Customer Reviews

If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I found this book by accident while browsing through a now-defunct Los Angeles bookstore/cafe. It was the luckiest accident of my life. At that point I had been a professional writer for more than twenty years, but I rarely enjoyed my work, and I felt all of it was disposable in one way or another. At first, reading "If You Want to Write" gave me an incredible, if unfamiliar, feeling of joy and self-confidence. Afterwards, I began to surprise the hell out of myself in terms of what I was able to accomplish. This simply written book states some of the most profound truths about life and creativity I have ever read. Whenever I get stuck on a project I go back and re-read it, and its warmth, generosity, and brilliance always inspire me to go on. It should almost be titled "If You Want to Live", because far more than being a how-to book on writing, it makes an eloquent argument that we all can live creative lives as long as we're true to ourselves.

I will admit from the start that this book is not for everyone. It won't appeal to all writers and artists. However, I believe the book was written for people who are looking for a way to lead an authentic life and to achieve authenticity in their art. As with Natalie Goldberg's WRITING DOWN THE BONES, this book feels as though it was written just for me, and that's the true beauty of IF YOU WANT TO WRITE. If the book speaks to you, as it did to me, you may find yourself having the first great epiphany of your artistic life. Her book sits in a prominent place in my home and in my heart. I have read it many times and underlined countless passages. As I struggled to finish my first book, I looked to Ueland for support and confidence. By far the two most memorable passages for me are the one in which she describes a time she was playing the piano and was told her playing wasn't "going anywhere." She then discusses the relationship that MUST exist between the artist and the person experiencing the art. (Her philosophy is strongly influenced by the observations of Tolstoy.) She points out that this relationship is necessary in order for us to produce meaningful art. The second passage that is extremely meaningful to me is related to the first passage. She describes the time Vincent Van Gogh wrote a letter to his brother and drew a tender image of a streetlight that he was looking at outside his window. The drawing is beautiful because it came out of his intense love for his brother and his desire to share something beautiful with him, not from a desire for recognition or fame. This is what Ueland means by authenticity, which she, like Blake, connects to the divine source existing within each individual. This book changed forever the way I view the artistic expression.

Brenda Ueland was one of my dearest friends. Her wisdom and gentle humor has sustained me through many years. If You Want to Write is an outstanding book on not only how to write but how to live fully -- with grace, joy, humor and compassion. It is "first-rate," as Brenda would say. Once you have found this book, don't let it get away from you. Keep copies handy. One year, I gave copies of the book to my family and friends for Christmas. They all loved it. It soon became one of those books that everyone must read -- for reading this book seemed to make everyone a better person. How is that? Maybe one of the reasons is because it "takes the pressure off" to be a "good writer" or a "good person." Just be who you are in an authentic and joyful way -- and you can't help but be "good." Open the book to any page, and you will find her words funny, creative, loving and truthful --thumbing her nose at all the pessimists in the world.

Brenda had a delightful sense of humor. She jokingly insisted on renaming me "Countess Francesca" because, "Names are very important, and Deborah is just too stern and biblical." This was just her way with everyone -- funny, uplifting and endearing. And her book, If You Want to Write, will make you feel just as special, as if she is sitting right there with you, laughing with you and helping you every step of the way. Enjoy this women's words -- hold them in your heart. Brenda is a rare spirit. Avanti!

Read this book. Read it all the way through. You might say to yourself "this is juvenile. This is naïve." But read it. Press on. Read it thoroughly. Set your mind on "accept" and let the book be right all the time.

Then, read it again. Keep reading it when you are not writing. Randomly pick a page and start. Read it out of order. Perhaps you'll find the Blake, or the Van Gogh; one of her students, or one of her tirades against the niggardly busy-busy world. Read it while watching T.V.(but not while driving a car!)

Soon, you just can't read it anymore. Because it's tedious? Because you've memorized it? Because its pages are stained with finger oil and falling apart?

Because you will be too damn busy furiously writing. And rewriting, then writing again. You will fear--with a creaky feeling in your gut--that a short break may jettison the idea you're blessed with off into the unexpressed void, then banish the next one, and the next one, like a home-run slugger on a roll at batting practice, all which demand permanence--because they all got that something. And you don't dare stop typing (at 75 W.P.M, with pauses of concentrated, exacting thought between) because you must, you absolutely soulfully must, capture this thought perfectly, then quickly move on to the next antsy thought tapping its toe impatiently behind, before it gets insulted and walks out to planet nowhere in a huff.

So read it. And I hope you read it so much that you just don't have the time to read it anymore, and it is gathering dust while your page is gathering words.

A friend gave me this book for Christmas because he knew I liked to write and told me it was the best book for writing. I was skeptical, but started the book anyhow so I could at least tell him I looked at it. I found it immediately engaging and savored every page, limiting myself to a few pages a night so I wouldn't finish it quickly. The best part is that it is an "idea" writing book rather than an exercise book. There is no stopping to jot down notes or pages with writing exercises. Ueland gets into ideas and the psychology of why we do and don't write certain things. It got my brain churning, and I found myself become less inhibited with a project I was trying to get to the next level on. Excellent book for the experience writer who is feeling a need to break through to some fresh material. Ueland is amazingly insightful and even though it is written in 1938, it does not feel dated.

