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Archive-name: writing/recommended-reading
Posting-Frequency: weekly Last-modified: 29 July 2002 Copyright: See section 11. URL: http://www.xmission.com/~jeffress/mw/rrl_toc.html Maintainer: Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com> See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Contents
========
0 What's New in This Version
0.1 New for 29 July 2002
0.2 New for 04 January 2002
0.3 New for 31 December 2001
1 What is the Recommended Reading List?
1.1 What is the purpose of the misc.writing Recommended
Reading List?
1.2 What is the format of the entries?
1.3 What is the order of the entries?
1.4 Who can submit to the RRL?
1.5 How do I submit to the RRL?
1.6 If this is a recommended reading list,
1.7 What if I find an error in the list or
1.8 What if I disagree with an entry in the list?
2 Books about Writing
2.1 On Being a Writer
2.2 Writing Fiction
2.3 Writing Genre Fiction (SF/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Western)
2.4 Writing Romance Novels
2.5 Writing for Children
2.6 Writing Plays and Screenplays
2.7 Writing Nonfiction
2.8 Literary Criticism
3 Books about the Writing Industry
3.1 Literary Agents and Agencies
3.2 Copyright
3.3 Editing
4 Magazines about Writing
5 Market Listings and Reports
5.1 General
5.2 Children's Fiction
5.3 Genre Fiction
6 References of Interest to Writers
6.1 Style Guides
6.2 Grammar and Usage
7 Acknowledgements
8 Copyright and Acceptable Use Statement
0 What's New in This Version
============================
0.1 New for 29 July 2002
- Fixed some typos.
0.2 New for 04 January 2002
- New Review: _The Forest for the Trees_ by Betsy Lerner
(Section 3.3).
0.3 New for 31 December 2001
- New Review: _Bird by Bird_ by Anne Lamott (Section 2.1).
- New Review: _How to Write a Damn Good Novel_ by James N.
Frey. (Section 2.2).
- New Review: _How to Write a Damn Good Novel II_ by James N.
Frey. (Section 2.2).
- New Review: _The First Five Pages_ by Noah Lukeman. (Section
2.2).
1 What is the Recommended Reading List?
=======================================
1.1 What is the purpose of the misc.writing Recommended Reading List?
As writers, we've all read some books about writing. Some of us
have probably read too many -- even reading books about writing to
procrastinate writing. For novice writers, this list should help
you decide which books might help you along your way and possibly
avoid wasting time with a loser. For you old hands, this list
should help you pick a book to read while putting off rewriting
your draft (you do have your draft finished, don't you?) of your
earth-shattering, best-selling, blockbuster novel.
At first the list included reviews of only books, but there are so
many other resources available to writers that the list now
includes reviews of writing-related periodicals, market lists,
Internet sites, and software.
1.2 What is the format of the entries?
In general, I use a bibliographic format for the list entries.
Where possible, I have included some information that is not
generally found in bibliographies -- ISBN, binding, price -- but
is useful if you are trying to find or buy the listed work.
In association with Amazon.com, you can purchase books directly
from the HTML version of the list by clicking on the books' ISBNs.
The prices listed are in US dollars unless otherwise noted. (These
are the list prices, you will often pay 20-30% less through
Amazon.com.)
The general entry format looks like this:
Author, First Name. _Title of Author's Book._ Nth ed.
City: Publisher, Year. ISBN 0-000-00000-0, binding, pages,
price.
An example from the list:
Curtis, Richard. _How to be Your Own Literary Agent._
Revised and expanded ed. Boston: Hougised and expanded ed.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996. ISBN 0-395-71819-8, trade
paperback, 257 pp., $13.95.
Book entries include their binding method and size:
- Hardcover -- standard hardcover (usually 6 x 9 inches)
- Hardcover (10 x 12 inches) -- odd sized hardcover editions
- Paperback -- the mass-market paperback edition
- Trade paperback -- standard size (6 x 9 inches) paperback
edition
- Paperback (8 x 11 inches) -- odd sized paperback
- Softcover -- paperback of unknown size
Magazine entries are followed by ISSN, the last known mailing
address, and subscription rates.
