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If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit Paperback – May 14, 2010

by Brenda Ueland (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 744 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    168 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    BN Publishing
  4. Publication date
    May 14, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.38 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9650060286
  7. ISBN-13
    978-9650060282
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BN Publishing (May 14, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 168 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9650060286
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9650060282
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.38 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 744 ratings

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Brenda Ueland

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
744 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the writing quality great and amazing. They say the message is encouraging and inspirational. Readers describe the book as timeless and a classic work from a bygone era. Opinions differ on the clarity, with some finding it simple and down-to-earth, while others say it's unclear and awkward.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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Writing qualityInspirationValue for moneyEraClarityBoredomTypos
85 customers mention "Writing quality"73 positive12 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book great, amazing, and wonderful. They say it's a great reference book that helps them rekindle their love for writing. Readers also mention the book is witty, charming, and uplifting.

"...This book is a gem and is bound to inspire all to open up, explore their Spirit, and put it to good use...." Read more

"This book is just fantastic! I was looking for a book to give me inspiration on my writing and this is it!..." Read more

"...I definitely recommend this book; it will inspire you and make you feel excited to write, much in the same ways that Stephen King's On Writing: A..." Read more

"...It is also one of my favorite books to re-read...." Read more

51 customers mention "Inspiration"48 positive3 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and encouraging. They say it's a good book to boost confidence and show that your writing does. Readers also mention the ideas are pertinent and the book is bound to inspire all to open up.

"...This book is a gem and is bound to inspire all to open up, explore their Spirit, and put it to good use...." Read more

"...or just starting out, I definitely recommend this book; it will inspire you and make you feel excited to write, much in the same ways that Stephen..." Read more

"...Very encouraging! ~ Connie Neal, author of [...]" Read more

"...Ueland's message is encouraging and inspirational and true. My quibbles concern aspects of the book's editing (non-editing?)...." Read more

9 customers mention "Value for money"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth their time and money. They say it's an excellent choice, a good price, and an excellent resource.

"...She penned this book in 1938 and it still sells well. Carl Sandburg said it may have been the best book about writing he'd ever read...." Read more

"...of them are excerpts from other writers, but they are useful and provide value...." Read more

"It's worthwhile. The author makes several points about things you should not have in your head about writing, and several things you should...." Read more

"...Worth your time and money." Read more

7 customers mention "Era"5 positive2 negative

Customers find the book timeless and a classic work from a bygone era.

"...better than a poorly put together version of her excellent, timeless book." Read more

"This is a classic work from a bygone era. Beautifully & inspiringly written: just such a shame about the dorky cover art...." Read more

"...It's an older book and it felt outdated to me. Would recommend Cameron's or King's before this one." Read more

"great classic for anyone creating art" Read more

8 customers mention "Clarity"4 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the clarity of the book. Some mention it's simple, down-to-earth, and informative, while others say the message seems overly simplistic and the ideas aren't fully developed.

"...It is a how-to manual, for being a more creative person in every regard.I wish someone would've given this to me in high school...." Read more

"...That message seemed overly simplistic to me and didn't seem to lead to anywhere particularly helpful...." Read more

"One my favorite books on writing (and living). Simple and to the point." Read more

"...I found many of the author's sentences to be awkward and unclear...." Read more

5 customers mention "Boredom"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the writing in the book ridiculously boring, underwhelming, and lacks practical advice. They also say it's a waste of time and money. Readers also mention the author's own style is dull and non-inventive.

"...her own style is desperately dull and non-inventive...." Read more

"...the writer's journal entries that much more interesting but also less relevant." Read more

"...She adds excerpts from her students writing and it's so ridiculously boring about nothing and praises their writing like it should win an award...." Read more

"...from my efforts--no inspiration, no practical advice, not even a moment of enjoyment. Save your money!" Read more

5 customers mention "Typos"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the book poorly arranged and has typos that detract from it. They also mention there are missing letters, words, odd line jumps, and quotation marks are not used.

"...There are missing letters, missing words, odd line jumps, and other marks of a hasty electronic conversion...." Read more

"...Sadly it is below par. First of all, there are many careless typos and haphazard blank lines within paragraphs throughout the book...." Read more

"...Quotation marks are not used, and her footnotes are presented at the chapter's end...." Read more

"...it contains the same copy, is very poorly arranged and has typos that detract from it...." Read more

Inspiring Not Just for Writers
5 out of 5 stars
Inspiring Not Just for Writers
This reads like you're sitting in Mrs. Ueland's classroom, enjoying her teach from her heart through years of experience. The principles taught in this book can be followed with any type of creativity. I have underlines on every page.
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Top reviews from the United States

Thomas M. Loarie
5.0 out of 5 stars Carl Sandburg, Guy Kawasaki, and Now, Me
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2010
Verified Purchase
Guy Kawasaki lists "If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit" as one of his top reads of all time. Being a writer (Catholic Business Journal, blogs, and Amazon book reviews), an oil painter, and curious, I picked up a copy to see why all the fuss about a book that was originally published in 1938. I have since learned that none other than Carl Sandburg provided his endorsement to "The best book ever written about how to write."

