Home / Authors / Brenda Ueland

Brenda Ueland Quotes

Journalist

Brenda Ueland was an American journalist and writer, born on October 24, 1891, and died on March 5, 1985. She is known for her unique writing style and profound insights into writing, particularly for her book 'How to Write'.

Filter quotes by topic

All Writing Thinking People Ifs Knows Listening Creative Self Trying Children Should Want Creativity Ideas Imagination Important Art Believe Feelings Littles

Famous Brenda Ueland Quotes

“So remember these two things: you are talented and you are original. Be sure of that. I say this because self-trust is one of the very most important things in writing.”

Writing Two Important Self Remember Originals Important Things Two Things Self Trust

Book:If You Want to Write

Source: If You Want to Write

“To have the external pressure of a job removed is very astonishing. Your own will is now your only motor and it has no horse-power. Sometimes I think that perhaps the most competent business men, and lawyers and doctors, who must be at the office at nine o'clock every morning, do not realize this and take more credit for initiative and industry than they deserve. And it is why all the bright women of the world, who if more were expected of them, might do important work, but who instead have a chronic feeling of ineffectiveness and sloth.”

“Self-trust is so important. When you launch on a story, make your neck loose, feel free, good-natured. And be lazy. Feel that you are going to throw it away. Try writing utterly unplanned stories and see what comes out.”

Feels Writing Trying Important Self Stories Necks Lazy Self Trust

Book:If You Want to Write

Source: If You Want to Write

“This is what I learned: that everybody is talented, original and has something important to say.”

Important Originals

Author:Brenda Ueland

“The only good teachers for you are those friends who love you, who think you are interesting, or very important, or wonderfully funny; whose attitude is: "Tell me more. Tell me all you can. I want to understand more about everything you feel and know and all the changes inside and out of you. Let more come out." And if you have no such friend,--and you want to write,--well, then you must imagine one.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Want Feels Writing Wells Important Interesting Attitude Teacher Imagine Love You Good Teacher

Book:If You Want to Write

Source: If You Want to Write

“I want to write about the great and powerful thing that listening is. And how we forget it. And how we don't listen to our children, or those we love. And least of all - which is so important, too - to those we do not love. But we should. Because listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force...When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life.”

Want Should Writing Children Important Ideas Force Grows Forget Powerful Creative Strange Listening Our Children Forget It Strange Things Magnetic Those We Love

Author:Brenda Ueland

“The only good teachers for you are those friends who love you, who think you are interesting, or very important, or wonderfully funny.”

Thinking Important Interesting Teacher Love You Good Teacher

Book:If You Want to Write

Source: If You Want to Write

About the Author

Born: October 24, 1891
Died: March 5, 1985
Known for: Journalist
Quotes: 113

Books & Sources

If You Want to WriteRelated source material

Strength to Your Sword Arm: Selected WritingsRelated source material

MeRelated source material

If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and SpiritRelated source material

Me: A MemoirRelated source material

Similar Authors

George SaundersBrowse related quotes
Joyce Carol OatesBrowse related quotes
Anne LamottBrowse related quotes
Stephen KingBrowse related quotes
Sandra CisnerosBrowse related quotes
Taylor SwiftBrowse related quotes
Chuck KlostermanBrowse related quotes
Fran LebowitzBrowse related quotes
William ZinsserBrowse related quotes
Salman RushdieBrowse related quotes