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How many books on writing have you read?
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I wonder if I have the record, and there are still some on my "want list" at paperbackswap and in general. I must have two dozen on writing fiction, others on writing in general, and then there are the textbooks, refence books and things such as "The Elements of Style" 4th ed., and English "handbooks." These things jump off the thrift store shelves at me, but I put most of them back because they're usually the publisher's reference/style books that I have a more recent edition of.
But if you don't read these things, how do you know if you're faking it correctly?
I don't have an actual degree in anything, but while in college I worked toward a BFD in studying...
I have 5 books on screenwriting and one on writing novels. I have both the Save the Cat books. They're pretty good for a general look at what makes for a successful screenplay.
Thanks for all the feedback. I've read most of the books mentioned in this thread. Like others I especially like On Writing and Bird by Bird, though King and Lamott have very different styles. Anne Lamott seems a bit tortured by the process while Stephen King seems very "go with the flow".
I tell myself that it's ok for the first draft to be crap, but I think that by reading all of this stuff before putting pen to paper my actions are saying otherwise. I just need to trust that I've read enough great books (of fiction) to have a general sense of what to do and save all of the tips/tools/techniques for the rewrites and edits.
I tell myself that it's ok for the first draft to be crap, but I think that by reading all of this stuff before putting pen to paper my actions are saying otherwise. I just need to trust that I've read enough great books (of fiction) to have a general sense of what to do and save all of the tips/tools/techniques for the rewrites and edits.
I liked King's book, I've a handful each by Natalie Goldman and Julia Cameron more for the inspirational goads than as how-to.
Just On Writing by Stephen King. When I spend time searching for insightful and revelatory ideas from books on writing...I slap myself, because that means I'm not coming up with anything myself.
Course, I can see how they're useful
Course, I can see how they're useful
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I am quite sure that during my six years of writing classes, I read books on writing. I simply could not tell you what they were. The only book I kept was from my first year in high school (majored in writing) called "Pictures into Words." It's just a series of photos. We were given assignments to write short pieces inspired by particular pictures. Fabulous exercise. Other than that, I just write. Of course, I am not looking to write the great American novel, just a fun read, so I don't torture myself about whether or not I'm doing it right. I'm waiting until I have an agent and an editor so they can torture me.
I collect books on books, writing, and grammar... so yeah, I have a lot. 129 at present count 
Still, in my defense, a lot of those books are by Basbanes... does that count for anything?
I think I need help...
ETA: As to how many books about writing I've read- 26. Seriously though, many of them were very entertaining.
Jessica - who still needs help with her addiction.
Still, in my defense, a lot of those books are by Basbanes... does that count for anything? I think I need help...
ETA: As to how many books about writing I've read- 26. Seriously though, many of them were very entertaining.
Jessica - who still needs help with her addiction.
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I think it's important to read novels by authors who write in a similar way that you want to. I've done this myself, reading books by Dostoyevsky and Samuel Beckett to name a few. This has helped to solidify my voice, so that when I sit down to write I am pretty sure about what I want to say.
I have four types of books that clutter my shelves: writing, cooking, dieting (yes, much needed after all the cooking) and finance. I read them all and come back to them but as others have said they are references not manifestos.
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I don't think I've ever read a book on "how to write," with the possible exception of what was forced upon me in high school English.
Whatever writing ability I possess appears to have evolved naturally.
Whatever writing ability I possess appears to have evolved naturally.
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I've not read any of those books. I'd rather spend time reading other books.
I do look up some questions on the 'net, but they're things that don't need a whole book. Like how to do standard manuscript format and what is passive voice anyway. Looking up grammar term definitions mostly come from wanting to understand what English-trained writers were saying. I don't have anything beyond basic secondary school English.
I'm unpublished though, so that's not necessarily a good advert for the way I do things.
I do look up some questions on the 'net, but they're things that don't need a whole book. Like how to do standard manuscript format and what is passive voice anyway. Looking up grammar term definitions mostly come from wanting to understand what English-trained writers were saying. I don't have anything beyond basic secondary school English.
I'm unpublished though, so that's not necessarily a good advert for the way I do things.
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