Title:  The Writer Laid Bare

Author:  Lee Kofman

Genre:  Non-Fiction: Creative non-friction, Writing

Year:  2022

The Writer Laid Bare is a book for everyone who loves the craft of  good writing. Be they a voracious reader wanting to know more or  an emerging writer themselves, best-selling author and writing coach Lee Kofman has distilled her wisdom, insight and passion into this  guide to writing and emotional honesty. 

A combination of raw memoir and a professional writing toolkit, Lee examines her own life, rich in story and emotion to reveal how committing to a truthful writing practice helped her conquer  writer’s block and develop her own authentic voice. 

‘Show don’t tell’ has never been so compelling. 

Inspired by her popular writing courses, Lee also offers practical  advice on drafts, edits and how to achieve a life/writing balance.   How combining her writing with motherhood led her to recognise that ‘ the pram in the hall’ issue is real. 

Get your copy instore and online (paperback or ebook): The Writer Laid Bare

My rating: *****

My review:

“The Writer Laid Bare” by Lee Kofman is a frank and reassuring examination of the trials and tribulations of the writing process and the inner thoughts of the average writer. Kofman reflects on her personal experiences, writing successes and failures to describe the processes involved in developing an individual writing style, managing paranoia, disappointments and fear, and breaking through to provide honesty in writing, regardless of genre. 

For me, the discovery of “The Writer Laid Bare” was very much a case of the right book at the right time.  I found the book and its contents reassuring. I was able to relate to almost everything said and was relieved to find that my bouts of crippling self-doubt, fear of rejection and imposter syndrome are standard states for most writers.  

I would recommend this book to all writers, anyone planning to take on the writing journey and all those with interest in the world of literature.

About the Author:

Lee Kofman is the author of 6 books, including the latest, The Writer Laid Bare, as well as creative nonfiction works Imperfect (2019, Affirm Press), which was shortlisted for Nib Literary Award and The Dangerous Bride (2014, Melbourne University Press), editor of Split: True stories of leaving, loss & new beginnings (2019, Ventura Press), an anthology of personal essays longlisted for ABIA 2020 and co-editor of Rebellious Daughters (2016, Ventura Press), an anthology of prominent Australian memoirists. Her short works have been widely published in Australia, UK, Scotland, Israel, Canada and US, including in Best Australian Stories, Best Australian Essays, Griffith Review, Malahat Review and Creative Nonfiction. . Her blog was a finalist for Best Australian Blogs 2014. 
Lee has been mentoring writers and teaching creative writing courses since 2003. Her blog about creative processes The Writing Life was a finalist for Best Australian Blogs 2014. 
More at www.leekofman.com.au 
You can also follow her on Twitter @LeeKofman or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lee-Kofman-3…