My Trade Is Mystery

Seven Meditations from a Life in Writing

By: Carl Phillips

Narrated by: Carl Phillips

An invaluable companion for writers at every stage of their journey to make the writing life a more complex and cooperative venture.

In this intimate and eloquent meditation, the award-winning poet Carl Phillips shares lessons he has learned about what he calls an “apprenticeship to what can never fully be mastered”, through 40 years of teaching and mentoring emerging writers. He weaves together his experiences as a poet and prose writer with discussions of underexplored elements of the writing life, including ambition, stamina, silence, politics, practice, audience, and community.

In the tradition of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, this is an invaluable companion for writers at every stage of their journey. Phillips’ book serves as a partner in speculation and an invitation to embrace mystery.

©2022 Carl Phillips (P)2022 Audible, Inc.

Outstanding

Beautiful words to inspire any writer. Loved this. And having Carl narrate was wonderful - so calm and peaceful and beautiful.

Useful framework of tools for Writers and the rest of us

Nice combination of DIY Manual and Thought Piece not just for professional Poets and Writers but enjoyable for anyone who wants to embark on a project. His insights are often very personal but that only conveys a sense of Humanity and Authenticity that Readers will appreciate.
Four Stars. ****