Best book for new writer

billyf027 · Jun 23, 2009

Hi,

I wanted to get a writing book for a beginner. The person is interested in all forms of writing including childrens books, poetry, and novels. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Devil Ledbetter · Jun 23, 2009

billyf027 said:
Hi,

I wanted to get a writing book for a beginner. The person is interested in all forms of writing including childrens books, poetry, and novels. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.

ccv707 · Jun 23, 2009

On Becoming A Novelist by John Gardner. Also by Gardner, On Moral Fiction and The Art of Fiction.

FOTSGreg · Jun 23, 2009

How about "Don't F&#king Do It If You Can Hold Down A Day Job" by Every Writer Who Ever Thought He Was Going To Make A Million With His First Novel?

Because that's what you're asking.

Yes, I'm in a mood tonight. I apologize in advance for the offense I cause.

Okay, seriously? Try On Writing by Stephen King. Try Worlds Of Wonder by David Gerrold. Try The Art & Craft Of Writing Science Fiction by Orson Scott Card. Try telling the person to go into their local library and reading every book in to 800 section as Gillhoughly recommends. Tell them to figure out FIRST what they want to write and WHY they want to write that stuff.

You have to start with the basics. Everybody does.

EFCollins · Jun 23, 2009

I like the updated version of Beginning Writer's Answer Book as edited by Jane Friedman.

Or you could always just read Learn writing with Uncle Jim a few threads down.

DWSTXS · Jun 23, 2009

MS Word. ( along with one instruction- Start writing. Now!)

I know it's not a book.

Eldritch · Jun 23, 2009

On Writing by Stephen King

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

ORION · Jun 23, 2009

Bird by Bird by anne lamott sp (sorry I'm brain dead)

Or buy LOTTERY by Patricia Wood (thought I'd sneak that in there...)

Beginning middles and ends by Kress

James D. Macdonald · Jun 23, 2009

The Elements of Style (Strunk&White)

A whole lot of blank paper

Stunted · Jun 23, 2009

I'd actually sugest that a begining writer hammer out a draft before they read much about craft. I think that doing otherwise could be potentially muddling.

archerjoe · Jun 23, 2009

I've said it before but I got a lot of mileage out of Between the Lines
by Jessica Morrell. People who have used this book based on my recommendation told me it helped them, too.

soapdish · Jun 23, 2009

archerjoe said:
I've said it before but I got a lot of mileage out of Between the Lines
by Jessica Morrell. People who have used this book based on my recommendation told me it helped them, too.

Yes, I second this one. I have read a ton of books on the craft lately, including almost all of the ones recommended above, and Between the Lines was probably the best. I checked it out from the library and renewed it as many times as I could before I had to return it. Now I have added it to my "must buy" list.

Blackest_Nite · Jun 23, 2009

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is the assigned text for a creative writing course I am taking. It is, so far, very helpful. I also got through reading The Writer's Book of Wisedom by Steven Taylor Goldsberry. It lists 101 guidelines by which to write. That one was the best book about writing I've read yet.

motormind · Jun 23, 2009

I'd argue not to bother with writing books when you start out beginning, aside from perhaps grammar guides. You have to read a lot and write a lot--and you shouldn't be afraid to write a lot of crap. Once you have gained some experience, you can get yourself some of the books mentioned above. If all is well they will offer you insights about your own writing.

dnic · Jun 23, 2009

Since it's a gift, I'm triple ditto-ing On Writing. It's got some entertainment in there along with writing advices.

Bufty · Jun 24, 2009

Interested in everything? Hmmm.

Strunk and White's Elements of Style, and just write.

And read. Reading - what one intends to write - teaches as much as is really necessary to know.

If a real beginner gets a 'How to...' book first, I fear they may find themselves being too analytical as they proceed.

Writing is a creative task that does not want to be interrupted by the other analytical side of the brain.

I suggest they write the story or whatever first, then when they have finished they have something to work on when they begin to discover the techniques involved.

At that stage -as far as novels go - they may find these two books helpful.

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V Swain, and

Scene & Structure (How to construct fiction with scene-by-scene flow, logic and readability) by Jack M Bickham

And when they have finished the story -the SYW Forum here is a pretty good place to pop one's initial few pages.

Good luck to your friend.

Izz · Jun 24, 2009

Bufty said:
And read. Reading - what one intends to write - teaches as much as is really necessary to know.

This.

Wark · Jun 24, 2009

The thing I agree with most here is Bufty's second line.

Write something. Think of something cool and write it, the rewrite it, twice. Then get discouraged....

Oh, I better stop.

RickN · Jun 24, 2009

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V Swain

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers

On Writing by Stephen King

I have numerous writing books, but I keep rereading these three. Techniques when I'm writing the book, Self-Editing when I'm, well, editing, and On Writing when I want to be inspired.

Mythical Tiger · Jun 24, 2009

How To Write And Sell Your Novel... By: R. Karl Largent

This book is very helpful for writing a novel. It covers all of the basics and tells you everything you need to know. Even how to make a Query, Resume, and Synopsis for your story. My parents got me this book awhile ago and I love it. This guy explains everything clearly and it's easy to understand. He has written and sold 18 novels and is currently working on his nineteenth. I've read it plenty of times and still do.

Hope this helps and good luck

.

~Sam

Susan Gable · Jun 24, 2009

GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon

And I'll also endorse Self-Editing for Fiction Writers as a terrific basic course in the craft of writing.

Susan G.

Fokker Aeroplanbau · Jun 24, 2009

On Writing by Stephen King. It has been mentioned a few times before so I give a thumbs up to everyone who mentioned it before and hope you do pick it up - he explores very well the trench warfare of just chugging through a novel day-in day-out.

SharkGelli · Jun 24, 2009

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Burroway and Stuckey-French is good if you can grab it from a library (seriously, $80 in-store?).

josephwise · Jun 24, 2009

I'm not one for how-to books, but I've always thought Asimov's I, Robot is a wonderful pamphlet on the character-development process.

Dorian W. Gray · Jun 24, 2009

Generally, in this case, I agree with motor

However, I strongly suggest:

Writing Tools, by Roy Peter Clark. I wished somebody had hit me with this book before I wrote the first word of my story.

This book does not teach you “how to write,” grammar, style or anything else; however, it talks about a lot of things that writers should keep in mind while writing.

Unfortunately, I was not keeping a few simple, yet critical things in mind as vigorously and as consciously as I should have. I now have to go back and look for those things and rewrite with author's simple suggestions in mind, where appropriate.

Therefore, I would highly recommend to any novice, new or untrained writer, to have a quick look at it, at the very least. It is also full of great examples/excerpts by some very nifty writers.

Gak,

Best book for new writer

Come on you stranger, you legend,

He who asks, "Why?"

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