Difference between revisions of "Book Recommendations"
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| − | == Recommended books for novelists == | + | = Recommended books for novelists = |
| + | == Recommended books for novelists == | ||
| − | * Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott | + | *'''[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 |
| − | * On Writing by Stephen King | + | *'''[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. |
| − | * Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg | + | *[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] |
| − | * Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, by Lawrence Block | + | *[http://www.victorialynnschmidt.com/BIAM.htm Book In A Month, by Victoria Lynn Schmidt] |
| − | * Stein On Writing | + | *Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott |
| − | * Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver | + | *On Writing by Stephen King |
| − | * No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty | + | *Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg |
| − | * Finding Your Voice by Les Edgerton | + | *Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, by Lawrence Block |
| − | * The Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein | + | *Stein On Writing |
| − | * Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D | + | *Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver |
| − | * Page by Page by Heather Sellers | + | *No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty |
| − | * The Shortest Distance between You and a Published Book: 20 steps to success by Susan Page | + | *Finding Your Voice by Les Edgerton |
| − | * Formatting and Submitting your Manuscript by NEFF, et al. | + | *The Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein |
| − | * Writer's Market | + | *Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D |
| − | * If You Want To Write : A Book About Art, Independence, and Spirit - Brenda Ueland | + | *Page by Page by Heather Sellers |
| − | * The Writer's Journey : Mythic Structure for Storytellers and | + | *The Shortest Distance between You and a Published Book: 20 steps to success by Susan Page |
| − | * Screenwriters - Christopher Vogler | + | *Formatting and Submitting your Manuscript by NEFF, et al. |
| − | * How to write tales of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. | + | *Writer's Market |
| − | * Writers on Writing | + | *If You Want To Write : A Book About Art, Independence, and Spirit - Brenda Ueland |
| − | * The Writer's Digest Handbook of Novel Writing edited by Tom Clark et al | + | *The Writer's Journey : Mythic Structure for Storytellers and |
| − | + | *Screenwriters - Christopher Vogler | |
| − | * Telling lies for Fun and Profit by Lawrence Block | + | *How to write tales of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. |
| − | * You Can Write a Novel by James V. Smith | + | *Writers on Writing |
| − | * The Fiction Writers Brainstormer by James V. Smith | + | *The Writer's Digest Handbook of Novel Writing edited by Tom Clark et al |
| − | * The Writer's Partner by Martin Roth | + | *Telling lies for Fun and Profit by Lawrence Block |
| − | * The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published | + | *You Can Write a Novel by James V. Smith |
| − | * The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature published by Writer's Digest | + | *The Fiction Writers Brainstormer by James V. Smith |
| − | * How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James N Frey (books I and II) | + | *The Writer's Partner by Martin Roth |
| − | * Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing by Margaret Atwood | + | *The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published |
| − | * What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter | + | *The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature published by Writer's Digest |
| − | * The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron | + | *How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James N Frey (books I and II) |
| − | * Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King | + | *Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing by Margaret Atwood |
| − | * 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 | + | *What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter |
| − | * Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury | + | *The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron |
| − | * Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew by Ursula Le Guin | + | *Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King |
| − | * If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland | + | *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 |
| − | * Living the Writer's Life by Eric Maisel | + | *Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury |
| − | * The Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction by Michael Seidman | + | *Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew by Ursula Le Guin |
| − | * 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 | + | *If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland |
| − | * Beginnings, Middles & Ends (Elements of Fiction Writing) by Nancy Kress | + | *Living the Writer's Life by Eric Maisel |
| − | * Writing from the Inside Out: Transforming Your Psychological Blocks to Release the Writer Within by Dennis Palumbo | + | *The Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction by Michael Seidman |
| − | * The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers (14th Edition) by Chicago Editorial Staff | + | *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 |
| − | * Word Work: Surviving and Thriving As a Writer by Bruce Holland Rogers | + | *Beginnings, Middles & Ends (Elements of Fiction Writing) by Nancy Kress |
| − | * So You Want To Write by Marge Piercy | + | *Writing from the Inside Out: Transforming Your Psychological Blocks to Release the Writer Within by Dennis Palumbo |
| − | * Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft by David Morrell | + | *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. | ||
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| + | WriterofNumenor wrote: | ||
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| + | Storyworld First by Jill Williamson is the best! | ||
| + | |||
| + | = References = | ||
== Links with Book Recommendation Lists == | == Links with Book Recommendation Lists == | ||
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* [http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Books-Genre-Novelists-Should/lm/1DAFASHU4VYQV Amazon Writing Books Genre Novelists Should Read] | * [http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Books-Genre-Novelists-Should/lm/1DAFASHU4VYQV Amazon Writing Books Genre Novelists Should Read] | ||
| − | = | + | = Favorite SF books = |
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| − | + | == Favorite SF books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours) == | |
| − | The | + | * [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 /> | |
