reference book

Hi, I'm new to writing, and was wondering if anybody could recommend any specific reference books they've found really useful?

 

It'd help if you'd tell us which kind of reference you're searching for

Writing advice, Genre books, ... what do you need help with?

 

Not exactly sure what you need, but this thread might help you out.

 

Thanks for replying so quickly. I apologise for being a bit vague.
I'm interested in sci-fi/fantasy writing mainly. However, I was just wondering if there was one great reference book that seemed really popular amongst writers that stood out. I've bought a few from amazon, which are ok, but often they are flimsy and a bit short of content.
I'm an engineer by profession, and I could point you in the direction of several great books that most engineers would agree are invaluable.
Perhaps there is nothing that exists for writers?

 

Like, the same book would be valuable for a chemical engineer and a mechanical engineer?

I'd say that would be a basic fundamentals sort of book, right? So the writing equivalent would be maybe grammar or general style? The Elements of Style by Strunk and White is a long way from being perfect (you can find some pretty scathing critiques online) but it gets a lot of love from a lot of writers. Other than that... nothing comes to mind that's really universal.

 

ok. thanks.
I'll get it and have a look.

 

It would help us to help you if we knew what you were interested in writing. Poetry? Short stories? Novels? Non-fiction? A particular kind of fiction?

If you're an engineer by profession, you're probably pretty good with basic English, grammar, spelling, etc, or you wouldn't have achieved your degree. So I assume you're more interested in what it takes to do creative writing of some kind? Give us a bit more to go on, and we can be more specific.

 

Well... I'm in the middle of writing a sci-fi/horror short story. The plot has been outlined and I'm really happy with that. I'm a bit unhappy wth my point of view though. I'm going with 3rd person limited , but now I'm having doubts.

 

2100+ stage Hero's Journey And Transformation Through A New World / State at KalBashir.com