If You Want to Write Audiobook By Brenda Ueland cover art

If You Want to Write

A Book about Art, Independence, and Spirit

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If You Want to Write

By: Brenda Ueland
Narrated by: Pat Carroll
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In her 93 remarkable years, veteran freelance writer, memoirist, and writing teacher Brenda Ueland published some six million words. She once said there were two simple rules that she followed absolutely: to tell the truth, and not to do anything she didn't want to do. Such integrity both distinguishes and defines If You Want to Write, her best-selling classic that first appeared in the late 1930s and has inspired thousands to find their own creative center. As Carl Sandburg once remarked, Ueland's primer is "the best book ever written on how to write".©1938, 1987 Brenda Ueland and the Estate of Brenda Ueland (P)1991, 1998 HighBridge Company Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Inspiring

Critic reviews

"A fresh and viable retelling....[Hunt's] rich prose and cultural details utilize the five senses to recreate the familiar story." (Publishers Weekly)
Inspirational Guidance • Creative Motivation • Perfect Voice • Practical Writing Advice • Encouraging Approach
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The narrator is great. Entertaining, informative, and inspirational.

Inspirational

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This was an excellent abridged version of Brenda Ueland’s If You Want To Write.

The readers performance is exquisite, and I would love to see a full version of Brenda Ueland’s work done by this particular reader. Her tone, her inflection, her capture of the feeling and expression in Brenda. Ueland’s work brings home, the most important parts, a Brenda Ueland’s message to us as aspiring writer’s.

The excitement and authenticity the Brenda Ueland, inspires us to was captured by the reader, in conveyed with congruency, that I thought was just wonderful.

I will listen to this multiple times and each time capture something new.

Fantastic abridged version

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To the point! Excellent advice for beginning and seasoned writers. I will use this information!

Review

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What made the experience of listening to If You Want to Write the most enjoyable?

I read dozens and dozens of writing-related books like this in my 20's and 30's before I had kids. They were a terrific education after college, and in many ways I learned more about writing from them than I did in any of my college classes. This book by Brenda Ueland was one of them, and it is wonderfully supportive of the creative spirit. It will give you the pep talk you need to move forward with your writing. My copy is full highlighted text.

Now that I'm in my late 40's and have kids, I have revisited this book again, this time in audiobook format from Audible. The narrator is Pat Carroll and she does a marvelous job reading this book-- I feel she is Ueland incarnate! I have only one criticism of the audiobook, and that is that they recorded it as an abridgement (the horror!); I can't for the life of me figure out why they chose to abridge this book when it was such a short book to begin with. But I would recommend the audiobook just the same (and, of course, the book).

What did you like best about this story?

Ueland is a wonderful cheerleader for the writer and creative spirit.

What does Pat Carroll bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pat Carroll is Brenda Ueland incarnate! This was an amazing narration. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

We can't take a militant approach to our creativity, that inspiration comes un-forced and with much moodling.

Very Supportive of the Creative Spirit

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I’ve never considered myself a writer or really wanted to write. I picked up this book just because it was short. Now, I can’t wait to start writing anything. If the author wrote it following what is said in the book, then it is a fantastic way of writing. I’m truly inspired.

Inspiring

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"Families are great murders of the creative impulse, especially husbands." :) I love how Ueland can say scathing things in such a loving and humorous way, and say it without any true resentment or anger.

Pat Carroll is genius! So much so, that when I share this book, I share the AUDIOBOOK more often than the book itself. This is a perfect work! Brenda Ueland, especially through the motivating, frank, animated voice of Pat Carroll, has changed my life. I give this to everyone that will show interest.

Ueland's "thoughts" focus on solutions, on motivation. She does not waste her time on details of the writing itself. She poses the idea that you will easily figure this out all on your own if you love and embrace the "holy ghost of creative power."

Absolute Magic... Inspiration in Short Order

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So easy to give up, because of what others say about your work or you're not qualified!
This book from 1938 rings truer today than when written! Thank you for recommending Mary Gauthier!!!!!

Truly Inspirational!

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This is a very inspiring book. It’s short but sweet. I recommend this version because the voice actor does a superb job.

The courage to create

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this book is such a gem and the narrator is amazing! I'd love for them to read the full version and I'll be looking for other books that they've narrated.

great!

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in my opinion, this is a very positive & thought provoking book. I also loved the narration, very well done!

very enjoyable

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