I'm new to writing, infact, I've just posted my first ever poem on this site! I wondered if anyone could recommend a good book to act as a guide to the pitfalls/hints and tips etc. for writing? I'm cutting my teeth so to speak on poetry, got a short story which needs polishing, but would eventually like to submit to magazines, publishers etc. Any comments/thoughts/suggestions anyone?

Can you give us more of an idea of the sort of genre/area you're interested in? My advice would be to read lots of good published authors in the same field rather than 'how to write' books - it'll certainly be a more pleasurable experience and I would argue a more effective way of learning about writing.

And welcome to WW!

Welcome to WW, Sootysmum.

I'd agree with Lammi that the most important thing is to read vast amounts, both of the kind of thing you're trying to write, and more widely.

But I think it can be helpful to have some ideas of ways to get going with a piece. You could have a look at The Creative Writing Coursebook, which is edited by Julia Bell and Paul Magrs. And I know that Linda Anderson's Creative Writing has been well-spoken of on WW.

The best way to get consistent feedback on your work, by the way, is to join a group or groups. You learn an enormous amount by reading others' work and commenting on it in that context, as well as getting feeback on your own.

Emma

Hello Lammi ad EmmaD,

Thank you for your advice. I am writing short poetry (I very much like the impact of the 'flash' stuff I've seen on WW), just as a way of getting started. I hope to continue this and expand into short stories. I tend to write from experience and very much seem to use my pen to express my own emotions, so maybe we're talking 'real life' as a genre? I have submitted a poem (entitled 'colours' and hope to receive some feedback, good or bad, as a start.

I now have the 'Writers Coursebook' as mentioned and will read, read, read!!

Thanks again,

XX

Welcome Sootymum!

I can't really offer anything more than the advice you've already had. Iy may be worth sending James Graham, WW's resident poet and poetry expert a ww mail. He may be able to recommend some good reading.

Nik.

Hi, Sootysmum, and welcome to WW.

If you're new to writing, it’s good to explore all avenues to find out where you're eventually drawn.

For inspiration, I can heartily recommend Writing Down The Bones, by Natalie Goldberg. This edition in particular:
ISBN-10: 1570624240 / ISBN-13: 978-1570624247

It’s a tiny, plump little book that you can keep in your pocket or bag to browse through whenever you need inspiration.

Dee

Think I might have a gander at that - thanks Dee!

Nik.

Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight is brilliant. Most of it also applies to novel-length stuff. Instead of just chatting about things, or supposedly being inspirational, it actually tells you the nitty gritty of how to do it. It's on Amazon.

Deb

Try David Lodge's "The Art of Fiction".