I've read this one too -- just pulled it off my shelf. Good mix of inspiration and a focus on persistence. She has a chapter on the latter. I like the discussion of a lot of philosophical issues surrounding writing -- more a question of what kind of writer you want to be and not just how to write. That's neat. It was a very interesting read particularly because of the time in which it was written. She had some very progressive ideas even if her language was reflective of the time in which she lived. She was trying to inspire people across the gender and class barriers of that time. For example, in the beginning, she talks about everyone having the ability to write....noblemen and servant girls :0
Also see the chapter titled, "Why Women Who Do Too Much Housework Should Neglect It For Their Writing". How lovely.
It is a real testament to the book though that nearly a century later (demonstrating my vague P ness here), the book still speaks rather well to aspiring writers.
Also a great book for writing inspiration is Bird by Bird by Anne Lammott. Very fun and has great suggestions and writing tips. This one remains my favorite. Oh goodness, this reminded me of the weirdest thing that happened a few years ago. I had gone to hear Anne Lammott read from her book at my grad school. In the Q&A section, a woman screamed out AL's MBTI type and just started telling her all about the type...I don't remember what it was but I do remember thinking what a strange thing to do. Now, here I am, on an MBTI site trying to figure out what AL's type may be...
I still won't scream it out at her at a future reading though.
Also fun for more practical advice for the novel genre is The Plot Thickens by Noah Lukeman.
P.S. I think Ueland may be an ENFP/J because she seems to really depend on and get a lot out of interactions with the students in her class for the book - classic ENFP/ENFJ observations. Sure, she presents several well thought through arguments in the book. Yet, the force of her words are very much still in the inspiration she provides. She's also remarkably funny and notices the strangest things about people she refers to --
Quote:
"There were many funny people, one of them a pretty married girl with fine, clear, sleepy eyes and a drawn and a sideways look."
Footnote: "So many funny people seem to drawl and be lazy"
Page 96-97.
Another:
"One of the class was Mrs. B. She had written for many years...She was an interesting and competent person, although something about the rather severe, rational, get-down-to-business look through her pince-nez made me feel that it might be a little hard to do much for her"
Don't both the above, particularly the first quote, sound just like an ENFP making weird connections....