This week: Books About Writing Edited by: NaNoNette  
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"You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children." - Madeleine L'Engle
"One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple." - Jack Kerouac
"A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people." - Thomas Mann, Essays of Three Decades |
| ASIN: B004PICKDS |
Product Type: Toys & Games
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A
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Books About Writing
Merriam Webster says, "A writer can be anyone who writes anything. An author is a distinguished and professional writer who has published and sold their work."
I find that description too strict. While it is true that everyone who writes anything at all is a writer of words, I think that those who actively work on creating fiction to entertain others are authors even before they are "distinguished" and have "published and sold" their stories.
A person who is a plumbing apprentice may not yet have the right to sell their services to a homeowner, but the apprentice plumber will work under supervision. First, there will be a theoretical lesson on how to install a new faucet. Then, the aspiring plumber will look at all the pieces and put them together. Finally, the new faucet will get installed, tested, and approved by the licensed plumber. At no point will the plumbing apprentice be told that the word "plumber" does not apply to them.
The same idea has to apply to who gets to call themselves an author. Authors on Writing.Com are at varying levels of beginning author, experienced author, published author. To reach Merriam Webster's level of "author," which is comparable to "master plumber," authors have to practice and keep getting advice from those who are published.
There are many books about writing. Just like any vast subject, there will be differences in opinions on some things. What publishers want is fickle like fashion for tweens and teens. One day, it all has to be in first person. Three months later, it all has to be in present tense. Suddenly, the love triangle is everywhere. These fads come and go, but there is writing advice that transcends those fleeting trends.
A good book on writing will compile examples of the best advice that authors who have published many books have come up with after years, sometimes decades, of writing. There are technical issues, spelling, and grammar that have right and wrong. There is a lot to be learned from books about writing. That is why it is important that you choose a few books on writing to read.
When you have picked your first book on writing, take your time with it. Try to absorb the lessons in the book. Write sample stories or poems that use a technique described in the book. Ideally, you would work through one such book with another author. Or maybe a small group. That is not necessary, however. To write is to create. Your words should be different than those of the examples in a how-to book.
There is virtually no downside to reading a book on writing. It doesn't matter where you are in your own development as an author. You will benefit in some way, which will benefit your writing, which in turn will make your writing more entertaining for your readers.
Which books on writing have you read? Which one do you recommend the most? |
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| ASIN: B07RKLNKH7 |
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Replies to my last For Authors newsletter "Writing Bucket List" that asked Have you made a list of all the things you want to write?
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  wrote: I've made a few lists.
Here is something that was submitted to the newsletters, but not in response to my question:
Evie 🏳️🌈 write&blog  sent this in: I think this blog could be linked in the newsletter for writers. The blog is suitable for writers and discusses topics such as motivation, mental health, plotting/planning/pantsing, inner conflict and some more. "Write a novel" |
| ASIN: B07B63CTKX |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 6.99
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For Authors: July 05, 2023 Issue [#12032]
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