Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
A classic
Customer Rating:
Seventy-four years after its first publication, Dorothea Brande's BECOMING A WRITER is still relevant, important, and immensely helpful to writers at all stages of their careers. I first discovered BECOMING A WRITER a few weeks after selling my first book and it quickly became my bible. Brande taught me the value of wordless, repetitive actions (think knitting, needlework, gardening) as a means of freeing your mind and accessing creativity. I've had my dry spells over the twenty-five years since my first book came out, but each time I go back to Dorothea Brande's simple, elegant advice and work my way out of the slump. This is a must for any writer's library.
A book to help you learn to create your own "Writer's Magic"
Customer Rating:
In this re-issue of Brande's classic (first published in 1934) this author, editor, and writing teacher focuses on the many problems writers face, and she proposes solutions. John Gardner, in the foreward, writes "The root problems of the writer are personality problems: He or she cannot get started, or starts a story well, then gets lost or loses heart, or writes very well some of the time, badly the rest of the time, or writes brilliantly but after one superb story or novel, cannot write again, etc." Brande concentrates on the writer's mind and heart, and not on writing technigues. She has set out to address the writer's personality problems, such as lack of confidence, and self-respect. She asserts that there is a sort of "writer's magic." When addressing the disappointments and rejections that all aspiring writers face, she states, "I hope this book persuades some who are hesitating on the verge of abandoning writing, to make a different decision." She informs her reader of the four major difficulties she has observed time and again, in her writing students, and writers in general: "The Difficulty of Writing at All," "The One-Book Author," "The Occasional Writer," "The Uneven Writer." Brande believes that becoming a writer is mainly a matter of cultivating "a writer's temperament." That is "the author of genius does keep till his last breath the spontaneity, the ready sensitiveness of a child, the innocence of the eye." Some chapter titles are "Harnessing the Unconscious," "Writing on Schedule," "The Source of Originality," "The Practice Story," and "The Writer's Magic." The book contains an excellent index, as well as a bibliography. Brande's insights do not feel dated to me. They pertain to the writers of today and provide inspiration, stimulation, valuable exercises, and the hard-earned wisdom of a highly successful writer and teacher. A valuable addition to every writer's library!
Head and shoulders above anything else
Customer Rating:
There are a number of books on this subject; and I own a fair few of them. This particular item, has put an end to buying books on how to write. It is excellent. All of the others are by the "how to" writers. This, I believe is the only one; by a "why" writer. Why we do, and don't do things, pertaining to writing. The author taps the pulse that will enable you to write...if you follow her lead. And that is demonstrated, via the curious and excellent exercises listed. This book cannot be spoken of highly enough, for effectiveness and originality. You will also discover much about yourself and various motivations you possess. It puts a full length mirror up to the aspiring writer, and asks "So you want to be a writer?...well if you do; you better get real". Aaannnd...Dorothea doesn't go on and on and on.....! Clear, written well, brief and to the point. Best of the lot by a country mile!
Simple advice from a book ahead of its time
Customer Rating:
I am not a professional writer, however, I am learning to write ebooks and wanted guidance on getting into the the mindset of being a writer. This book did the job for me. Although written in 1934, the advice is well ahead of its time.
I was procrastinating about writing an ebook for weeks and took the authors advice to start writing as soon as I get up from bed in the morning and write whatever comes to my mind.In other words, let the sub concious come forth with ideas and information. Within 3 days I had completed a draft version of my ebook.
If you want an easy to follow book on becomming a writer, I would recommend this to anyone.
The inspiration for The Artist's Way
Customer Rating:
Long before Julia Cameron gave budding artists a creative kickstart with "The Artist's Way", Dorothea Brande was coaxing aspiring writers out of self-imposed dry spells, first with her creative writing classes and finally with "Becoming A Writer", which is a Cliff Notes version of the practical lessons she presented to one roomful of disillusioned students after another during the 1920s.
"Becoming a Writer" was originally published in 1934. Long before introspection became the norm in our society, Ms. Brande addressed the fears and frustrations that prevent writers from maximizing their true potential. She proposed a series of exercises to get one's creative mechanisms in gear and make the act of writing so automatic that self-censorship loses its hold. She scorned the adage that where writing was concerned, "true genius can't be taught", elevating the hopes of her students and the hackles of the existing literary community, which (figuratively) shot interlopers on sight. By encouraging the use of daily writing, regular exercise, and heavy doses of reading as the means of unlocking creative power, Ms Brande probably saved many new authors from seeking inspiration in a bottle of bathtub gin.
It's a small book, and the content is sparse compared to the huge volumes that occupy the shelves in the Writers and Writing sections of bookstores, but in the case of "Becoming A Writer", a little says a lot.
Select button not working?