Discover America’s greatest writing teacher

The Essential Don Murray: Lessons from America’s Greatest Writing Teacher is required reading for all business professionals considering writing a book to drive prospects to their business or promote their brand.

University of New Hampshire colleagues Thomas Newkirk and Lisa C. Miller have assembled a living portrait of Don Murray and his lifelong explorations into the mysteries of the writer’s craft.

Their research included dozens of Don’s articles, books, essays, newspaper columns, and–most  important–his personal daybooks, or journals.

During his life, Don write primarily to professionals, journalists and educators who shared his passion for teaching others how to write. As a result, he was better known to his peers and his students than the general public.

The only exception is the decades of loyal readers of his Over 60 column in the Sunday Boston Globe which generations of New Englanders looked forward to each week.

Don loved writing and writers. As revealed in The Essential Don Murray, he was a lifelong conversationalist always interested in others he met, regardless where he met them.

When he encountered a waitress who wanted to write, the next day he’d return with photocopied articles for her to read.

Why you’ll love this book

Don was a “writer’s writer.” He understood the angst and joys shared by writers throughout history.

You’ll feel he knew you personally as he describes the ups and downs of the writing process, and the  continuing thrill of discovery that writing provides.

He was also a master simplifier, impatient with intellectualism, and able to boil complex truths to simple, memorable statements that are often read with a grin and a nod of agreement, as the following illustrates:

• Writing is primarily not a matter of talent, of dedication, of vision, of vocabulary, of style, but simply a matter of sitting. The writer is a person who writes.
• All writing is experimental, and the writer must come to the point where drafts are attempted in the writer’s head and on paper.
• There will be no second draft without a first.

As you’ll see when you read The Essential Don Murray, Don endlessly studied other writers, as well as himself, in order to better understand the process. He never took his writing for granted, and marveled at the self discoveries revealed by his observations of his own behavior while writing.

In other, less experienced hands, “analyzing writing during the process of writing” would have resulted in self-obsessed drivel.

As revealed in The Essential Don Murray, however, Don observations revealed the humanity of someone we’d all like to have gotten to know better. This book is as much a story as it is a book you’ll learn from and act upon.

…the book to get

This is the book to get if you want to take your ability to enjoy and profit from writing to the next level. Read it, underline it, and enjoy it. You’ll undoubtedly re-read it. But, you’ll welcome the changes it encourages in your attitude and approach to writing.