Are there any books that you recommend on writing skills?

kiss04bam · Apr 7, 2009

Does anyone know of any books that could help with my writing skills, tips on writing fiction? What has helped you? I know I have alot of learning to do.

Bubastes · Apr 7, 2009

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers and The First Five Pages are my two go-to books on writing craft.

Kitty Pryde · Apr 7, 2009

Stephen King on Writing
Zen and the art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
The Art of Fiction, John Gardner
Fiction First Aid, by Raymond Obstfeld
Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoint, Nancy Kress

have all helped me.

StephanieWeippert · Apr 7, 2009

kiss04bam said:
Does anyone know of any books that could help with my writing skills, tips on writing fiction? What has helped you? I know I have alot of learning to do.

The best advice I ever got was to go to my local library and go to their writing book section (808!) and check out as many books as they'll let you. From personal experience, there are a lot of things you don't know about writing and you don't even know what they are until you start reading the books in that section. I've had many "a-ha!" moments.

Go ahead and start with the classics: The First Five Pages, The Essence of Style, etc. Then get your hands on all the info you can.

TheIT · Apr 7, 2009

The "Learn Writing With Uncle Jim" thread in the Novels forum. Excellent advice on writing, plus he's got lots of book and exercise recommendations.

seun · Apr 7, 2009

Definitely King's On Writing.

shokadh · Apr 7, 2009

The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White (a classic on grammar, punctuation, etc., and small enough to fit into your pocket.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 7, 2009

You might want to take a look at the Absolute Write Amazon Bookstore on Writing.

It's right here.

kiss04bam · Apr 7, 2009

Thanks everyone! There is alot at the library that were mentioned here. Will check them out.

Eldritch · Apr 7, 2009

On Writing-Stephen King
Writing Down the Bones-Natilie Goldberg
Finding Your Voice-Les Edgerton

Dave.C.Robinson · Apr 7, 2009

Fiction is Folks by Robert Newton Peck.

Dale Emery · Apr 7, 2009

kiss04bam said:
Does anyone know of any books that could help with my writing skills, tips on writing fiction? What has helped you? I know I have alot of learning to do.

I have a lot of books I could recommend, depending on what you need most right now. So...

What currently puzzles you most about writing?
What challenges are you experiencing?
What was your most recent aha! about writing?

Dale

Are there any books that you recommend on writing skills?

kiss04bam

Bubastes

bananaed

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

StephanieWeippert

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

seun

Horror Man

shokadh

Now serving Table for 300

Deleted member 42

kiss04bam

Eldritch

Dave.C.Robinson

... with the High Command

Dale Emery

is way off topic