The Thorn Necklace

Healing Through Writing and the Creative Process

For years I have enjoyed Francesca Lia Block’s work, so to find this new book about the writing process was very exciting. The review notes that the book is named for the painting by Frida Kahlo, who famously transformed her own personal suffering into art, The Thorn Necklace offers lessons on life, love, and the creative process. 

The introduction by Grant Faulkner was so moving to me. He says, “Writing was my religion, my foremost purpose in life, my consolation. But as the years passed and I didn’t have the successes that others deemed the qualifications of a “real” writer, I went into hiding. I wrote, but I lost the strength of my words. I wrote, but with a doubt that needled each sentence, a lack of self-confidence that clouded my imagination. … If I had read The Thorn Necklace then, maybe I would have struggled less. I know I would have written more, and the more I write, the more satisfying my life becomes. But somewhere within me, without even knowing it, I must have believed that “other people” were “real” writers. I understand this syndrome well now. “

As a full-time professional, I have had that voice that says to me, “how dare you think you are a writer or an artist or a collagist” or even worse, the voice says, “how dare you think you can do all of this”.

Faulker points out how many of the writers he meets do not feel they are real writers, because they aren’t “pedigreed with MFAs, or they haven’t published a book…”, and I loved when he pointed out how once often feels frivolous for wanting to write a novel or a story or a poem.

He adds, …” You tell yourself that you should be an adult ….You should be practical, filling your life with all kinds of “shoulds.” Writing a story can feel like trivial entertainment, a whimsical activity that shouldn’t have a significant place in a busy adult’s life. But that’s forgetting one thing. When you minimize your expression, you minimize who you are. When you tell yourself that your story isn’t important, you make it so.”

He notes, “Block beautifully explores the urgent value of one’s creativity and how our stories can be transformative life-giving forces. If we don’t write our stories, how will we truly know who we are? How will we define the world? How will we touch the mysteries of life?”

He reminds the reader to value their creativity not only because of their accomplishments, but because they had the courage to sit and write the story.

I cannot wait to continue my readings and to share this with you. So, sit and write. Your stories are needed. Honor your creativity, remember you are an artist, a writer, a poet, and inspire us with your images, your words, and your dreams.

Block, Francesca Lia. The Thorn Necklace. Basic Books. Kindle Edition.