1. Foxe

    Foxe Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2011
    Messages:
    142
    Likes Received:
    48
    Location:
    Canada

    Books on Creative Writing

    Discussion in 'Discussion of Published Works' started by Foxe, Feb 27, 2012.

    Hello there,
    Sorry I don't have time to search for this, I have to place an order for books with someone in a short amount of time and also I have to leave for class.

    Can anyone recommend some good books on creative writing? Something that would be used in a course but for personal use?

    Greatly appreciated,

    Foxe
     
  2. wilprim

    wilprim Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2012
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Naming the World is a good book for creative writing exercises.
     
  3. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    Messages:
    10,742
    Likes Received:
    9,991
    Location:
    Near Sedro Woolley, Washington
    My favorite is The Art of Fiction, by John Gardner. His other books on writing are good, too.
     
  4. Nakhti

    Nakhti Banned

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2012
    Messages:
    398
    Likes Received:
    15
    It really depends what you mean by 'creative writing' - do you mean the nuts and bolts of stringing a good sentence together, or how to create different types of writing, i.e. short stories, novels, poetry etc.

    For novels, there is one book I have read again and again, and never does the advice get old. It's called 'How Not to Write a Novel: 200 mistakes to avoid at all costs if you ever want to get published', by Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark. Not only is it funny, you will find yourself nodding the whole way through as you recognise every single one of the mistakes you've probably made already, and some you never knew you were committing.
     
  5. joanna

    joanna Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2010
    Messages:
    425
    Likes Received:
    12
    Location:
    Boston
    That sounds like a great book, Nakhti -- I just requested it from the library.

    My favorite is The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante. Each chapter contains wise words plus samples from novels or short stories to illustrate points. Informative and entertaining.
     
  6. Foxe

    Foxe Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2011
    Messages:
    142
    Likes Received:
    48
    Location:
    Canada
    Thanks guys, I've made note of these and will check them out.
    What I'm looking for is a book that underlines important elements of writing fiction, namely novels. Something that teaches how to create a good story, how to structure it, classic formulas, etc.
    I just need to know the foundations, outside of reading stories for myself, so that I can use and expand on them in my own way.
     
  7. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    Messages:
    10,742
    Likes Received:
    9,991
    Location:
    Near Sedro Woolley, Washington
    I would also like to recommend an unusual book: Journal of a Novel, by John Steinbeck. It's really work diary, written in the form of letters to his editor, during the writing of one of his best novels, East of Eden. It's a great look at the process one of America's greatest writers used to write a real novel, a candid and honest look at the daily work of a novelist. It's very inspiring. I recently bought my second copy (lost my first one) and I'm reading it for the umpteenth time.
     
  8. jazzabel

    jazzabel Agent Provocateur Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    4,255
    Likes Received:
    1,688
    Books that helped me enormously - "Writer's Journey" by Vogler, "Scene and Structure" by Bickham, "Characters and Viewpoint" by Card.
     
  9. Erato

    Erato New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Messages:
    293
    Likes Received:
    9
    Location:
    A place called home
    Followed by "How To Write Sci-fi and Fantasy," also by Card.
     
  10. wilprim

    wilprim Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2012
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Those are really good books! One more in the series is "Description" by Wood. This book looks into things like PoV and showing versus telling detail (very useful!).
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice