Books on Writing.

[Emily]

Perhaps you would care to share any good 'uns you have read? I particularly liked:

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
Writing Down The Bones - Natalie Goldberg
On Writing -Stephen King
The Poetry Handbook-Mary Oliver (pertaining to poetry obvs, but some lovely stuff in there)

 

[Tim James]

How not to write a novel: 200 classic mistakes and how to avoid them. - Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman.
hilariously funny in places and very pertinent. A good book for those trying hard to get agents' attention.

 

[Amber]

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.

 

[Emily]

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!!

 

[Nikky Lee]

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.

 

[Colin Mulhern]

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.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

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

 

[Tim James]

I also had The Elements of Style sitting on my bookshelf for a number of years before I moved.

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.

 

[Matnov]

'Telling Lies for Fun and Profit' by Laurence Block. Even if only for the title alone.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I know it might seem an odd title, but it's been a go- to for me, and I just find it interesting generally. A previous Man Booker judge.

How To Read A Novel by John Sutherland.

Free PDF HERE

 

[Emurelda]

Into the Woods by John Yorke
Steering the Craft by Ursula Le Guin

 

[Emily]

William Strunk's Elements of Style is available as a free download from Project Gutenberg

ow To Read A Novel by John Sutherland.

Free PDF HERE

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!

 

[yanapuma]

what about ... Reading like a writer by Francine Prose and How fiction works by James Woods
How to Write : the essential guide for authors by Harry Bingham and Story Line: finding gold in your life story by Jen Grisanti

 

[yanapuma]

Monkeys With Typewriters

by Scarlett Thomas

 

[Emily]

Thank you

 

[Paul Whybrow]

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!