One or more reviews follows each entry's bibliographic
information. When the author of the review is known, I have listed
the author's name and e-mail address following the review. (At the
author's request, I will withhold either the e-mail address, or
name, or both.)
1.3 What is the order of the entries?
I have grouped the subject areas together into logical sets. As I
receive more reviews, I may subdivide some of the sections. Within
each section, the entries appear in alphabetical order by the
author's last name, when the author is known, and by editor or
title otherwise.
1.4 Who can submit to the RRL?
Anyone who has read a book, magazine, or other work (including
internet resources and software) about writing or the writing
industry may submit a review to the list. You do not have to be a
regular (or even occasional) reader of misc.writing to submit.
1.5 How do I submit to the RRL?
Please mail submissions directly to me at <jeffress@xmission.com>.
Reviews should be concise and state the specific benefits and
failings of the work. In your submission include all the
bibliographic information listed in section 1.2. Especially
important are the physical details of the book. I can look up most
bibliographic details from the Library of Congress database, but I
can't tell physical size, the price, or the number of pages.
Indicate the category where you feel the entry belongs -- you've
read the work so you know where it fits best. Please indicate if
you do not want your name or e-mail address posted with your
review.
Feel free to submit reviews of works that already appear in the
RRL, especially if you have a dissenting opinion. Where additional
reviews add new material or information about an entry, I will
include the new entry.
Some entries have a one-line review that says almost nothing
useful: "One of the best books in the genre. A really good read."
Please send me new, expanded reviews for these entries.
Sometimes I receive lengthy reviews. In this case I silently
condense the review and give the author full credit for the entry.
I will also make small editorial changes to keep the style of the
entries consistent.
1.6 If this is a recommended reading list, why are some reviews
negative?
No one will love every book. What works for one author may be
detrimental to another. By including a variety of opinions, I hope
to make it easier for you to choose a book that fits your needs.
If there is a real bomb of a book, I hope to steer readers away
from that title, rather than not give any direction through
silence.
1.7 What if I find an error in the list or know some missing
bibliographic information?
If you find errors in the list or know any of the missing details
about an entry, please let me know. There have been several list
maintainers and information may have been accidentally excluded or
changed.
If you are the author of an entry and your address changes, let me
know and I wur address changes, let me know and I will update your
bylines. And if you are the author of an entry and it has not been
attributed to you, please let me know.
1.8 What if I disagree with an entry in the list?
If you read a review and have a dissenting opinion, please write a
concise counter review or rebuttal. I will make every effort to
give a complete listing of the various viewpoints. See sections
1.2 and 1.4 for information about submitting a review.
2 Books about Writing
=====================
2.1 On Being a Writer
Bradbury, Ray. _Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity._
Santa Barbara, California: Joshua Odell Editions, Capra Press,
1989. Hardcover, 154 pp, $18.95. Expanded edition. ISBN 1-
877741-09-4, trade paperback, $11.95. Bantam Books, 1995. ISBN
0-55329-634-5, mass-market paperback, $5.99.
_Zen in the Art of Writing_ is an interesting examination into
the modus operandi of one of the great writers of our century.
Bradbury's main theme is that writing should be fun and not
arduous work. _Zen_ adequately fulfills the title by
describing Bradbury's beliefs about writing and his personal
practices, but it is only a self-examination and may not be
useful to many other writers. (For example, Bradbury writes in
spontaneous flashes and _never_ revises his material.)
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Brande, Dorothea. _Becoming a Writer._ J. P. Archer, 1981. ISBN 0-
874771-64-1, trade paperback, 186 pp., $9.95.
This book was originally published in 1934 and is as fresh as
ever today. An excellent and complete book, dealing with
almost every aspect of the art of writing, with many wonderful
suggestions on how to overcome blocks, view ones own work
critically, etc. The current printing has a foreword by John
Gardner, author of many books dealing with the art and craft
of fiction.
Brown, Rita Mae. _Starting from Scratch: A Different Kind of
Writer's Manual._ Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1989. ISBN 0-553-
34630-X, trade paperback, $12.95.
