So says Brenda Ueland and I agree with her. Her book, If You Want to Write, is one of my all-time favorite writing books. She is practical, straightforward and delightful. From the preface: For many years I had a large class of people at the Minneapolis YWCA. I think I was a splendid teacher and so did they. My teaching differs from that of others in this way: I am blessed with a fascinated, inexhaustible interest in all my pupils — their thoughts , adventures, failures, rages, villainies and nobilities, “Tell me more. Tell me exactly what you feel when you tried to kill the man.” . . . “You say his muscles rippled through his shoulders.” Did they really ripple? Did you really see that?” Then the young novelist’s excited defense: “Yes, they did! His muscles were so big they seemed to burst the seams of his coat!” Myself:…
Tag: if you want to write
If you want to write – Brenda Ueland
Tell about some childhood memory, write it as carelessly, recklessly, fast and sloppily as possible. Forget about writing ‘writing,’ and about trying to please the teacher, tell what you remember spontaneously, impulsively. Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write