Good books to learn from?

BlueDimity · Dec 9, 2009

Hello, I am trying to become a writer. I have quite a few stories I am writing and I was hoping that somone could name a few books I could read to help me write my fantasy. Or any book I could learn from.

Thanks. I read quite a lot. Mostly YA fantasy though, but I am willing to read anything.

Saltier · Dec 10, 2009

Well, I'm not sure about specific titles, because I don't know if we're talking Harry Potter fantasy or Eragon fantasy. One thing I do to keep up with the YA science fiction/fantasy is troll the library. They have little stickers w/ genre within our YA section, so I just started at the A's and pulled titles that were marked as science fiction or fantasy.

Also, getting to know your librarian is always a good thing.

Oh - take that back. I just thought of someone to recommend. You should read just about anything by Diane Wynne Jones.

Kitty Pryde · Dec 10, 2009

The SF/F forum here has a stickied post on WHAT TO READ. It's got a wide variety of 'essential' reading in SF and fantasy.
My own list:
Neil Gaiman
Terry Pratchett
JRR Tolkien
CS Lewis
Phil Pullman
Mervyn Peake
Barry Hughart
JM Barrie
Sergei Lukyanenko
'Monkey', translated by Arthur Waley
'Zahrah the Windseeker' by Nnedi Okorafor
Ian McDonald
'Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'The Tempest' by Shakespeare
Elizabeth Bear

Judg · Dec 10, 2009

Or are you asking about writing books? You might check out Orson Scott Card's book on how to write science fiction and fantasy. I forget the title, but it's very close to that.

BlueDimity · Dec 10, 2009

Thanks guys! This was very helpful.

Jess Haines · Dec 10, 2009

Stephen King's "On Writing"
Gregg's Reference Manual
Chicago Manual of Style
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers

BlueDimity · Dec 10, 2009

Thanks. I'll check those books out.

tarcanus · Dec 10, 2009

It really depends on how serious you want to get and what you want to write.

Personally, I found Orson Scott Card's book outdated, but found the Elements of Style series of books to be helpful, as well a Gotham's workbook(can't remember it's exact name, but it's a glaringly yellow book), and Gardner's writing book.

BlueDimity · Dec 10, 2009

Thanks.
I will try to find these books.

RunawayScribe · Dec 15, 2009

Definitely check out the staple fantasy authors that have been suggested, but don't limit yourself. Read everything. Young adult, general fiction, genre fiction, classics, memoirs/nonfiction - anything that catches your interest.

I think of books like a nutritious diet. For balance and maximum benefit, you need a solid intake of various kinds. The more you read, the better you'll write. It won't happen instantly, but it will happen.

BlueDimity · Dec 15, 2009

Thank you so much.

AryaT92 · Dec 15, 2009

Judg said:
Or are you asking about writing books? You might check out Orson Scott Card's book on how to write science fiction and fantasy. I forget the title, but it's very close to that.

Read Ender's Game by Card..

BlueDimity · Dec 15, 2009

Thankies.

Good books to learn from?

BlueDimity

Saltier

Small towns fuel escapism

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

BlueDimity

Jess Haines

Boldly going nowhere in particular.

BlueDimity

tarcanus

Lord of the Tarcans

BlueDimity

RunawayScribe

It is what it is.

BlueDimity

AryaT92

BlueDimity