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Rating: 
- All that Writing Jazz
Books that teach you how to write fiction are almost a genre unto themselves. Some are literary (A Passion for Narrative) and some are trash (How to Write a Blockbuster), but most usually recommend the same things: create a daily writing routine, study other authors, persist, etc. This slim book is a classic in the genre, published before World War II. The language is very formal, the recommended reading is of authors no longer popular, and the reader is given plenty of suggestions of what to do with a typewriter.
What I found interesting: creative writing classes existed even back then, and they were for both men and women; the duality between consciousness and unconsciousness was already of interest for those studying creative writing; and the main belief of teachers like Brande was that everyone could succeed as a writer (as opposed to the more popular view today that only a few elect have talent.)
Rating:
- One of the best books on writing you'll ever read
I don't why you can't add this book other than through the Amazon Marketplace. Is the book out of print? If this is the case, then this is truly sad. Beg, borrow or buy this book second hand. It really is a marvellous read. It cuts through much of the waffle that surrounds writing and is written clearly and engagingly, the mark of a true writer. Not a single word is wasted. Anyone who is serious about "becoming a writer" should not be without this book.
Rating: - in two minds
Dorothea Brande's 1934 classic best-seller is about how to harness 'flow' as this is the key to great writing. She suggests thinking of yourself in two forms as conscious and unconscious. Both aspects of the self have to be trained and made to work in harmony. She is very hard nosed about the touch feely bits. As a starter she recommends waking half an hour before normal and writing whatever comes into your head. Keep this up for a month and then use rational consciousness to analyse the outputs and see what themes are in your unconscious mind. Another early technique is to set a time each day when you will write and then write at that time - without fail. This helps rob the unconscious of its pretensions to having 'moods' and thus not being able to perform as the need demands. She suggests that if you cannot stick with these routines then you may as well give up the quest to be an author of note. Those who do stick with it, however, are likely to develop an endless source of effortless, imaginative and good quality prose.
Rating: - GREAT MOTIVATIONAL BOOK
Despite the fact that this book was written in 1934 it is perhaps one of the most useful books to have on your bookshelf in terms of writing. It deals with the nuts and bolts of getting down to the task of writing consistently and offers essential advice on overcoming psychological blocks to writing. Even though some of the advice may be slightly outdated its essential message is not. If you are looking for ways to motivate yourself to write consistently this is the book.
Rating: - Good, concrete advice
If you want to write but are not sure what to write about, this is the book for you. It helps you get into the habit of effortless daily writing and, at the same time, discover what you need to write about. It also teaches the trick to make the words rush to your pen: wordless recreation. Read this one before entering a writing class or reading books on technique and style.
- All that Writing JazzBooks that teach you how to write fiction are almost a genre unto themselves. Some are literary (A Passion for Narrative) and some are trash (How to Write a Blockbuster), but most usually recommend the same things: create a daily writing routine, study other authors, persist, etc. This slim book is a classic in the genre, published before World War II. The language is very formal, the recommended reading is of authors no longer popular, and the reader is given plenty of suggestions of what to do with a typewriter.
What I found interesting: creative writing classes existed even back then, and they were for both men and women; the duality between consciousness and unconsciousness was already of interest for those studying creative writing; and the main belief of teachers like Brande was that everyone could succeed as a writer (as opposed to the more popular view today that only a few elect have talent.)
Rating:
- One of the best books on writing you'll ever readI don't why you can't add this book other than through the Amazon Marketplace. Is the book out of print? If this is the case, then this is truly sad. Beg, borrow or buy this book second hand. It really is a marvellous read. It cuts through much of the waffle that surrounds writing and is written clearly and engagingly, the mark of a true writer. Not a single word is wasted. Anyone who is serious about "becoming a writer" should not be without this book.
Rating:
- in two mindsDorothea Brande's 1934 classic best-seller is about how to harness 'flow' as this is the key to great writing. She suggests thinking of yourself in two forms as conscious and unconscious. Both aspects of the self have to be trained and made to work in harmony. She is very hard nosed about the touch feely bits. As a starter she recommends waking half an hour before normal and writing whatever comes into your head. Keep this up for a month and then use rational consciousness to analyse the outputs and see what themes are in your unconscious mind. Another early technique is to set a time each day when you will write and then write at that time - without fail. This helps rob the unconscious of its pretensions to having 'moods' and thus not being able to perform as the need demands. She suggests that if you cannot stick with these routines then you may as well give up the quest to be an author of note. Those who do stick with it, however, are likely to develop an endless source of effortless, imaginative and good quality prose.
Rating:
- GREAT MOTIVATIONAL BOOKDespite the fact that this book was written in 1934 it is perhaps one of the most useful books to have on your bookshelf in terms of writing. It deals with the nuts and bolts of getting down to the task of writing consistently and offers essential advice on overcoming psychological blocks to writing. Even though some of the advice may be slightly outdated its essential message is not. If you are looking for ways to motivate yourself to write consistently this is the book.
Rating:
- Good, concrete adviceIf you want to write but are not sure what to write about, this is the book for you. It helps you get into the habit of effortless daily writing and, at the same time, discover what you need to write about. It also teaches the trick to make the words rush to your pen: wordless recreation. Read this one before entering a writing class or reading books on technique and style.