Difference between revisions of "Book Recommendations"
NewMexicoKid (talk | contribs) |
NewMexicoKid (talk | contribs) |
||
| (7 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | = | + | = Recommended books for novelists = |
| + | == Recommended books for novelists == | ||
| − | [http:// | + | *'''[http://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Selling-Writer-Dwight-Swain/dp/0806111917/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223221588&sr=1-1 Techniques of the Selling Writer] by Dwight V. Swain''' -- a must-read book on the mechanics of writing scenes and structuring your book to hook the reader |
| + | *'''[http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Emotional-Impact-Karl-Iglesias/dp/1595940286 Writing for Emotional Impact], by Karl Iglesias'''. -- Great book! Tells you how to manipulate the emotions of your reader to great effect. | ||
| + | *[http://www.amazon.com/Plot-Structure-Techniques-Exercises-Crafting/dp/158297294X Plot & Structure: Techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish, by James Scott Bell] | ||
| + | *[http://www.victorialynnschmidt.com/BIAM.htm Book In A Month, by Victoria Lynn Schmidt] | ||
| + | *Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott | ||
| + | *On Writing by Stephen King | ||
| + | *Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg | ||
| + | *Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, by Lawrence Block | ||
| + | *Stein On Writing | ||
| + | *Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver | ||
| + | *No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty | ||
| + | *Finding Your Voice by Les Edgerton | ||
| + | *The Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein | ||
| + | *Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D | ||
| + | *Page by Page by Heather Sellers | ||
| + | *The Shortest Distance between You and a Published Book: 20 steps to success by Susan Page | ||
| + | *Formatting and Submitting your Manuscript by NEFF, et al. | ||
| + | *Writer's Market | ||
| + | *If You Want To Write : A Book About Art, Independence, and Spirit - Brenda Ueland | ||
| + | *The Writer's Journey : Mythic Structure for Storytellers and | ||
| + | *Screenwriters - Christopher Vogler | ||
| + | *How to write tales of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. | ||
| + | *Writers on Writing | ||
| + | *The Writer's Digest Handbook of Novel Writing edited by Tom Clark et al | ||
| + | *Telling lies for Fun and Profit by Lawrence Block | ||
| + | *You Can Write a Novel by James V. Smith | ||
| + | *The Fiction Writers Brainstormer by James V. Smith | ||
| + | *The Writer's Partner by Martin Roth | ||
| + | *The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published | ||
| + | *The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature published by Writer's Digest | ||
| + | *How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James N Frey (books I and II) | ||
| + | *Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing by Margaret Atwood | ||
| + | *What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter | ||
| + | *The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron | ||
| + | *Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King | ||
| + | *Your Novel Proposal: From Creation to Contract (The Complete Guide to Writing Query Letters, Synopses, and Proposals for Agents and Editors) by Blythe Camenson and Marshall J. Cook | ||
| + | *Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury | ||
| + | *Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew by Ursula Le Guin | ||
| + | *If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland | ||
| + | *Living the Writer's Life by Eric Maisel | ||
| + | *The Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction by Michael Seidman | ||
| + | *How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling (How to Write a Damn Good Novel) by James N. Frey | ||
| + | *Beginnings, Middles & Ends (Elements of Fiction Writing) by Nancy Kress | ||
| + | *Writing from the Inside Out: Transforming Your Psychological Blocks to Release the Writer Within by Dennis Palumbo | ||
| + | *The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers (14th Edition) by Chicago Editorial Staff | ||
| + | *Word Work: Surviving and Thriving As a Writer by Bruce Holland Rogers | ||
| + | *So You Want To Write by Marge Piercy | ||
| + | *Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft by David Morrell | ||
| − | + | === Books on World Building === | |
| + | TrudyG wrote: | ||
