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- Jan 22, 2008
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I suggest that this thread be used to recommend books on how to write.
On Writing by Stephen King is very well known. It provides good and clear advice and is pretty sensible throughout. As you would expect, it is very readable and, apart from a few small digressions, stays on topic. It covers most elements of writing, from finding somewhere to sit to how to fine-tune a manuscript. Towards the end of the book, King talks in detail about editing and re-writing. Pretty much an essential read.
How To Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction, edited by J.N. Williamson. This is a collection of essays written around 1990 by some eminent SFF writers of the time, including Dean Koontz, Ramsey Campbell, Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury. The first two thirds are extremely useful (this is the book I learned from, for what it's worth) but the last third, which deals with the market and gives lists of publications, is outdated. It also includes a suggested reading list, which is definitely worth a look. It may be out of print, but is available very cheaply second-hand on the internet.
Danse Macabre by Stephen King is predominantly concerned with films, and does ramble somewhat. However, King's comments on how films work are useful to writers too. Also, in the second half, King examines half a dozen novels very closely and discusses their technique in considerable detail, which is very useful for the writer. Not essential, but helpful and engrossing.
All of these were useful to me. I would recommend them for good advice and clarity, as well as being interesting in their own right.
On Writing by Stephen King is very well known. It provides good and clear advice and is pretty sensible throughout. As you would expect, it is very readable and, apart from a few small digressions, stays on topic. It covers most elements of writing, from finding somewhere to sit to how to fine-tune a manuscript. Towards the end of the book, King talks in detail about editing and re-writing. Pretty much an essential read.
How To Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction, edited by J.N. Williamson. This is a collection of essays written around 1990 by some eminent SFF writers of the time, including Dean Koontz, Ramsey Campbell, Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury. The first two thirds are extremely useful (this is the book I learned from, for what it's worth) but the last third, which deals with the market and gives lists of publications, is outdated. It also includes a suggested reading list, which is definitely worth a look. It may be out of print, but is available very cheaply second-hand on the internet.
Danse Macabre by Stephen King is predominantly concerned with films, and does ramble somewhat. However, King's comments on how films work are useful to writers too. Also, in the second half, King examines half a dozen novels very closely and discusses their technique in considerable detail, which is very useful for the writer. Not essential, but helpful and engrossing.
All of these were useful to me. I would recommend them for good advice and clarity, as well as being interesting in their own right.
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