Care and feeding of yourself as a writer. Brown, a working
writer, has useful information on what standard of living to
expect (near-poverty), how to make ends meet, and what to do
with screenplays (take the money and run -- what appears on
the screen will probably bear almost no resemblance to your
work; that's why you write novels). Also contains some
interesting philosophy.
Dissenting Review: The chapter on substance abuse is
essential, the rest forgettable.
Chehak, Susan Taylor. _Don Quixote Meets the Mob: The Craft of
Fiction and the Art of Life._ Xlibris, 2000. ISBN 0-7388-2476-
3, trade paperback, 245 pp., $16.00.
Chehak describes some fundamental concepts of fiction writing
similar to what you would find in almost any other how-to-
write books, an overview of story arcs, setting, character,
point of view, and dialogue. You would probably get a better
understanding of the basic elements of fiction from a Freshman
literature class, but you don't get too bored because Chehak
generously peppers the text with interesting personal stories
that illustrate her points.
But the meat of _Don Quixote Meets the Mob_ comes in part two:
The Art of Life. Chehak philosophically muses about fiction's
role in the lives of both readers and writers, augmented again
with personal anecdotes. She describes her view that many
people live their own lives not in reality, but in some sort
of personal fiction conglomerated from books, TV, experience,
and imagination -- that people see themselves as the hero of
some grand epic novel or action movie, as a Don Quixote
battling against modern forces of evil such as the mob.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Dillard, Annie. _The Writing Life._ HarperCollins, 1990. ISBN 0-
06-091988-4, trade paperback, $11.00.
Taken from essays that first appeared in _Esquire,_ the
_TriQuarterly,_ and several other magazines. Dillard describes
her experiences as a writer. _The Writing Life_ is not a how-
to volume in any sense; the crisp prose provides a direct
glimpse into a writer's fertile mind.
Gardner, John. _On Becoming a Novelist._ W. W. Norton, 1983. ISBN
0-393-32003-0, hardcover, 172 pp., $12.00.
The Foreword by Raymond Carver alone makes this book
worthwhile. Although you could call the book "inspirational"
in nature because it deals with the art rather than the craft
of writing (and although it says "Novelist" in the title, the
book is also valuable to short story writers), it is not an
exercise in cheerleading, but rather a serious discussion of
the nature and training of a fiction writer. (There is also a
chapter titled "Publication and Survival.") A wonderful book
for the serious artist.
Goldberg, Natalie. _Writing Down the Bones._ Shambhala
Publications, 1986. ISBN 0-877733-75-9, trade paperback, 171
pp., $10.00.
The book consists of about 60 two- or three-page chapters,
each of which presents a brief technique or suggestion for
improving one's writing and creative process, with emphasis on
the latter. Many times, the advice is presented via anecdotes.
A very "Zen" approach to creative writing, as one might guess
from the publisher.
Lamott, Anne. _Bird by Bird._ Anchor, 1994. ISBN 0-385-48001-6,
trade paperback, 239 pp., $12.95.
_Bird by Bird_ takes a very different approach from standard
how-to-write fare. Lamott admits that for most writers,
writing will not produce wealth, happiness, or security. Yet,
writers keep on writing anyway. Lamott focuses her advice on
getting you in tune with your subconscious and on overcoming a
lack of self-confidence. She encourages you to set small
assignments for yourself: you should only work on as much of
your story as you can see through a one-inch picture frame. By
achieving assignment after assignment, you will eventually
accomplish a great deal of work.
Lamott must also have one of the most self-deprecating brains
every to have inhabited a human form. She tells humorous
stories of her own continued nervousness about her writing in
spite of her established successes. From her own experience,
she gives numerous tips on overcoming the inner critic that
keeps telling you that forcing your pen through you temple
would produce a better result than putting the point to the
paper. For on thing, you should allow yourself to write really
bad first drafts. No one will see the draft, so you don't have
to worry about quality. Later, you can throw away most of the
dreck, but you will also want to save the really good parts
that you would have never produced if you had tried to produce
really good copy from the beginning.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Michener, James, A. _James A. Michener's Writer's Handbook:
Explorations in Writing and Publishing._ New York: Random
House, 1992. ISBN 0-679-74126-7, paperback (8.5 x 11 inches),
182 pp., $15.00.
