Put Your Heart on Paper

Starred review from July 31, 1995
Both practical and pleasurable, this latest by the author of Writing on Both Sides of the Brain offers writers and nonwriters alike writing exercises for getting and staying connected with the people in their lives--family, friends, themselves and even strangers. Drawing in large part on her own experiences, Klauser uses anecdotes--many quite moving and inspiring--to illustrate the uses and explain the origins of her suggested writing projects. The volume works well as a source book; its copious exercises and examples make it one of the best available. Klauser describes this as ``not a `how-to' book but a `why bother' book.'' In keeping with this philosophy, most of the exercises are easily adaptable to different settings, such as classrooms or therapy sessions, where ``why bother'' is always a lively question. At the same time, the exercises provide sufficient structure, encouragement and impetus for hesitant writers. In her reflective segues, she explores the differences between writing and speaking, times when writing serves better than conversing, and ways in which writing connects not only people, but past and future to the present moment. Klauser is clearly comfortable writing about writing, and idealistic about its personal, interpersonal and community-wide benefits.