But we must try to find our True Conscience, our True Self, the very Center, for this is the only first-rate choice-making center. Here lies all originality, talent, honor, truthfulness, courage and cheerfulness. Here lies the ability to choose the good and the grand, the true and the beautiful. In her ninety-three remarkable years, Brenda Ueland published six million words. She said she had two rules she followed absolutely: to tell the truth, and not to do anything she didn't want to do. Her integrity shines throughout If You Want to Write, her bestselling classic on the process of writing that has already inspired thousands to find their own creative center. Carl Sandburg called this book "the best book ever written about how to write." Yet Ueland reminds us that "whenever I say 'writing' in this book, I also mean anything that you love and want to do or make."
For most, the hardest part of writing is overcoming the mountain of self-denial that weighs upon the spirit, always threatening to extinguish those first small embers of ambition. Brenda Ueland, a writer and teacher, devotes most of her book--published back in 1938, before everyone and their goldfish got their MFA's in creative writing--to these matters of the writer's heart. Still, the real gift of the book is Ueland herself: She liked to write, she didn't care what anyone thought, and she had a great sense of humor. You're simply happy to hang out with her.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Study writing:
If You Want To Write inspired me. In the end, though, a writer must write. For fiction, be in the story...be the characters...feel them walking about...hear the birds...see the trees dancing in the storm and get it all down...crazy...writers are crazy.
John Cutler Anderson, Lucky (nickname)
A Book for Every Writer!:
At Christmas, I came across my copy of this book, purchased in 1988. I have since re-read it many times. I also purchased a copy and had it shipped to my friend who has written 12 books on economics, Dr. George Glen Dawson. Glen, as I call him, participates in several writing groups on Long Island, NY. His inspiration to me as a mentor and friend and his love of writing showed me that he would love this book and sharing copies of it with the writing groups he participates in. This book, reread many... more info
Liberating:
Reading this great book is very liberating. It is fantastic. She does, however, attribute Crime and Punishment to Tolstoy. I think Dostoevsky wrote it. Other than that, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Better than any other 10,000 books on writing and life. Roger
If You Want To Write:
Excellent book/in perfect condition! The info gained in this book for the writing I love to do...money can't buy! It helped so much about taking any fear of submitting my work away/plus...it taught so much about the importance of being truthful in your writing/being YOU! The book goes everywhere with me! I also love the long history of the author/and, the book...my kind of lady!!
Privacy policy: we don't collect information
about visitors except for the standard technical server logs. We don't send unsolicited emails. We don't
sell the information that we don't collect about you to anyone. When you follow
links to other sites, their privacy policies apply. Thanks for visiting!
