Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande is an older read, published in 1934. 

It’s all about the creative writer’s journey.

And while some of the insights in this book have evolved since its original publication, there is still wisdom to be found.

So, leading with curiosity and an open mind, here are 3 lessons you can learn from Becoming a Writer.

Brande encourages writers to reflect on what occurred before their “good and bad writing sessions.” 

Every writer has routines that can help or hinder their creative process.

A good night’s sleep, an artistic hobby, a walk in nature, a scroll on social media, a cluttered space, or an impending deadline… what we do can influence our creative output.

We can walk through life oblivious to the sway that these actions have over us, or we can get curious and spend some time learning what works for us.

Then, strive to craft the ideal environment for creative writing.

Be okay with difficult days. Know that in certain circumstances, we might want to take a writing break.

In the end, all of this serves our writing process as we are less likely to fall into the spiral of guilt and failure.

When I was in high school, you’d have to yank my thesaurus from my grip.

In fact, out of nostalgia, I still own that tattered copy. It hasn’t been opened in years. At some point, I’ll need to let it go.

But, not today!

Brande understands the plight of writers seeking to improve their craft through “vivid verbs”– how can I make my writing more interesting?

Yet, she reminds us that simply looking up “unique words” to replace those that readily come to mind can pull readers out of your story, especially when they don’t fit in seamlessly with the rest of your prose.

So, let’s apply that insight to all the fancy tools, resources and websites out there today.

Use them with care and sparingly.

Don’t lose your writer’s voice in the process of refining your writing.

This is the biggest insight I gained from Brande’s book! 

She explains that your goal as a fiction writer is to convince readers that the plot you’ve laid out is relevant, realistic and of dire importance to your character’s transformation.

Your story is a work of persuasive writing.

With this in mind, step back and reflect on each event in your narrative.

If it’s supposed to be a tragic scene, have you conveyed that through action, reaction and subtext?

Will readers recognize its importance without you explicitly stating it?

If they aren’t convinced that your scene is crucial to the story, it’s time to get into revisions!

Reading Becoming a Writer reveals many beliefs and practices of our fellow writers from the past.

Some of these have changed over time, and others remain a part of our journey.

A writer is a lifelong learner, willing to read widely and often. 

I encourage you to seek out wisdom from diverse writers, and if it’s an older text or resource you’re considering delving into, give it the proper opportunity to reveal its wisdom.

Don’t pass it up too soon.

Looking for more reads to improve your writing craft?

Here are two other books that I’ve written about on the blog.

1. Stephen King’s On Writing
2. Natalie Goldberg’s Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open the Writer’s Craft

You never know what you’ll discover!

What books should writers read? Let’s create a reading list together.

Talk soon!

Julia