If You Want to Write

“An inspirational tract aimed at all those who would write but are prevented from so doing by shyness, fear or humility . . . I was with [Ueland] right up to the end and wanted to shout, ‘Amen.’”—Andrei Codrescu, NPR

No Graywolf publication has had a bigger impact on readers than Brenda Ueland’s zesty, life-affirming guidebook to a creative life. Ueland has inspired thousands to take up the pen or keyboard in her classic, If You Want to Write, and has moved countless others to become more artistic, more optimistic, more charged with possibility. Ueland’s charismatic personality, and her encouragement that “everybody is talented, original and has something important to say,” have made her a favorite among fans ranging from creative writing students to computer programmers.

Brenda Ueland was born in Minneapolis in 1891 and grew up there. For many years of her adult life she lived in New York, working mostly as a freelance writer and disliking her work. Returning to Minneapolis, she began to teach writing in various community settings in the Twin Cities. She said of herself that she was born on Lake Calhoun “in a happier time before automobiles.” Brenda Ueland was the author of three books, If You Want to Write, ME, and Strength to Your Sword Arm, many articles and short stories, and was a long-time teacher of writing. She was knighted by the King of Norway and set an international swimming record (for over-80-year-olds). She lived by two rules: to tell the truth, and not to do anything she didn’t want to do. She died in 1985 at the age of 93.

“The best book ever written about how to write.”—Carl Sandburg