I decided to read this book on the advice of another author, Harold Klemp. Well, I don't regret it! Being a French speaking reader, I usually take a long time to read an English book, but I took 4 days to go through this one! I used a yellow hightlighter pen, and when I finished it, it was mostly yellow! Indeed, the title of this book should really have been "The Art of Living." Even if it was written before my time, I think Brenda Ueland speaks for today's aspiring writer, painter, artist within, or creative entrepreneur... Through numerous examples, and some excellent quotes from William Blake or Van Gogh, Ueland shows you how to believe in yourself, and how to "live life fully!" I am nos recommending that book to all my friends! But, please don't believe me... experience it by yourself!

I first learned about IF YOU WANT TO WRITE from one of my college roommates. Several of the students in one of his theatre classes were reading the book and he suggested that I read it as well. As a struggling Artist myself, I eventually read the book and though I remember reading it, I didn't remember anything from the book. Having recently committed myself to discipline myself in my own writing, I decided to re-read the book. In re-reading it I now understand why I didn't remember much of what I had read the first time.

IF YOU WANT TO WRITE is basically an extensive letter of encouragement to anyone who wants to do anything creative. The book does not offer any practical advice about how to find an agent, how to get published, etc. The book does not really offer any practical advice about writing either, e.g. writing prompts, ideas, etc. Instead the book does offer encouragement about being passionate about one does, remaining diligent in what one loves, and practicing one's craft (whatever that maybe).

I can understand why so many people have gained encouragement from this book. For someone who is a beginning Artist (of any craft) who has become frustrated or for anyone who wants to create Art but is afraid to try because of being told by someone in the past that they weren't talented, the book could just be the boost that they need. Personally, however, I just didn't take much away from IF YOU WANT TO WRITE. I wasn't inspired in anyway and wasn't all that encouraged after having read it.

I'd recommend this book for beginning Artists of any sort (whether they be writers, actors, musicians, etc.) or someone who is interested in creating Art but doesn't feel adequate about their talents.

This book is just fantastic! I was looking for a book to give me inspiration on my writing and this is it! I wasn't so sure at first, I was afraid of yet another fusty, musty textbook-twin that would give helpful hints but bore me to tears. But from the first page I was hooked! "...most people must break through a shell of timidity and strain." What encouragement! This book proved to me that there are other downtrodden creative people out there, people who have had "contructive criticism" shoved down their throats until it nearly killed them. Plus, the strain of being pressured to "make a living" from your writing. Instead, Brenda Ueland encourages in the most enlivening way to write because you love to! And in her mind this applies to anyone, this is not just a book about writing. It is inspiration for ANYONE who is afraid to follow their true creative spirit.

She says that Van Gogh painted not because it was expected of him or because he wanted to make a profit from it, rather he painted the stars in the sky because he loved them and wanted to show other people how beautiful they are, he wanted them to be seen from his perspective so that others might share in his wonder! How can that fail to inspire all downtrodden sensitive creators?

In this book, Ueland shows how to bypass all negative feedback from others, how to search inside ourselves to find our true motives for creating literature, artwork, whatever we love the most! She is able to bring out the unique creative nature in everyone (for if everyone is different, then everyone IS original!) and in the process make us happy with what we find inside.

There aren't enough stars for this review. Ueland writes an amazing book on how to achieve our potential in anything that we do...and the things (such as trying to please other people) which prevent us from bringing forth the best from ourselves. Already I've found that I have better and brighter ideas when I write, and even when I do other things like play music.

This book is one that is best read slowly...in short doses. I find that I can't read a page without having something to think about or reassess in my life and especially in my writing. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

This low rating is NOT for Ms. Ueland's WONDERFUL book, but for the poor job (and that's being kind) "executed" by Bottom of the Hill (or is it "pile"?). It has RUINED the aesthetics and sheer presence in the hand of an incredible, inspiring book for the creative writer. DO NOT buy this version. It looks like a vanity press gone even more wrong. The pages have no gutters, there are typos, no bio on Ms. Ueland which is VITAL to understanding the philosophy of this book. The cover "art" cheapens the subject matter ("Once upon a time"???! WHAT!!?). Ms. Ueland would be appalled to see her work presented in such a cheap way. What a disgrace. The publisher should be ASHAMED.

It doesn't even have the original pub date -- 1938 -- in the nearly non-existent front matter. It reads: "First Printing, 2010" !! What the....!!? Did you know Ms. Ueland was born in 1891 and lived to be nearly 100? That info is not included in this version (surprise, surprise), but look her up online, learn about this woman, and you'll find her writings even more amazing.

I have purchased dozens of copies of this book for friends and family -- copies of the older Graywolf Press version which is lovely, classy. Matches the dignity of the writing.

I purchased this copy for a gift, and when it arrived and I looked it over, it wasn't fit to give. I am sending it back and just now bought an older copy from a third-party vendor via Amazon.

REAL publishers: here is your chance to pick up the rights to this book and do it justice!!

Here is my ORIGINAL review from January 2008 based on the Graywolf Press printing and true CONTENT presented beautifully: "If you're a writer, you must add this book to your shelf of writing references and "books to inspire." A true writer's book on writing. I've repeatedly bought this as a gift for other writer friends. Oh to have been a student in one of her classes. Bless you, Ms. Ueland...."