The career novelist by Donald Maass
The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman
The Author's Toolkit by Mary Embree
The 38 most common fiction writing mistakes by Jack M. Bickham
Manuscript submission by Scott Edelstein
The ABC's of writing fiction by Ann Copeland
The Art & Craft of Novel Writing by Oakley Hall
How to write romances by Phyllis Taylor Pianka
Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card <-- the first book that I had ever got on writing and I love it.

Yes, all of them are books on writing. I rarely if ever read a fiction book at night before I go off to sleep. I basically read more books on writing then fiction.

So, what books are on your nightstand?
Beth
 

Reading in that order. I'm currently halfway through Hooked.

Anthony
 

and lots of fiction since I believe you learn to write fiction by reading it.

I am currently (makes face at IB) on about my 8th reading of all four volumes of SoIaF. When I finish that I'm re-reading that I think I'm going to re-read some of Brandon Sanderson's novels.
 

I tend to devour books and then put them either on the fiction bookshelves, or--the writerly ones--beside the desk for easy reference.

Right now the nightstand has:

Current issues of Analog, Asimov's and Interzone
The Mammoth Book of the Best of the Best New SF, edited by Gardner Dozois
Making Mistakes by Stephen Fry
Murder at Deviation Junction by Andrew Martin

There was a time when I had several books about writing in the pile; but I became too analytic, too hopeful that if I read enough of them I'd discover an algorithm of success. Of course, there isn't one. Having absorbed much valuable wisdom from writers on writing like OSC, Bova and Bradbury, I'm getting better at writing SF--and having far more fun--by reading SF, but with more understanding of how stories are put together, not to mention writing and revising and critiquing of course.

Cheers,
Pat

[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited July 27, 2008).]
 

There are a lotta other books piled by my bed---I recently rearranged and sorted and put all my "political" books next to my bed. There's no book on my bedstand per se---these books are piled on other books.

On The Brothers Karamazov---a stray comment in another book a few months ago motivated me to seek out a copy and start rereading it again. I know I read it in high school, for high school, almost certainly in the same translation---but I remember absolutely nothing about it other than there were four brothers in it. I'd forgotten they'd---but that's a spoiler. Let's just say I'm getting a lot more out of the book this time around...
 

The Lost Wolves of Japan
Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation
Dauntless
Fearless
Courageous
The Constitution of the United States (pocket sized)
US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76
Ordnance, Maintenance U.S. Rifles, CAL .30 M1, M1C (Sniper’s) and M1D (Sniper’s) TM9-1275

That is every book on my night stand unless you would include my flight log.

RFW2nd

 

The Years Best Science Fiction--Anthology

[This message has been edited by Bent Tree (edited July 27, 2008).]
 

TheOnceandFutureMe, House of Leaves also scared the crap out of me. I found it to be a very unsettling book, and I wasn't even sure what was so scary about it.

On my nightstand right now: a big old stack of plays and books about acting. I've just accepted a job as a high school drama teacher, and I have no idea what a drama class is even supposed to look like, nevermind the fact that I actually have to direct the plays. All other reading has been temporarily put on hiatus while I try to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do as a drama teacher next month when school starts.

[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited July 27, 2008).]
 

Story by Robert McKee
Daily Life in Florence by J. Lucas-Dubreton
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Comparative Political Corruption by James C. Scott
Public Life in Renaissance Florence by Richard C. Trexler
2005 Best American Science and Nature Writing ed. Jonathan Weiner
The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
The Counsels of Cormac trans. Thomas Cleary
Organizing from the Inside Out by Julia Morgenstern
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
House Plants ed. Sunset magazine
The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee
The Deed of Pakesenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Her Smoke Rose up Forever by James Tiptree Jr.
 

A Feast for Crows George R. R. Martin
Sarum Edward Rutherfurd
Mistborn Brandon Sanderson
Emperor: The Gates of Rome
Emperor: The Death of Kings
Emperor: The Field of Swords
Emperor: The Gods of War
Genghis: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden
Outlander Diana Gabaldon
Jumper Steven Gould
Of Fire and Night Kevin J. Anderson
Pompeii
Imperium Robert Harris
Master and Commander Patrick O'Brian
Ravevous Ray Garton
The Killer Angels Michael Shaara
Gods and GeneralsJeff Shaara
Robert Ludlum's: The Bourne Legacy Eric Van Lustbader
Sharpe's Tiger
Sharpe's Eagle
The Pale Horsemen
Lords of the North Bernard Cornwell
and Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky

But, I'm currently reading 1776 by two-time Pulitzer prize winner David McCullough.
 

As a former theatre major, and present Shakespeare teacher/director, I HIGHLY recommend the book "Audition" by Michael Shurtleff. While I do not agree with all of the man's morals (or lack thereof), there is not a better acting book out there! And, honestly, there's a lot of junk in the acting universe. Another good thing to have is a book of "warm-up games" or improv stuff. I wish I had a suggestion for a good one. They are usually passed on from teacher to student. I bet a Google search will yield some decent results. Your students will LOVE them!

