I’m not sure I can say that writers across the board like to write about writing, but eventually, before they cap their careers, many of them do so. They pass along what they’ve learned, what works for them, the details of their process, and the moods of their muses. In DANCING ON THE HEAD OF A PEN, Robert Benson also draws the reader --- possibly an aspiring writer --- to the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit, adding a spiritual element to the mix.

It seems that Benson’s domestic scene provides him the luxury of making and keeping (or not) his own schedule, allowing him daily time to write (or not) and rewrite, adding key transitions and making for a prosaic flow that turns independent points and anecdotes into a narrative flow.

"Benson judiciously quotes from other writers who have written about writing, broadening his insights and advice."

To his credit, Benson includes a vulnerable description of the reality of a dry season in which he didn’t admit, even to his wife, that he hadn’t really sat himself down and focused…that he had no sentences to show for his workday, work week or work month. “I once spent a whole year pretending to write a book.” That’s his opening line to chapter three --- a great way to entice his readers to turn the page.

Benson judiciously quotes from other writers who have written about writing, broadening his insights and advice.

Any good writer will tell you that the writing process is solitary and individualized. Benson writes a first draft with a fountain pen, which not many writers do. Though he gives rather specific advice --- keep a journal; keep a quotation file; write at least something (a specific number of words?) every day; to write well, read good writing --- he acknowledges that his mode may not be my mode or yours.

Aspiring writers could benefit well from his “Hat Tricks” chapter. One should separate the writing processes into three stages, astutely compared to wearing three hats. Stage 1 (beret): the initial, creative drafting --- just get something down. Stage 2 (baseball cap): rewriting and revising to compose a coherent document. Stage 3 (fedora): fine-tuning and packaging for a specific market. “A writer has three jobs. Write the work. Make the work as good as possible. Find the work a home and a crowd of folks to love it. It helps to remember which hat I am wearing as I go along.”

About the time I thought Benson’s prose was a little self-absorbed, I read a paragraph on page 108 that resonated with me as a writer and turned my view around: “In the telling of [the stories of my life] I [hope to] help others recall the stories of their lives, which is where the real truth of their lives is revealed.” Benson can help you recall your story.