Hatrack River Writers Workshop: best books on writing

This is topic best books on writing in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by rustafarianblackpolarbear (Member # 2638) on :

can someone please help me on research as a complete amateur. If at all possible, could as many of you please make some definitive lists on writing, including vocablulary, the start of a story, characterisation, and science fiction suggestions are good too, at least for me.

this is in response to silvers post. I looked it up and i think the brian stableford book must be Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction: And Getting Published (Teach Yourself)

thanks for that. these books seem really helpful and i look forward to reading them.

[This message has been edited by rustafarianblackpolarbear (edited June 24, 2005).]

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

Characters and Viewpoint, OSC¨
How to write Fantasy and Science Fiction, OSC
The bible for genre writing.

Beginnings, Middles and End, Nancy Kress
For writing solid plots and avoiding confusion.

Writing Short Fiction, Damon Knight
Knight is a writer who was also an editor, and so he has useful tips. Focuses on the particular problems of short fiction. Includes a detailed description of one of his short stories.

Steering the Craft, Ursula Le Guin
For style and Le Guin's conception of writing.

There is also a book by Brian Stableford, but I can't remember the title.

Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :

Strunk & White, The Elements of Style. Editors say it's essential.

The Craft of Science Fiction, just for the chapter by Larry Niven on making up names for things.

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

seconding Character and Viewpiont by OSC - especially the viewpoint part.

Self-editing for Fiction Writers, by Dave King and Renni Brown.

Sudden Fiction for conflict (although the book suffers from a serious lack of editing and becomes repetitive halfway through)

The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman (excellent advice in the beginning, but grows weaker and weaker as it moves along)

Just go to your local library and read them all. You'll see which books are useful to you and which books aren't.

Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :

Description by Monica Wood.

Posted by kkmmaacc (Member # 2643) on :

Oooh, I've just been doing research on this. My suggestion is to go to Amazon.com and type in "writing science fiction" as a search. If you're like me, you'll be amazed at how many things turn up, and they all have multiple online reviews that should be helpful in sorting through them (at least the ones I looked at did).

I just finished OSC's book on science fiction and fantasy, and it was really good. I would recommend that.

-K.

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I'm currently reading two books I like: "Fiction is Folks: How to create unforgettable characters" by Robert Newton Peck, and "Plot: How to build short stories and novels that don't sag, fizzle, or trail off in scraps of frustrated revision - and how to rescue stories that do," by Ansen Dibell. I'm also reading OSC's book about characters.

A word of advice - I just started a new job and bemoaned the fact that I didn't have the bucks to run out and purchase some good books on writing that I've seen cited as "must read" on this forum. Then it dawned on me - duhh - I have a local library, so I trotted over and checked these books out. While I may wish to purchase at a later date, for the time being money doesn't need to be an barrier when it comes to learning my craft.

Posted by pixydust (Member # 2311) on :

I second OSC's "How to Write Fantasy and Science Fiction".
"Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction" by Lisa Tuttle is also fairly helpful.

I also second "Self Editing for Fiction Writers" and "The First Five Pages"...both are great editing tools.

Sol Stein has written two good general books on craft which I have found helpful. They keep you focused, and it's important to perfect the basics before you can ever hope to grow as a writer.

"The Elements of Style" is an awesome little book. I keep it right next to my dictionary and thesaurus.

Definatly take advantage of Amazon and your local library. If I didn't have a job (my four mini rug-rats ) I'd live at the library.

Posted by Mystic (Member # 2673) on :

Honestly, any book on writing is good in my opinion as long as it says "Put this and all other books down and start writing". I mean I have all the Elements of Writing books, which I recommend buying or borrowing because they do possess some kernals of useful knowledge, but I only read them to get my mind into writing mode.

[This message has been edited by Mystic (edited June 25, 2005).]