Comments on: 4 Must-Read Books for Aspiring Writers

By: JGS

JGS — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:50:41 +0000

‘Story’ by Robert McKee is my favorite. It’s technically about writing screenplays, but applies to all kinds of fiction. The most practical and helpful thing I’ve read with regards to plotting and structure.

I also enjoyed Elizabeth George’s ‘Write Away’, some useful ideas in there on silencing that pesky inner critic and getting words on paper.

By: Elvira

Elvira — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:47:20 +0000

“The Courage to Write, How Writers Transcend Fear” by Ralph Keyes

He knows!

By: airship

airship — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:36:51 +0000

I own #1 and #3. Larry Block = the best. King, not so much. Like so much of his fiction writing of late, it’s all about him. Who cares what he does? That may work if you’re Stephen King, but it won’t work for Joe Blow. Larry’s advice is mostly ‘get to work’, like it says up there, but he deals at length with how to handle real-world opposition to that ethic. Good stuff.

By: David

David — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:26:39 +0000

“On Becoming A Novelist” and “The Art of Fiction” by John Gardner

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:28:28 +0000

The Lawrence Block book is the best writing book I have ever read. I tried to read others after it, but just couldn’t.

He is amazingly detailed, hilarious and motivating.

Read it! Read it now!

By: James

James — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:01:06 +0000

Reading Like a Writer, by Francine Prose. This book liberated my writing.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:46:36 +0000

I’m going to second “Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing” by Margaret Atwood. It’s very personal and beautifully written. I’ve found that reading a chapter helps me reset my mind when I have writer’s block.

By: Megan

Megan — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:23:11 +0000

The Triggering Town, by Richard Hugo, is an old favorite of mine, though it’s largely focused on writing poetry rather than prose.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:03:22 +0000

I recommend Zen and the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:04:23 +0000

A few of the essays in The Adding Machine by Burroughs discuss the trouble of teaching creative writing. He writes about some of the techniques he used as a professor– my favorite is what he coins “walking on color”.