Scan barcode
shiradest's review against another edition
4.0
The best book on writing that I have read. Upshot: discipline, self-confidence until the second draft, editing with a rested eye, meditating on your story idea, and more discipline. Excellent reading.
ShiraDestinie
World's Day, 12014 HE (The World Calender + Holocene Calendar/Human Era)
ShiraDestinie
World's Day, 12014 HE (The World Calender + Holocene Calendar/Human Era)
flatmtns's review against another edition
4.0
Usually, I'm almost embarrassed to pick up self-helpy books, especially ones with such bright-eyed titles as "Becoming a Writer". Who wants to admit that they need help, especially from an 80 year-old book? But by chance I lucked into Brande's book, and I'm really glad I did.
It's a poetic, simple, and blunt book filled with thoughtful advice, great for the writer for sure, but really helpful to any artist or crafter of any kind. She's not offering technical knowledge, as she states from the beginning, but rather a perspective on making things that transcends medium. This is a book about trusting yourself and valuing your vision, and treating your labor as just artful labor, rather than the will of the muse. I especially liked her insight about self-criticism: When it is necessary, make it specific and thorough, with definite goals - and then leave off for a while, to give yourself time to actually make progress! It's good stuff.
She overemphasized originality and (I think) looked down too much on the idea of influences in general, but all in all "Becoming a Writer" is a helpful manual on making and doing in general.
It's a poetic, simple, and blunt book filled with thoughtful advice, great for the writer for sure, but really helpful to any artist or crafter of any kind. She's not offering technical knowledge, as she states from the beginning, but rather a perspective on making things that transcends medium. This is a book about trusting yourself and valuing your vision, and treating your labor as just artful labor, rather than the will of the muse. I especially liked her insight about self-criticism: When it is necessary, make it specific and thorough, with definite goals - and then leave off for a while, to give yourself time to actually make progress! It's good stuff.
She overemphasized originality and (I think) looked down too much on the idea of influences in general, but all in all "Becoming a Writer" is a helpful manual on making and doing in general.
kjboldon's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A delight. Belongs on every writer's shelves. About the creative process and the things to think about and practice before one puts pen to paper. So many great ideas and exercises to get into a creative flow.
alexthepink's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book and very ahead of its time - morning pages and meditation! One of those books worth rereading every year to make sure you haven't slipped into bad habits. Now I'm off for a bath and a creative coma...
rebadee's review against another edition
4.0
Dorothea Brande’s Becoming a Writer came recommended on an episode of Tim Clare’s Death of a Thousand Cuts podcast. There was a lot in this guide that fired me up to write. It was not exercise heavy, much of the work came down to shifting how I approached writing. Brande’s perspective on the dual nature of writing between the subconscious creator and uberconscious editor helped me to better manage my expectations and set myself up to succeed at my writing goals. Brande’s voice was encouragingly realistic and practical. On a productivity side, this was more helpful than Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, however I may revisit Bird now and find it more effective. Overall, Brande’s book is a necessary tool for any writer struggling with getting to the page.
stagasaurus's review against another edition
4.0
I read this because my Mum said Hilary Mantel recommended it.
It was very useful. It's about the process of writing that goes on inside your head, not so much about the words once you've put them on the page. I'm going to reread it at some point because I think it's one of those that you will pick different things up from each time.
It was very useful. It's about the process of writing that goes on inside your head, not so much about the words once you've put them on the page. I'm going to reread it at some point because I think it's one of those that you will pick different things up from each time.
nickyp's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I'd had this book when I started writing! I'm one of those people who needed to get my head in order, forget my image of The Writer, and get my writing habits built before any of the craft courses I was taking could have an effect. I'm also one of those who was so discouraged by the process of "workshopping" stories in college that I didn't write fiction again for a decade. Knowing there was another way to begin, and to proceed, would have eased my heart and shortened my course to publication.
And when I'm stalled out, tired, or blocked, it's good to remember that I'm not alone and that there are concrete mental and physical things I can do (or relax and not do) that can shorten the drought. A small book stuffed with hope.
And when I'm stalled out, tired, or blocked, it's good to remember that I'm not alone and that there are concrete mental and physical things I can do (or relax and not do) that can shorten the drought. A small book stuffed with hope.
ejmiddleton's review against another edition
4.0
This is partly becoming a writer, but partly making time in your life for art. I almost think this is a cliff notes version of the Artist's Way, but with more of a writing slant. The best advice, besides morning pages, is treating writing like any other exercise - practice making yourself write longer, practice even when you don't feel like it, don't do it for glory, and give yourself time to ruminate before you really get going on a Big Idea. Really, this is as useful for any enterprise as it is for writing, even though it's about writing.
thestarman's review against another edition
4.0
3+ stars for me. Probably deserves 5 stars, being one of the earliest and better books to tackle the topic -- and with a unique kind of vigor. So let's average it as 4 stars.