5 Books To Inspire You To Keep Going
Getting those words down on paper isn’t always easy. There are moments when it can feel like we’re in a fight with ourselves. It can feel like we are battling to find those words, to muster enough creativity to get started, or to keep going.
Sometimes, this means we need to take a break. Other times, we may need encouragement. But more often than not, a little dose of inspiration can be just the thing to push us forward. To keep us going. And the best place to find this inspiration? Books, of course. That’s why here at Derbyshire Writing School, we’ve put together a list of five amazing books to inspire you to keep going.
Whether you need encouragement to finish your poem or a reminder of the creativity you possess, these books will offer support and inspiration. We hope you love them as much as we do!
5 Books To Inspire You To Keep Going
1. The Courage To Be Creative – Doreen Virtue
“Have you ever felt a calling to engage in a creative activity or to make creativity a larger part of your life? Have you always wanted to share a message with the world, inspire others, or make positive changes in society? Do you often get ideas about exciting projects, but rarely follow through?
It takes courage to be creative, and, usually, the bigger your life purpose, the louder your fears. In this book, bestselling author Doreen Virtue shares insights from her 20 years of creative, prolific output.”
Some of our favourite inspirational quotes from this book include:
“Having a desire for your creation to accurately and authentically express your feelings is a more realistic intention than trying to create a “perfect” product or service.”
“Once you figure out what you want to express, be bold. Don’t hold back, and certainly don’t dilute your message. Don’t overanalyze or overthink the “realness” out of your creation. Go for it!”
“Inspiration is like falling in love. It can’t be controlled or predicted, but it can be set things up so that the odds are in your favour. Like love, you know when it happens.”
2. The Right To Write – Julia Cameron
“For those jumping into the writing life for the first time and for those already living it, the art of writing will never be the same after reading this book. Provocative, thoughtful and exciting, The Right to Write will draw you back again and again as you seek to liberate and cultivate the writer residing within you.”
Some of our favourite inspirational quotes from this book include:
“Writing is about honesty. It is almost impossible, to be honest, and boring at the same time.”
“The writing life may strike you as “unimaginable.” It may seem too hard, too daunting, too confrontational. Like the rocky field, it may look like too much work. But the rewards are solid. The gains are real. And on any given day, you need only do an honest day’s words and the rest will follow.”
“A certain amount of writing, like a certain amount of miles, keeps the artistic athlete happy and fit.”
3. Letter to My Younger Self: 100 Inspiring People on the Moments That Shaped Their Lives – Jane Graham
“If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would it say? Over 10 years ago, The Big Issue began to ask some of the best-known, most interesting and most successful figures in entertainment, politics, food, sport and business to give advice, offer hope and share a few jokes with their younger selves. They opened up, in ways they never had, to interviewer Jane Graham, reflecting on their lives and themselves with affection, sympathy and sometimes disbelief.
Letter to My Younger Self is a revelatory and profound exploration into the wit and wisdom that age brings, and of the unique insights that looking back can reveal.”
Some of our favourite inspirational quotes from this book include:
Alice Cooper – “When you’re a long-distance runner you never stop. You have this mindset: this race is not over until I’ve won or crossed the finish line.’
Tracey Emin – “When someone tells you that you can’t do something because you haven’t got the right qualifications, understand that there’s always an alternative way of doing things. For example, when I was 17, I was told I would never be able to go to university because I didn’t have O-Levels, but I managed to get a portfolio together and I learned to draw, and even though I didn’t have the qualifications, my determination showed I had conviction in what I wanted to do.”
Bear Grylls – “I would also tell my younger self not to fear failure. I went to Eton, and like lots of schools it was a bit of a survival exercise – especially if you weren’t naturally sporty or super clever, and I was neither. So many kids around me – and I was the same – were terrified of doing anything different, in the class or on the sports field. We never took risks. But that’s the opposite of life, where you have to forge your own path, embrace risk and prepare to get things wrong.”
4. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy
“Charlie Mackesy offers inspiration and hope in uncertain times in this beautiful book, following the tale of a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves together in sometimes difficult terrain, sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries about vulnerability, kindness, hope, friendship and love. The shared adventures and important conversations between the four friends are full of life lessons that have connected with readers of all ages.”
Some of our favourite inspirational quotes from this book include:
“What do you think is the biggest waste of time?”
“Comparing yourself to others,” said the mole.
“We have such a long way to go” sighed the boy.
“Yes, but look how far we’ve come,” said the horse.
5. Everyday Storytellers Write Non-Fiction: A Step-By-Step Guide to Noticing Your Life and Turning It Into Stories
Are you ready to uncover the power of your own story and share it with the world? Your stories matter. It’s time you started sharing them. Maybe you’ve started to jot down your memories, thinking one day you’ll turn them into stories, or perhaps you’ve started journaling, or even just started to think more about documenting your life. But what’s really stopping you from writing? Structure? Voice? Editing? Are you worried about sharing your words? You have a story to tell, and this book will help you tell it. Through practical advice and lots of creative activities, this book will show you how to shape real-life stories into a narrative that flows and engages readers.
This sneaky addition to our list is for those non-fiction writers who need inspiration and it’s written by one of our own - Laura Stroud from the Derbyshire Writing School team.
If you’re searching for further support with your writing, our writer’s toolkit could be the perfect solution. Each workbook has been designed to help you with a specific part of your writing journey, from creating characters to beating writer’s block. Derbyshire Writing School is here to support you and inspire you to keep going.
For more writing motivation, you can also check out our pick of 5 idea-inducing books to boost your creativity.
Have you read one of these books? Do you have a book recommendation of your own? We’d love to hear from you! You can email us at info@derbyshirewritingschool.com.
Our writing workbooks will help guide you through some of the trickiest of writing challenges. With activities, strategies, and tools, you’ll learn how to take your writing forward and achieve your writing goals. Designed with the beginner writer in mind, our friendly workbooks are available for you to work through at your own pace in your own home.
