Please recomend books about writing fiction

Levi · Dec 31, 2006

Although I am generally a non-fiction writer I have been thinking about crossing over the bridge to write fiction as well for recreation (at least at first).

If any of the veteran fiction writers here have recommendations for good books or software for the beginner fiction/novel writer please reply here.

Thank so much in advance.

Christine N. · Dec 31, 2006

On Writing, by Stephen King
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
Writing the Breakout Novel (I've heard it's good)
Writing Down the Bones

There's a much longer list; I'm sure others will chime in shortly.

Miss Java · Dec 31, 2006

Christine N. said:
On Writing, by Stephen King
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
Writing the Breakout Novel (I've heard it's good)
Writing Down the Bones

There's a much longer list; I'm sure others will chime in shortly.

Writing the Breakout Novel is my favorite. By Donald Maass

violetmuse · Dec 31, 2006

Becoming A Writer, by Dorothea Brande.

Adagio · Dec 31, 2006

Description, by Monica Wood. Very good!

flannelberry · Dec 31, 2006

I loved Writing Down to the Bones and On Writing. Art and Fear - although not specifically re: writing - is another great one.

C.bronco · Dec 31, 2006

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0155924052/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

Twenty Questions for the Writer, by Jacqueline Berke. I liked it a lot, but I may be biased; she was one of my writing profs in college. Still, I think it's different and well done. Other than that, check out the Stephen King book on writing, it's very good.

James D. Macdonald · Dec 31, 2006

The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey is the absolute truth about writing fiction.

The best book about creating plots and believable characters (and entertaining your reader) is Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms.

We recently had a similar discussion in another thread: Book recommendations for newbies.

Marian Perera · Dec 31, 2006

I liked Orson Scott Card's Characters and Viewpoint.

blacbird · Dec 31, 2006

Leonard Bishop: Dare to Be a Great Writer
Rachel Simon: The Writer's Survival Guide

Those mentioned by others in the thread are all highly commendable.

caw

Levi · Dec 31, 2006

Thanks for all the suggestions -- I have ordered the following:

On Writing [Mass Market Paperback]
By: Stephen King

The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction (Modern Library Paperbacks) [Paperback]
By: Stephen Koch

Writing the Breakout Novel [Paperback]
By: Donald Maass

The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing: A 16-Step Program Guaranteed to Take You from Idea to Completed Manuscript [Paperback]
By: Evan Marshall

Dialogue: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Effective Dialogue (Write Great Fiction) [Paperback]
By: Gloria Kempton

How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them [Paperback]
By: Sol Stein

The above should be enough to get me started -- I hope.

blacbird · Dec 31, 2006

All these recommendations having been made, I venture that the best way to learn how to write the fiction you are capable of writing is to read a hell of a lot of the best of it, carefully, paying full attention to what is done, in every genre and style. Absorption is a better teacher than analysis.

caw

aruna · Dec 31, 2006

violetmuse said:
Becoming A Writer, by Dorothea Brande.

I second and third that. I was a non-writer before I read that book. A year later, I had finished my first novel!

However, it's a book for a special case - it's to get you started with writing. All the other books, on technique etc, come later; and there, I recommend anything by Orson Scott Card.

cinders23 · Jan 1, 2007

My favorites...

“Stein – On Writing” By Sol Stein

“Word Painting” By Rebecca McClanahan (Description)

“The Artist’s Way” – Julia Cameron (Inspirational for writing)

“Characters and View Point” Orson Scott Card.

Susan Gable · Jan 1, 2007

GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict, by Debra Dixon. Find it at www.gryphonbooksforwriters.com . It's an excellent book for all types of genre writing, helps you understand how to build a strong foundation for your fiction.

The other book I always recommend has already gotten several mentions here: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.

Susan G.

underthecity · Jan 1, 2007

Levi said:
Although I am generally a non-fiction writer I have been thinking about crossing over the bridge to write fiction . . . have recommendations for good books or software for the beginner fiction/novel writer please reply here.

Being a nonfiction writer myself who has crossed into fiction in the past year, I can't possibly add to the above list. On Writing, Characters and Viewpoint, and all the rest are recommended. Self Editing for Fiction Writers is a MUST HAVE. Just don't spend all your time reading those books; you'll never get around to actually writing your own!

Then there's 2007 Writer's Market. That's helpful, too.

Also, read read read as much fiction as you can.

As for software, Microsoft Word seems to be the preferred choice. If you're going to write a novel, or anything for that matter, just go with the basic word processing software. The story, characters, plot, everything comes from you. Novel writing software won't write a book for you.

allen

Misty_Blue · Jan 1, 2007

I've just done the same and ordered four books about writing on Amazon, much to my husband's disbelief, as he has just asked me why I have bought four books about the exact same thing???.. This has lead to a debate with me explaining why they are similar but not the same... which is soon going to lead to one of us murdering the other since we have both just quit smoking! :e2fight:

Elodie-Caroline · Jan 1, 2007

Hi Levi,
I took up writing fiction two years ago. I also spent a lot of money (over £100) last year on books about writing, but to be honest, I haven't read a single one of them yet. Both of my novels are nearly finished, so I guess that I'll be reading those books I bought and then fine tuning my own stories in the next few months.
The main thing to writing is to have a plot/story in your head and then getting your bum in the chair and writing it all down; but being as you've written non-fiction, you already know how to do the bic thing anyway lol.

Ellie

Siddow · Jan 1, 2007

I'd like to add "Revision" by David Michael Kaplan. It's worth a read even if you haven't started the book yet.

Another thing I've done that I found helpful was to dissect a really good novel. I sat down with a notebook and wrote an outline while I read; it really helped me to see how the plot was put together.

(and I just ordered James D's first recommendation on Amazon for $1.89; a late Christmas present for me! Wheee!)

Azure Skye · Jan 1, 2007

Adagio said:
Description, by Monica Wood. Very good!

I'll be re-reading that today.

imagoodgurl4 · Jan 1, 2007

Description by Monica Wood is pretty good. It tells you the varying degrees of description and explains the whole show vs. tell thing. A very helpful read.

kbax · Jan 1, 2007

I'm currently in the middle of The First Five Pages, by Noah Lukeman. Like most writing books, it tells me things I've known for years, puts into words other things that I've felt but not verbalized, and opens a few windows to things I've never really thought about.

I was also a fan of Writing Down the Bones. I need to find my copy and re-read it.

Those are really the only two writing books I've read/half-read, although I also own Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (Browne and King--not that King). Most of that, though, was stuff I already knew.

Off to amazon to buy On Writing...I've been wanting it for years, and now I have some gift cards that need spendin'. Thanks for the reminder, guys

.

Bartholomew · Jan 1, 2007

Don't waste your money.

Uncle Jim's writing thread is a brilliant summary of every writing book I've ever blown my hard earned gold on.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7987

PeeDee · Jan 1, 2007

Honestly, everything I've learned about fiction, I've learned from writing it and reading it.

Gravity · Jan 1, 2007

Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, by Lawrence Block. Pointed, funny, and dead-on right.

Please recomend books about writing fiction

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