Process - Sarah Stodola - A Short Summary and Review

 Process: The Writing Lives of Great Authors - Sarah Stodola - A Short Summary and Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

How history's greatest writers wrote their greatest work.

A short summary:

Process explores how some of history’s most celebrated writers actually worked, not in theory, but in practice. Sarah Stodola examines the daily habits, quirks, routines, and rituals behind major literary achievements, revealing that great writing rarely arrives through inspiration alone.

Drawing on letters, journals, biographies, and close reading, the book looks at how writers structured their days, managed doubt, wrestled with discipline, and navigated success and failure. Some relied on strict schedules; others thrived in chaos. What unites them is persistence, the willingness to return to the work again and again.

Rather than offering a single formula, Process argues that creative success arises from habit, endurance, and sustained attention over time.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Premature success gives one an almost mystical conception of destiny as opposed to willpower."

- Sarah Stodola, Process

Questions to ponder while reading:

What are your routines?

Do you have a methodology?

My review:

This is an endlessly engaging read for writers and readers alike. Stodola’s strength lies in her curiosity—she treats each writer’s process as a case study rather than a prescription. The result is a collection of fascinating, sometimes contradictory insights that demystify creativity without stripping it of wonder.

There are plenty of memorable tidbits here, odd routines, fierce discipline, moments of collapse and renewal—but the deeper takeaway is sobering and encouraging at once. Talent matters, but showing up matters more. Even the most gifted writers battled distraction, doubt, and inconsistency.

If the book inspires a twinge of envy or a wish for greater discipline, that’s part of its charm. Process doesn’t shame the reader; it gently suggests that writing is less about destiny than about commitment. An excellent, motivating read for anyone who loves books and wonders how they come to be.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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