Author Brenda Ueland was born in Minneapolis (my former home) in 1891, and lived on Lake Calhoun (the lake featured in the Mary Tyler Moore show's opening clip). She was knighted by the King of Norway and set an international swimming record (for over-80-year-olds). She died in 1985 at the age of 93.

This book, according to many preceding me, has inspired thousands to find the creative genius buried deep within, and to express it without any regard to "criticism, self-doubt, duty, nervous fear, anxiety, about making a living, and fear of not excelling." Ueland affirms that we are all filled with possibility, have a creative power which be kept alive in all of us for all of our lives. It is our Spirit and we keep it alive by using it.

This book is a gem and is bound to inspire all to open up, explore their Spirit, and put it to good use. I would expand Sandburg's quote to - maybe the best book ever written on using our inner genius and creativity, whether it is writing, composing, or the visual arts. I enjoyed "If You Want to Write" and found an even greater freedom of artistic expression. I, too, get bottled up with concern about criticism, and self-doubt.
10 people found this helpful
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Trekkintheplains
5.0 out of 5 stars THE most well written and interesting book about writing!
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2004
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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.
35 people found this helpful
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D.
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Book for Writers
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2020
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There are a couple different kinds of writing books, by which I mean, the different kinds set out to accomplish different things. Some books seek to address the mechanics of writing, some the process, some generating ideas, and many others. Brenda Ueland's If You Want To Write falls into what I consider the "spirituality of writing" category.

This type of book deals with the complex goo that resides between a writer's ears and all that occupies it, but that may not end up directly on the page. These topics include writer's block, professional envy, creative confidence, creative identity, and my personal favorite and a topic on which endless material has been written -- inspiration.

Ueland's addresses the most basic of these spiritual issues, and yet the one that seems to plague every writer from time to time -- the ultimate question, am I a writer, can I write? Well, if you read Ueland's book, you may see how the answers to those questions are always yes.

Ueland is pragmatic about how anyone who devotes themselves honestly to writing can be talented, such as when she assures the reader "with all earnestness, that no writing is a waste of time, --no creative work where the feelings, the imagination, the intelligence must work" (pg 15). She is also optimistic such as when she claims to have proved that all the readers are original and talented and just need to let it out; "that is to say, you have the creative impulse" (pg 10). She has really proved no such thing, but what a wonderful idea to launch from into the second chapter of the text.

If you're struggling with your confidence or just starting out, I definitely recommend this book; it will inspire you and make you feel excited to write, much in the same ways that Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft and Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within do. Don't feel surprised if you feel the age on this one though; spiritual back in the 1930's often meant Biblical, so you'll probably notice a lot of Christian references.

All my best to you, fellow writers!
23 people found this helpful
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NQTB
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is excellent.
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2024
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I can't say enough good things about this book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Kevin Schulze
5.0 out of 5 stars Du hast es schon in dir...
Reviewed in Germany on April 27, 2024
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Ein wunderbares Buch, das dir Mut zuspricht.

Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee mit Brenda Ueland getrunken und dabei ein wenig geplaudert.
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Jose
1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible edition
Reviewed in Spain on October 21, 2023
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Really a horrible edition, paragraphes are mixed in a funny way. Terrible to read
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Rajiv Chopra
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterly
Reviewed in India on October 13, 2020
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“If You Want To Write” by Brenda Ueland is a masterpiece. It is one of those books a reader should read slowly.

This book can liberate you from many issues that block your progress. The title of the book is masterful. It invites you to wonder what comes next. The title invites you to enter a world in which she invites your imagination and creativity to run wild in boundless joy.

My recommendation is for a reader to restrict himself, or herself, to only one chapter a day. I also recommend that you keep a pencil with you, so you don’t forget to underline those phrases and sentences that resonate with you.

Then, after a year, read the book again and measure how far along the road you have travelled.
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ammmb
5.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiasm is infectious
Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2018
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Great work
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Mrs Armtrough
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2020
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A voice from an earlier time which resonates with relevance for contemporary artists. Written to encourage aspiring writers, this small book packs a big punch, insisting that creativity is essential, a natural part of us all and that expressing it is what we must do, no matter what our fears or doubts are. The author gives many examples from her work with hopeful writers to demonstrate her insistence on authenticity, writing from the heart. These is both instructive and delightful, giving the reader glimpses of an earlier time, small windows onto seemingly quiet lives full of drama and insight. If you are just setting out on the creative path, I would highly recommend you take this small gem with you - it will inspire and challenge you in equal measure.
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