Your favorite "how to write book"

I've got several other how-to books - The Forest for the Trees, The Writer's Essential Tackle Box and so on, but these are my favorites.

Aliens and Alien Societies

How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy

Characters and Viewpoint

And of course...

How NOT To Write a Novel

How Not To Write A Novel

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers

Chuck Wendig's books and blog (Not safe for work or for those who dislike profanity)

I like James Scott Bell Plot and Structure. Covers everything from idea generation to revision.

Secret Windows by Stephen King

Writing Tools - Roy Peter Clarke

....And any books written by Robert McCammon

Sigh. I read Orson Scott Card's "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy" when I was young and it was really good at the time and I still want to kick him in the shins and yell "Goddamnit, you were the person who taught me that it's okay to use coincidence to get my characters INTO trouble but not OUT of trouble."

*grumble*

gothicangel said:

http://hollylisle.com/one-pass-manuscript-revision-from-first-draft-to-last-in-one-cycle/

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I love Holly's stuff. She has a way with words and I just get it when I read her.

I second Chuck Wendig's stuff and How Not To Write A Novel. Both are awesome.

I also love Stephen King's "On Writing." It really helped demystify the craft for me and get me thinking "Hell I can do this!"

Emermouse said:

I also love Stephen King's "On Writing." It really helped demystify the craft for me and get me thinking "Hell I can do this!"

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This is my choice.

Hey, I don't post much, but I had to mention a book that I don't think is noticed as much as it should be.

"Plot" by Ansen Dibell is by far my favorite writing book. I've looked at quite a few writing books over the years, but "Plot" and King's "On Writing" are the only ones I've ever read cover to cover.

I really think Dibell takes a different approach when she details what should and shouldn't be in your story, rather than how you as a writer get it there. It was one of the rare times where I would read something in a writing book and say to myself "That's what I did wrong last time!"

I make notes of some of the things she says that are most relevant to me, and I keep them close by while I write. I really can't suggest this one enough.

It's very old--Laurence Bloch (sp?) Writing the Novel. I read it many, many times.

A few of the ones already mentioned. (On Writing, Characters & Viewpoint). Plus, Wonderbook by Jeff VanderMeer, Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg, and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Oh, and How to Write a Dirty Story by Susie Bright.

In terms of websites, I really like Patricia C. Wrede's posts. She posts every Wednesday and Sunday and is coming out with a book soon consolidating some of her posts.

http://pcwrede.com/blog/

How Not To Write A Novel for me too - the only book about writing that I actually enjoyed reading as well as finding informative. I will keep reading it again and again for pure funsies

Anninyn said:

Chuck Wendig's books and blog (Not safe for work or for those who dislike profanity)

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Yes. This. Both.

Beasley said:

I like James Scott Bell Plot and Structure. Covers everything from idea generation to revision.

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Also, this.

gothicangel said:

http://hollylisle.com/one-pass-manuscript-revision-from-first-draft-to-last-in-one-cycle/

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And also this!

As well as: Story Engineering by Larry Brooks, and Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain and The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall and The Snowflake Method For Designing A Novel by Randy Ingermanson (as well as his article Writing The Perfect Scene) and Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K. M. Weiland...

I could go for days. I have a long list of books that when I closed the covers, I came away with something.

Definitely THE SUMMING UP by W. Somerset Maugham.

This is a bit of an autobio...I see it as a past generation's On Writing (Stephen King). It's rich in advice. Just dries up a bit in the end, as he gets mired in philosophical blather.

By far my fav. http://kevintcraig.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/summingup/

Came to say On Writing and How Not To Write a Novel only to find myself beaten like a dead horse. I'll just echo those two, then.

Emermouse said:

I second Chuck Wendig's stuff and How Not To Write A Novel. Both are awesome.

I also love Stephen King's "On Writing." It really helped demystify the craft for me and get me thinking "Hell I can do this!"

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This. I've read a plethora of stuff out there, from fancy-mancy stuff to commercial "how to" works. And Chuck is awesome. So is King.

I despise Orson Scott Card's political viewpoint, but I have to say his book "Character and Viewpoint" is a brilliant and helpful exposition of an aspect of writing a lot of writers struggle with.

*goes to look at GoodReads account because I'm awful with titles*

"A View From the Loft" by David Slager
"Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them" by Francine Prose
"The Writer's Digest Sourcebook for Building Believable Characters" by Marc Mucutcheon
"Bird By Bird" by Anne Lamott

The first one I read on the subject: Lawrence Block's 'Telling Lies for Fun and Profit'. I've read many others that I loved and learned from, but that one kickstarted me into writing.

Thomas McCormack's The Fiction Editor, the Novel and the Novelist. I'd say this is for a writer who's been at it for a while, has mastered the usually covered basics, and wants to delve deeper into technique, especially as involves structure and character interaction.

Everything I've read about writing has helped. I think the more information you get and the more exposure to different views the better off you're going to be. I've never found a how to book where all of the advice worked for me, though I've found all sorts of helpful bits and pieces scattered here and there. My favorite book on writing, though, is Ray Bradbury's "Zen in the Art of Writing" not so much used as a how to, but as a reminder of the joy of writing.

Beasley said:

I like James Scott Bell Plot and Structure. Covers everything from idea generation to revision.

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Jim's a longtime friend of mine, and over the years I've told him many times of the good feedback I've gotten from people about Plot and Structure. He never tires of hearing it.