well-written and stands for everything red states stand against.
June 7, 2022
Another gem of a book written by one of my favorite authors. San Francisco is open and accessible in this book. Not so much of a how-to, but it shows how San Francisco is such a great city to live and write in.
September 10, 2009
This book is a keeper. As a former San Franciscan, the illustrations of SF settings by Paul Madonna made Maisel's writerly reflections and direction resonate all the more with me.
September 23, 2010
Nice drawings of San Fran, interesting insights into its intellectual history and beatnic past, a few writing tips here and there but not much else.
October 25, 2010
This book is very fun, quick, and inspiring. The illustrations are great. It made me excited to start writing again. I highly recommend it even if you have no particular feelings about San Francisco.
November 27, 2010
This book is about Eric Maisel, who lives in San Francisco. Some great observations about the city but, ultimately, this is a book of self-reflective essays.
December 17, 2011
A calm and reassuring meditation on writing, life, and the life of writers.
February 21, 2008
It inspired me to write and reminded me of why I live in the city.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews