Becoming a writer: foreword by John Gardner book cover

Becoming a writer Summary

foreword by John Gardner

Dorothea Brande
4(6239 Reviews)

Becoming a writer Summary Overview

Unlock your creative genius with "Becoming a Writer" - the 1934 classic that treats writing as character, not just talent. Hilary Mantel reads it yearly, John Cleese swears by its methods. Master the "artistic coma" that transforms ordinary scribblers into literary legends.

Key Themes in the Becoming a writer Summary

  • creative personality integration
  • unconscious mind training
  • artistic self-discipline
  • writer's block psychology
  • creative habit cultivation

Best Quotes from the Becoming a writer Summary

  • The "magic" of writing isn't an inborn gift...it's a learnable skill.

  • This duality isn't pathological-it's essential to creative work.

  • The average person finds something "exquisitely funny" about writing aspirations.

  • Talking about stories you plan to write often depletes the energy needed to actually write them.

  • The first step toward being a writer is hitching your unconscious mind to your writing arm.

Characters in the Becoming a writer Summary

  • Dorothea BrandeAuthor and writing instructor
  • John GardnerLiterary figure who championed the book's revival
  • Ray BradburyAuthor who credited the book for finding his voice

About the Author

About the Author of Becoming a writer

Dorothea Brande (1892–1948) was an American writer, editor, and pioneering writing instructor best known for her self-help classic Becoming a Writer. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan, Brande built her authority through roles as a Chicago newspaper journalist, associate editor of The American Review, and founder of a nationwide correspondence school for writers. Her work in 1930s New York literary circles blended practical psychology with creative discipline, evident in Becoming a Writer’s enduring techniques for overcoming writer’s block and nurturing creativity.

Brande’s expertise extended beyond writing guides; her 1936 bestseller Wake Up and Live! sold over one million copies, offering Depression-era readers strategies for personal excellence that rivaled contemporary works like How to Win Friends and Influence People. Her innovative “training the muse” approach to consistent writing influenced later generations of authors, including Julia Cameron of The Artist’s Way fame. Over 90 years since publication, Becoming a Writer remains in print and is widely recommended in creative writing curricula globally.

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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