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bloodravenlib's review against another edition
3.0
I read this for a fiction writing class I took in graduate school. The class was a lot of work, but it was likely one of the best classes I took. It inspired me as a writer, and I have kept dabbling in fiction since.
The book itself is full of ideas a writer can use. It is not a technical book or guide. The book is pretty prescriptive, and a bit strict (when compared to a book like say, Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones).Yet I found the book pretty accurate in giving me sense of my experience as a writer at the time.
The book itself is full of ideas a writer can use. It is not a technical book or guide. The book is pretty prescriptive, and a bit strict (when compared to a book like say, Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones).Yet I found the book pretty accurate in giving me sense of my experience as a writer at the time.
erikamarconato's review against another edition
4.0
Un libricino snello sulla scrittori, gli scrittori, la lettura, le pagine bianche.
aligeorge's review against another edition
4.0
Great wee book, full of sensible stuff - looking forward to trying some of these exercises. My only bugbear really is the constant referring to the writer as male, but I'm guessing that might be due to this having come out in 1934...
bkam's review against another edition
5.0
If you have any desire to write, in whatever form, do not make the same mistake that I did, and delay in reading this book. Upon reading the Guardian's excellent collection of Rules for writing fiction in 2010, I ordered this book. I then let it sit on my shelf for eight years.
I will not attempt to do justice to the book's wisdom, as any paraphrase would surely do it violence. Moreover, it's a book so short that it needs no summary. Like the Tao Te Ching, and precious few other books, it can be read in one sitting, but to put it to fullest use would take a lifetime.
Brande has as much insight into the mind's innermost workings as any adept meditator, and her prose is as arrestingly beautiful as any of the authors whose examples she cites. Not only is it inspiring, but it is inspired, and gives concrete advice on how to master and channel the inevitable pain of writing. If you write, do yourself a favour, and read this book.
I will not attempt to do justice to the book's wisdom, as any paraphrase would surely do it violence. Moreover, it's a book so short that it needs no summary. Like the Tao Te Ching, and precious few other books, it can be read in one sitting, but to put it to fullest use would take a lifetime.
Brande has as much insight into the mind's innermost workings as any adept meditator, and her prose is as arrestingly beautiful as any of the authors whose examples she cites. Not only is it inspiring, but it is inspired, and gives concrete advice on how to master and channel the inevitable pain of writing. If you write, do yourself a favour, and read this book.
poerlyread's review against another edition
4.0
There are a lot of good exercises in this book to use when you’re wanting to become a writer before ever really writing a story. Some of the writing is a little wonky because it was originally published in 1934, but the truth of most of the writing stands true today. The whole arc is multiple steps, with each step taking a bit of time. I’m excited to try some of these out!
ashak's review against another edition
5.0
A gem that is a must-have on every aspiring writer's shelf.
For a complete review click on the link below or paste it onto your browser.
http://onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/becoming-writer-dorothea-brande.html
For a complete review click on the link below or paste it onto your browser.
http://onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/becoming-writer-dorothea-brande.html
jennyrbaker's review against another edition
4.0
I love it when my friends and coworkers suggest books to me, especially when it's a writing advice book. Thanks Steve for thinking of me and loaning me your book. I got a lot out of this and ended up ordering a used copy online. The second half of the book has a lot of great suggestions and exercises. Highly recommended.