Compositions: Notes on the written word

March 2008
228 pages | ISBN 978-1-894987-25-7

In this witty and energetic collection, Naomi Beth Wakan explores all aspects of writing – from the movement of inspiration to the art of the back cover endorsement. In between, she considers censorship, why she can't write a murder mystery, and how to introduce children to poetry so they will love it. This is a collection that sparkles with personality and with a love of all things written.

Reviews

Who's Who British Columbia (BC Bookworld Spring 2010, 3/1/2010)
"Gabriola Islander Naomi  Beth Wakan’s advice to emerging writers past the age of fifty, Late Bloomer: On Writing Later in Life, has been followed by personal essays about her literary life, Compositions: Notes on the Written Word."

Library Bookwatch, Volume 3, Number 7 (MidWest Book Review, 7/8/2008)
“Offering advice as well as reflections, her stories all have something within that any writers can relate to.”

Compositions by Naomi Beth Wakan (Mary Ann Moore, Story Circle Book Reviews, 6/20/2008)
“She has created a fascinating collection of personal essays, memoir, poetry, and writing guide, inviting the reader on an entertaining journey.”

'Respect your doggerel,' says author, 77 (Mary Ann Moore, Vancouver Sun, 5/24/2008)
"In the last three years, Wakan has published Segue, a book of poetry, as well as two books of essays, Late Bloomer: On Writing Later in Life and Compositions: Notes on the Written Word, all from Wolsak & Wynn. ... Her 'bread-and-butter' poetry, as well as her essays, are delightful and inspiring, full of practicality, candour and wit."

About the Author

Naomi Beth Wakan has written over thirty books, including Images of Japan, Segues, Late Bloomer: On Writing Later in Life, Compositions: Notes on the written word, Book Ends: A year between the covers and A Roller-coaster Ride: Thoughts on aging. Her book Haiku – one breath poetry was an American Library Association selection. Her essays, haiku and tanka have appeared in many magazines and anthologies and have been broadcasted on the CBC. Naomi lives on Gabriola Island with her husband, sculptor Elias Wakan.
She was named the first poet laureate of Nanaimo, BC, in 2013.

Other Titles by this Author

A Roller-coaster Ride: Thoughts on aging (2012)

Book Ends: A year between the covers (2010)

Late Bloomer: On Writing Later in Life (2006)

Segues (2005)