Writing Club

[Sarah]

To start this thread I would like to say that I loved this book:

"If you want to write" by Barbara Ueland

It is a fantastic book which is really about life, not just writing. It was written in 1936 but everything is relevant to now.

I won't go on describing the book as I have a short concentration span myself when on-line so I prefer to keep posts short when I can.

Next stop: Stephen King 'On Writing' is here on my coffee table. I heard it is brilliant.

Sarah

[TESS]

I haven't read either of those you mentioned, Sarah, but I've heard a lot of praise for Stephen King's.

Have you read Cracking the Short Story Market by Iain Pattison?
or Beginnings, Middles and Ends by Nancy Kress?

[color=red]Tess[/color]


You prompted me to try a colour and I think Tess is red - let me know if it is when you see it!

[Bob]

"On Writing" is probably the best book I've read about the writing process - as well as being a brutally honest autobiography. King's approach towards writing is deceptively simple and he makes it look so easy. If only...

Another pretty good one is "From Pitch to Publication" by Carole Blake. It's geared more towards selling the finished product but it offers great insight into how the publishing business works.

Bob

[brendan]

Lads
Here's my three-pack.
Brendan

1. Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande (1934)
It tells how to develop a writer's habits, originality and insight, read critically, and overcome writing difficulties. It shows how to reach personal quietness in order to summon the muse, and how to write by agreement with yourself.

2. Writing The Modern Mystery by Barbara Norville
In a career of more than 20 years as a US crime/mystery editor Norville developed a set of blueprints for writers to ease the journey, and this book is a distillation of those blueprints.

3. To Writers with Love: by Mary Wibberley
Mary combines a light style with a practitioner's in-depth knowledge of her subject.
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[TESS]

I really must get Stephen King's. I feel left out. Everyone praises it.
I've read Carle Blake's, Dorothea Brande's and Barbara Norville's.
I think another good one is Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card.

Tess

[Mary Malone]

Hi folks,
I'm new to the club.
I'm a novelist (author of Love Match published in July 2006 and All You Need is Love due in July 2007) and freelance journalist.

I find the Internet the most useful tool of all to writers.
Check out my website, www.marymalone.ie, for some recommended reading material that I've found invaluable along the way.

Hardly a day goes by that I don't learn something new about the craft of writing.
Mary.
_________________
Mary Malone, Author of Never Tear Us Apart, Love Match and All You Need is Love.
Find out more or purchase a copy on www.marymalone.ie

[Carol]

Stepehn King's "On Writing" - absolutely inspiring. Will try some of the others mentioned when time permits.
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Carol

[Jack]

My problem is getting time to read anything these days.

The only book on writing that I have found good was "The ode less travelled" by Stephen Fry. It helps to find the poet within.

I must try getting my hands on one or two that are mentioned above.
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Imagination is evidence of the divine.

[Kate]

I really struggeled with poetry when I did the OU course last year. "The Ode Less Travelled" was the first thing that made any sense (although be warned, it is a bit of a marmite book and caused some heated discussions in the OU chat room). For straightforward mechanics I would suggest "The Craft of Writing Poetry" by Alison Chisholm - whom the Swanickers will recognise.

Kind regards, Kate

[joan thorpe]

Happy 2008 to you all. Here's to the resolutions - Writing loads of course. In midst of reading 'How to write a damn good novel' by James N.Frey and an my fav. Keith Johnstone's 'Impro for storytellers'. Yes, Stephen King's book is excellent. I think he said to write 2,000 words a day. Off I go so, but I will be distracted 'cos the fab 'Shameless' is on Tv now!
Happy storytelling
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Joan Thorpe

[Mary Malone]

Amen to that!
I actually got back into some sort of writing routine yesterday.....was afraid to let Jan 1st go by or no doubt I'd find another excuse to doss today...best of luck and huge success to you all for 2008...
MARY
_________________
Mary Malone, Author of Never Tear Us Apart, Love Match and All You Need is Love.
Find out more or purchase a copy on www.marymalone.ie

[mrs fabulous]

reading stephen kings book on writing is fabulous..
clear cut, straight forward, common sense if you ask me he makes it sound so simple...
will look out for some of the other guide books could do with lots of help for coming year in the writing dept..have gotten lazy now on top of the brain deadness aagh
HAAAAAPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

[Mary Malone]

38 most common fiction mistakes is another good one!
_________________
Mary Malone, Author of Never Tear Us Apart, Love Match and All You Need is Love.
Find out more or purchase a copy on www.marymalone.ie

[goinghome]

One I'm reading now, borrowed from the library where I drop in and out of their writers' group, seems born out of great practical knowledge and is called "Is there a book in you?" by Alison Baverstock.

After all the top recommendations about King's book, I guess a look will be worthwhile.
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"There is a Light that Never Goes Out"

[catherinek]

I'd highly recommend Stephen King's book "On Writing". It's an excellent read and not the run of the mill "This is how to write" type books.