Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande Summary
Overview of Becoming a Writer
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.
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Key takeaways
When Writing Feels Impossible: The Real Problem Isn't Technique
Something strange happens to talented people who desperately want to write. They read craft books, attend workshops, master story structure-yet when they sit down to create, nothing comes. The words feel forced, lifeless. They watch less talented peers succeed while their own manuscripts gather dust. What's going wrong? The answer isn't found in another plotting technique or dialogue workshop. The obstacle isn't technical at all-it's psychological. Most writing instruction attacks the wrong problem entirely, teaching sentence construction to people whose real struggle is accessing their creative mind in the first place. Until you understand the dual nature of consciousness and learn to harness both aspects deliberately, all the craft knowledge in the world remains useless theory. You contain two distinct personalities, and successful writing depends on both working in harmony. One part of you is spontaneous, sensitive, childlike-responding freshly to the world with emotion and intuition. The other is discriminating, analytical, practical-shaping those raw responses into coherent art. This isn't a disorder; it's the fundamental architecture of creativity. Think of those moments when you've awakened with a problem mysteriously solved, or found yourself performing brilliantly during an emergency when conscious thought would have slowed you down. These everyday miracles reveal your unconscious and conscious minds conspiring together. Writers who consistently produce powerful work have simply learned to create these moments of integration deliberately rather than waiting for them to arrive by chance. The journals of literary masters consistently mention this sensation of being multiple people-the everyday self who walks through life and the genius who flies above it, seeing patterns invisible to ordinary perception.
Guarding Your Creative Spirit From a Hostile World
The Morning Pages: Hitching Your Unconscious to Your Writing Arm
Writing by Appointment: The Test of True Commitment
Reading Like a Writer and Finding Your Irreplaceable Perspective
Honesty and Originality: Writing From Your Present Truth
Awakening Your Genius: The Creative State That Changes Everything
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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