On my nightstand Shoot! I just cleaned it off, so now there's not much. I'll asterisk the ones that I just removed.)

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published"
"The Lonesome Gods" by Louis L'Amour*
"The Fourth Turning" by Strauss and Howe
"Silas Marner" by George Eliot*
"Hamlet" by the Bard*
"Love's Labour's Lost" by the Bard*

I'm currently reading "Pillage" by Obert Skye aloud to my kids and hubby.

(I'm SUPPOSED to be reading and reviewing a book called "Ships without A Shore," but it's so dry I can't get going. How do I write a bad review of a book-- especially a book the publisher sent me for free? A real conundrum...)

I'm about to start another Shakespeare tragedy, because I'm trying to decide on the play my class will be studying this Fall. (We study a tragedy first semester and perform a comedy in the second.)

I've babbled enough,
~LL

quote:

---

I've just accepted a job as a high school drama teacher, and I have no idea what a drama class is even supposed to look like, nevermind the fact that I actually have to direct the plays.

---

wetwilly, I just watched HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL on dvd, and I would recommend it to you for the drama teacher as portrayed there--as a stereotype you can be sure to avoid.

As for books on my nightstand, I've found if I read before I go to sleep, I often don't get to sleep until way past my bedtime.
 

During my tech phase, I catch up on my Dr. Dobb's Journal subscription, and all the other software / tech magazines that tend to stack up on my desk.

During my science phase, I read physics and other such books.

During my "Whatever at the Moment" phase, I will read anything from military to religion / philosophy to biographies to---at the category title says---whatever strikes me as being interesting.

Then, after a few months of educating myself, I will turn off the scholastic portion of my brain and go straight for entertainment...usually in the form of science fiction novels or short stories.

Looking at my night stand, I see that I'm currently in my science phase:

"Warped Passages" - Lisa Randall
"The Black Hole War" - Leonard Susskind

Not surprising, my upcoming SF WIP deals with some of these topics.

S!
S!...C!

I found a few links of warm up games for you. These are great to do at the beginning of class or rehearsal. They break the ice and really get the creative juices flowing. Have fun with it-- you'll do great!

http://www.creativedrama.com/theatre.htm

http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/education/samples/S_491580.pdf (For younger kids, but could be adapted)

http://blankstageworkshops.com/2007/10/02/80/

http://playsandmusicalsnewsletter.pioneerdrama.com/public/item/204457

~LL
 

Kathleen, I don't know if I can bring myself to watch High School Musical. I might just have to put that one on the same shelf as Grease, about which I have already set an immutable rule: At no point will I ever do a production of Grease. Ever. No job is worth that.

Sorry, everybody, I didn't mean to hijack the thread.

Currently on my nightstand are "Inherit the Wind" (stidying drama), and Stephen King's "Night Shift" for the nights I just can't bring myself to read any more drama.

[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited July 28, 2008).]
 

I've just finished Reality Dysfunction by Peter Hamilton. I'm very aggravated with the author. I did not find it as enjoyable as my sister, who generally shares my tastes/interest in books, claimed it to be. (more on that in published books discussion, if I can get around to it...)

I've got The Left Hand of Darkness by Le Guin on hold at the library, hoping to get there later today to pick it up so I don't have to dither about which book to start next.

I have on my short-term to-read list also Peter and the Starcatchers by Barry and Pearson.

I'm in the middle of Story, by Robert McKee, and have been for something like 9 months now. Good writing book, but it's dense and it's taken me a long time to get through (in 20 minute increments every week or two, that's not helping!)

I pulled out Characters and Viewpoints last week to share some POV stuff with my IRL (in real life) writer's group.

I also have out the Breastfeeding Answer Book, as I need to research something for a friend.
 

RFW2nd

 

(But right now, it has more papers and magazines on it than books...)

Oh, and I forgot to add that my scriptures are on my nightstand, too. That's what I actually read right before sleeping. The other stuff is for morning or afternoon. (I really need to restock some bon-bons, too! LOL!)

Edited to add: You're welcome, WetWilly! Break a leg! ;-)

[This message has been edited by Lullaby Lady (edited July 28, 2008).]
 

The Army has this thing called the cheapest bidder so they are about 1m* 1m *.5m

 

(One new translation has as its title "The Karamazov Brothers." Might be a more accurate rendering of the Russian phrase---but seems to lose something in English.)
 

Did I mention that he's my favorite writer in the history of the written word?

[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited July 28, 2008).]
 

I've already finished off Elantris and Mistborn, and I'm about 50 pages from the end of Well of Ascension. Spectacular writer. I'm looking forward to what he does with the last WoT book.

And of course Shogun, Ender's Game and Starship Troopers are permanently IN my nightstand. (not ON, but close by just in case I have a fit of insomnia.)