Post by readilygrey on Aug 7, 2012 14:25:29 GMT -5
What books and other resources have you used to improve your skills as a writer?
I've liked:
Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft (3rd ed) by Janet Burroway
This was the textbook for my class and I really wished we could have done more of the assignments in it. At first I thought I already knew most of what it covered, but the exercises helped me much more than I expected. I will continue to work with it when the class is through
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Dave King and Renni Browne
I don't agree with everything in this book and sometimes the attitudes of the authors (both professional editors) got on my nerves. However, this book was very helpful in letting me know what elements editors do and don't want in fiction and how to correct them in my work. My writing became much tighter after reading this book. This is the source that helped me the most.
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
This book was designed for journalists but I loved it. It helped me to tighten as well as make my work more interesting. I don't agree 100% with everything, but I still learned a lot from this book. I've bought it for several people but I don't think they've read it. They are missing out!
The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
I was told that every writer should read this by many, many sources and so I did. It is helpful, but it's dry and I don't always agree with its rules. I'm glad I read it, but it's my least favorite of the books I found helpful.
This website has a lot of good tips that helped me, especially when I was just starting out. It's designed for Christian stories, but I found the suggestions very easy to apply to my secular works.
www.wherethemapends.com/main.htm
I've liked:
Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft (3rd ed) by Janet Burroway
This was the textbook for my class and I really wished we could have done more of the assignments in it. At first I thought I already knew most of what it covered, but the exercises helped me much more than I expected. I will continue to work with it when the class is through
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Dave King and Renni Browne
I don't agree with everything in this book and sometimes the attitudes of the authors (both professional editors) got on my nerves. However, this book was very helpful in letting me know what elements editors do and don't want in fiction and how to correct them in my work. My writing became much tighter after reading this book. This is the source that helped me the most.
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
This book was designed for journalists but I loved it. It helped me to tighten as well as make my work more interesting. I don't agree 100% with everything, but I still learned a lot from this book. I've bought it for several people but I don't think they've read it. They are missing out!
The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
I was told that every writer should read this by many, many sources and so I did. It is helpful, but it's dry and I don't always agree with its rules. I'm glad I read it, but it's my least favorite of the books I found helpful.
This website has a lot of good tips that helped me, especially when I was just starting out. It's designed for Christian stories, but I found the suggestions very easy to apply to my secular works.
www.wherethemapends.com/main.htm