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Books for Writers, Resources for beginners & professionals
davidenglish
post Mar 28 2008, 10:28 PM
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Well, I'm sure there's been talk of grammar books and style guides and such. If not, that can be added. What I'm talking about are those books that help guide the wouldbe storyteller along the way. And I'll start with three recommendations.
  1. Aspects of the Novel by EM Forster. Forster's opinions may not be fashionable in academic circles, but his simple advice as to what makes a good story and what it is that captures our attention and makes us feel at one with the characters of a great writer are still true. I love rereading Forster and find his humanism and easy-going style like having an old friend over for tea.
  2. The Art of Fiction by John Gardner. Gardner is very different from Forster in that he lectures like a teacher. A very good teacher. He won't teach you grammar, but he offers wonderful advice on technique and style and perspective.
  3. The Art of the Story-teller by Marie L. Shedlock. Now, I bet you've never heard of this title. It was published in 1915. It's subject is the telling of stories to young people. And, although you may find her style a bit old fashioned, the advice and the insights into how to contruct a good story are as true today as they were 90 years ago.
Finally, I should like to mention a website called Talking Books. No, it's not about audio-books, it's the editorial website of Cheryl Klein. She'll be a keynote speaker at Terminus 2008. But she has this truly awesome website where she gives advice on writing, plotting, editing and publishing. I highly recommend it.

So, unless I've starting a topic that has been coverd elsewhere, I think I'll stop and ask what books of writerly wisdom others have found useful and comforting. (And I do think writers crave comfort and reassurance.) I suppose, if grammar and usage books aren't being covered elsewhere, they might be added. But I do wonder what good books there are out there about the construction of a good story and how to keep a reader's interest. Any recommendations?

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Posts in this topic
- davidenglish   Books for Writers   Mar 28 2008, 10:28 PM
- - chloe from Pomerania   Did Marie Shedlock write anything else?   Mar 29 2008, 06:42 PM
- - madamros   Here's another, quirkier suggestion: the Thurs...   Apr 1 2008, 02:11 PM
- - Aphrodites Lady   QUOTE(davidenglish @ Mar 28 2008, 11:28 P...   Apr 16 2008, 08:56 PM
- - davidenglish   QUOTE(Aphrodites Lady @ Apr 17 2008, 02:5...   Apr 23 2008, 01:10 AM
- - Overcast   For you screenwriters out there I thought this boo...   Apr 24 2008, 12:26 PM
|- - dduane   QUOTE(Overcast @ Apr 24 2008, 12:26 PM) F...   Jan 3 2009, 11:09 AM
- - matilda   Although this book, How to Read Literature Like a ...   Apr 24 2008, 04:58 PM
- - Lilly   Ooh - Thanks Overcast ~ That William Goldman one l...   Apr 25 2008, 09:41 AM
|- - FreedomStar   QUOTE(Lilly @ Apr 25 2008, 03:41 PM) Ooh ...   Sep 10 2008, 12:29 PM
- - Essence_of_Insanity   I recently took a story writing class at college a...   Apr 25 2008, 03:34 PM
|- - blue4t   QUOTE(Essence_of_Insanity @ Apr 25 2008, 04...   Apr 25 2008, 04:23 PM
- - eowyngirl   Ooh! My favorite book about writing is If You ...   Apr 26 2008, 09:57 PM
- - Aphrodites Lady   I've never read that book, but it makes a lot ...   Apr 27 2008, 09:00 AM
|- - eowyngirl   QUOTE(Aphrodites Lady @ Apr 27 2008, 09:0...   Apr 27 2008, 11:25 AM
- - fidelia   What a great thread! I love the recommendatio...   Jul 28 2008, 09:56 PM
- - Pleshette   QUOTE(fidelia @ Jul 28 2008, 10:56 PM) B...   Sep 20 2008, 11:49 AM
- - siabra   Those are all great suggestions. My friend's a...   Oct 23 2008, 03:03 AM
- - Nia_Black   If you want help getting published then nearly eve...   Jan 3 2009, 04:00 PM
- - davidenglish   dduane, I love all your suggestions. It's fu...   Jan 3 2009, 11:16 PM
- - nowgirl   I recently read Forster's Aspects of the Novel...   Mar 3 2009, 11:36 PM
- - davidenglish   I have not tried to read Wood's How Fiction Wo...   Mar 4 2009, 12:25 AM

 

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