| + | ''So, does anyone have any good book recommendations for worldbuilding, in any categories of world creation, maps, culture, creatures, beings, political units, etc? I have the start of a collection of them, and I’m always interested in new ones. Note that all the ones I list have at least some things in them I’ve found useful, even if it’s basics.'' | ||
| − | + | Available at Amazon: | |
| + | * Creating Life: The Art of Worldbuilding Book 1 by Randy Ellefson: Looks at creating creatures, beings, and some elements of culture. | ||
| + | * Creating Places: The Art of Worldbuilding Book 2 by Randy Ellefson: Looks at creating worlds, continents, countries, etc. including basics of mapping. | ||
| + | (Note that both the above do have a potentially irritating amount of references to the author’s website, but they can be useful.) | ||
| + | * Way With Worlds Book 1: Crafting Great Fictional Settings by Steven Savage: Looks at basic philosophies, essentials, magic & tech, religion, sex, species, and characters. | ||
| + | * Way With Worlds Book 2: Details and Discussions by Steven Savage: Looks at heroes, villains, & author’s pets, utopias & dystopias, conflicts, communication, tools & techniques, skills, and originality. | ||
| − | + | Available on Smashwords | |
| + | * Pantheon Building by Julie Ann Dawson: Looks at creating gods and religions, for both stories and RPGs | ||
| + | * Worldbuilding 101 by Julie Ann Dawson: Looks at the basics of worldbuilding for both stories and RPGs; based on a workshop that she holds. | ||
| + | Both the above are short and were created more for RPGs, but can be useful for fiction worldbuilding as well. | ||
| − | + | WriterofNumenor wrote: | |
| − | + | Storyworld First by Jill Williamson is the best! | |
| − | + | = References = | |
| + | == Links with Book Recommendation Lists == | ||
| − | + | * [http://2005.nanowrimo.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=6289&forum=240 Illinois::Naperville 2005 NaNoWriMo forum thread about recommended books] | |
| + | * [http://www.spacejock.com.au/OtherBooks.html Recommendations from Simon Haynes] | ||
| + | * [http://www.amazon.com/NaNoWriMo-national-writing-month-tools/lm/D2YNQO98IY7 Amazon NaNoWriMo tools list] | ||
| + | * [http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Books-Genre-Novelists-Should/lm/1DAFASHU4VYQV Amazon Writing Books Genre Novelists Should Read] | ||
| − | + | = Favorite SF books = | |
| − | Startide Rising, by David Brin | + | == Favorite SF books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours) == |
| + | |||
| + | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Cycle The Childe Cycle] by Gordon R. Dickson (also known as the Dorsai books. Tactics of Mistake and Soldier, Ask Not are very good) | ||
| + | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_in_Flight Cities in Flight], by James Blish (imagine New York city in flight through space...) | ||
| + | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverworld The Riverworld series], by Philip Jose Farmer (imagine everyone who ever lived on Earth suddenly all being resurrected on the banks of a million-mile long river...) | ||
| + | * Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card | ||
| + | * Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card | ||
| + | * Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card | ||
| + | * Pastwatch, Orson Scott Card | ||
| + | * Startide Rising, by David Brin | ||
| + | * Eon and Eternity, two excellent, thought-provoking novels by Greg Bear | ||
| + | * Last Legends of Earth, an epic SF adventure by A. A. Attanasio | ||
| + | * Replay, by Ken Gibson | ||
| + | |||
| + | = Favorite Fantasy books = | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Favorite Fantasy books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours) == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Black Easter and the Day After Judgement, by James Blish (what if the forces of heaven lost?) | ||
| + | * Three Hearts and Three Lions, by Poul Anderson (fantasy about Ogier du Danske) | ||
| + | * The Compleat Enchanter, Le Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt | ||
| + | * The Gift, by Patrick O'Leary (wonderful adventure tale with magic) | ||
| + | * Seventh Son, by Orson Scott Card | ||
| + | * Lyonesse, by Jack Vance | ||
| + | * The Green Pearl, by Jack Vance | ||
| + | * Madouc, by Jack Vance | ||
| + | * The Black Company, by Glen Cook (great fantasy series with terrific, memorable characters and neat concepts) | ||
| + | * Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman | ||
| + | * American Gods, Neil Gaiman | ||
| + | * Stardust, Neil Gaiman | ||
| + | * The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman | ||
| + | * 9 Princes in Amber, Roger Zelazny | ||
| + | * The Hollowing, Mythago Wood and Lavondyss, by Robert Holdstock | ||
| + | |||
| + | <headertabs /> | ||
