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Books on Writing.
- Thread starter Emily
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Always On Writing ... easy book to read ... interesting read ... sort of says it all about the advice inside doesn't it? I don't even like all of King's books but I like this one.
I've been flipping through a book called Story Structure Architect lately. Also... Heroes and Heroines - Sixteen Master Archetypes ... AND The Emotion Thesaurus. These aren't books I sit down and read. I read bits and pieces of them.
Also, Self-editing for Fiction Writers.
@Rainbird -- The Mary Oliver book is pretty standard for many college creative writing courses. I remember I was off poetry when I was required to read it and didn't give it much attention. But I still have it. I should look at it again.
I also have Writing Down the Bones and a few others of Natalie Goldberg's. I think ... well ... once I sat down to look at it I wasn't into what she was saying. Which, like the Mary Oliver book, says most likely says more about me than either of these books. I might take a look at that one again too.
I've been flipping through a book called Story Structure Architect lately. Also... Heroes and Heroines - Sixteen Master Archetypes ... AND The Emotion Thesaurus. These aren't books I sit down and read. I read bits and pieces of them.
Also, Self-editing for Fiction Writers.
@Rainbird -- The Mary Oliver book is pretty standard for many college creative writing courses. I remember I was off poetry when I was required to read it and didn't give it much attention. But I still have it. I should look at it again.
I also have Writing Down the Bones and a few others of Natalie Goldberg's. I think ... well ... once I sat down to look at it I wasn't into what she was saying. Which, like the Mary Oliver book, says most likely says more about me than either of these books. I might take a look at that one again too.
Thank you @Tim James , I will check that one out. They get extra points for being funny!
@Amber, I've made note of those also, thank you. Some books resonate with me wherever I happen to be at that time, and with some, it takes me a few forays back to appreciate what they have to say
But thanks for those recommendations. I'm compiling my Christmas list!!
@Amber, I've made note of those also, thank you. Some books resonate with me wherever I happen to be at that time, and with some, it takes me a few forays back to appreciate what they have to say
But thanks for those recommendations. I'm compiling my Christmas list!!
I'll admit I'm very lazy with reading books on writing, I really should read more. I currently have Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen sitting on my Kindle, along with Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital Age.
I also had The Elements of Style sitting on my bookshelf for a number of years before I moved.
I also had The Elements of Style sitting on my bookshelf for a number of years before I moved.
Solutions for Writers by Sol Stein, and Solutions for Novelists (Secrets of a Master Editor) by the same guy. Sol Stein is a heavyweight in the editing world; some of his authors have sold millions. Well worth a read.
I've read several books on writing this year, one of the most useful of which was Joe Moran's First You Write A Sentence.
Joe Moran:
I also liked Sam Leith's Write To The Point. Anything by Noah Lukeman is informative and supportive.
What these three writing gurus have is a lack of pomposity and a colloquial warmth in getting their points across. It's always better to be encouraged than told off!
William Strunk's Elements of Style is available as a free download from Project Gutenberg:
The Elements of Style by William Strunk
Joe Moran:
I also liked Sam Leith's Write To The Point. Anything by Noah Lukeman is informative and supportive.
What these three writing gurus have is a lack of pomposity and a colloquial warmth in getting their points across. It's always better to be encouraged than told off!
William Strunk's Elements of Style is available as a free download from Project Gutenberg:
The Elements of Style by William Strunk
In my opinion The Elements of Style by Strunk and White should be sitting on EVERY writers bookshelf. It is a book of both concise expertise and masterful help to writers of all grades.
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Thanks, @Paul Whybrow and @Katie-Ellen Hazeldine , free downloads are much appreciated
Thanks for all the suggestions, I have made a little file for myself to start wading through!
I hesitate to recommend it, but one of the most honest books on writing is How To Not Write A Novel, by David Armstrong. I read it after two years of writing my first two Cornish Detective novels and querying about 300 literary agents, recognising much of what he says.
How Not to Write a Novel by David Armstrong
To call it wry is kind, as it would put off most novice writers straight away, if they had the wisdom to recognise the hard-won truth of his words...which might be a very good thing. I bought my copy on eBay, and just checking the UK site there are seven available for less than £3. Most books on writing are guides to what should be, but David Armstrong's is more like a war diary of what actually is!
How Not to Write a Novel by David Armstrong
To call it wry is kind, as it would put off most novice writers straight away, if they had the wisdom to recognise the hard-won truth of his words...which might be a very good thing. I bought my copy on eBay, and just checking the UK site there are seven available for less than £3. Most books on writing are guides to what should be, but David Armstrong's is more like a war diary of what actually is!
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