Absolutely agree Fredegonde that the best way to learn is to read.

But I'm also open to a bit of straightforward help too.

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By the way thanks for the book tips

Right now I am reading a wonderful book of essays about fiction, Burning Down the House by Charles Baxter. The best I've seen. Well, I've read the first two essays - they are extraordinary - and I am sure the essays are all of very high calibre.

That sounds fascinating, Ani - must look out for it.

Emma

Can I recommend Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway. Aside from the usual chapters : characterization, showing and telling, Story Form, Plot and Structure - etc she also includes some fabulous short stories with questions to get you thinking how the author has achieved what he set out. A wonderful book!

Emma - The Forest for the Trees is a good book - I've just finished rereading it for the third time, and it never fails to give me something to hang on to. I particularly like her definitions of the different types of writer - makes you feel less alone!

Darren

Absolutely agree Fredegonde that the best way to learn is to read.

Before that is to learn how to read. Learning about how novels are structured through reading these sorts of books mentioned is a good way to look at novels as a writer, not just as a reader.



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It may even help me to write a better sentence than the one above.

The reason I would recommend David Lodge's The Art of Fiction is because it's about how fiction works and therefore exactly about how to read, not a how-to manual about writing except by implication.

I've just re-read The Wood for the Trees and was struck by what an unusual combination it is - very intuitive about what makes writers tick, and when she's very practical about how to cope with the trade, she's always doing it knowing what its implications are for your writerly self.

And all agents and editors should read the chapter on 'what writers want.

Emma

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realise that sounds rather grumpy. i cut my finger cooking, and am a slow and hopeless typist if I hanven't got all 10 fingers working. plus it hurts! :)

I read Art of Fiction a few years ago and agree that it is excellent. Much better than craft books IMO - I find that they make me too self conscious. If I were reading such a detailed book teaching me how to ride a bicycle, I'd break my neck. It's easier for me to visualise myself on the bike and flying along.

Anyway I guess which type of book is best for an individual writer depends a lot on how you write and how your mind works.

Ani, I so do agree about how-to books about writing, but two exceptions I'd make would be the The Way to Write series, which was started by the founders of Arvon, and The Joy of Writing Sex, which is really good on one of the biggest challenges to a writer. It covers everything from character development to The Condom Moment, and since the difficulties of writing sex are mostly the same difficulties as writing anything but in more acute form, it's not bad as a general guide to good writing either.

Emma

Yes, I can vouch for "The Joy of Writing Sex" - it's great, and ... um ... almost as good as the real thing.

)

A
xxx

I know, it's terribly, you can't write about writing sex for more than three words without getting into trouble. It's hard, as you might say...

Emma

I guess that most of the books mentioned in this topic are useful and helpful to some writers, particularly those who recognise and admit that an area of their writing needs improvement, up-dating or a thorough servicing.

In my opinion the most useful lesson that can be learned from these texts is to identify one's 'weak' areas.

I am 100% in favour of improving on an on-going basis, vocabluary, grammar, syntax, structure, the co-ordination and the general nuts and bolts of written language.

There is a risk of 'interfering' with an original and natural style that a writer may have, and that writer may lose through attempting to conform to the Gurus and Pundits.

I am reminded of that old saying ...'Those who can - DO; those who can't - TEACH.'

Creativity, originality, sensitivity and emotional expressions are very frail qualities in individual writers who must have the confidence to develop these precious writing abilities within themselves. Edification is vital but learning how to apply that to one's own individual writing can be quite another thing.

Len

I love the fact that you misspelled vocabulary, Len - ah, the irony of a slip of the fingers...!

I agree with you, Len, although it's not a popular opinion to have. In a recent WW interview with the writer Jill Dawson she mentioned that often the very thing that makes a particular writer unique is at the same time his strength and weakness. I agree that it's important to identify those characteristics and develop them while tempering them so that they don't go to excess.

Ashlinn

Darren.

I just love writing comedy... glad it made you laugh but very few people seem to share my sense of humour.

Len



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Ashlinn,

You've expressed it very well. Thanks.