Michener describes his creative process from initial idea
through proofing of the galleys. He offers writers a look at
how much work a seasoned professional still has to put into
his books. Michener follows the life of a chapter in one of
his novels from manuscript, to editor, to galleys, to final
copy. In an appendix, Michener answers the questions he is
most often asked by would-be writers. He explains that hard
work and determination with an attitude of "I can be
published" are essential to success as a writer.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Ueland, Brenda. _If You Want to Write: A Book about Art,
Independence, and Spirit._ 10th ed. St. Paul, Minnesota:
Greywolf Press, 1997. ISBN 1-55597-260-8, trade paperback, 180
pp., $11.95.
This fine little book was originally published at about the
same time as Dorothea Brande's book and must be the _most_
inspirational writing book ever to fall into my possession.
Carl Sandberg called this book, "The best book ever written
about how to write." This is not a "nuts-n-bolts" book; it
raises you up, brushes you off, and sends you along the path
to new heights of creativity.
2.2 Writing Fiction
Bicknam, Jack. _Scene and Structure._ Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's
Digest Books, 1993. ISBN 0-89879-906-6, hardcover, 168 pp.,
$12.00.
This is perhaps the best book in the "Elements of Fiction
Writing" series from Writer's Digest. It is a relatively
advanced book for the writer who has a pretty good handle on
the basic mechanics of plot, theme, style, etc. It describes
the basic mechanics of stimulus-internalization-response, how
that builds into scenes, how scenes build into chapters, how
to compile chapters into a book. It has a section on
specialized techniques for changing the pace, dealing with
multiple plot lines, interrupting scenes and more. This book
explains how to make a story hang together, and how to keep it
from falling apart. Although many writing books cover the same
general territory, _Scene and Structure_ covers an area most
fail to mention. Strongly recommended.
-- Alexander von Thorn <alex@worldhouse.com>
Block, Lawrence. _Telling Lies for Fun and Profit: A Manual for
Fiction Writers._ Sandia: 1990. ISBN 0-9440091-1-5. Out of
print.
I'm relatively new to writing and still consider myself to be
at most an advanced beginner, but the first book I read about
the craft of writing was _Telling Lies for Fun and Profit_ by
Lawrence Block. For me, at least, the book was interesting and
enjoyable, and was the first to raise my awareness of certain
aspects of writing, such as the importance of choosing nouns
and verbs that put color into your writing rather than relying
on adjectives and adverbs. He also discusses issues such as
the pros and cons of using dialect and colloquialism in
character dialog.
A couple of elements show the book to be a bit dated, such as
his numerous references to using a typewriter, but the large
majority of the material here is unaffected by the passage of
a couple of decades. A more advanced writer may consider some
of the material self-evident, or arguable, but for me at least
it was a worthwhile read, good enough that at some point I'll
probably read Block's other books about writing.
-- Joe McCauley <jmccaul@ma.ultranet.com>
Block, Lawrence. _Writing the Novel: From Plot to Print._
Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1979. ISBN 0-89879-
208-8, trade paperback, 198 pp., $14.99.
Probably one of the most practical guides about writing that I
have seen. Block reflects on the solutions to problems that he
has experienced as well as referring to a survey he made of
twenty or more recognized authors. His approach is very down
to earth: set goals, read the type of fiction you want to
write (if you don't like to read it, how do you expect to be
able to write it?), diagram the structure of a novel in the
genre you want to write in, and above all write every day.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Burnett, Hallie. _On Writing the Short Story._ HarperPerennial,
1983. ISBN 0-06-273174-2, trade paperback, $11.00
Burnett, Hallie and Whit. _Fiction Writer's Handbook._
HarperPerennial, 1993. ISBN 0-06-273169-6, trade paperback,
$12.00.
Hallie and Whit Burnett, as founding editors of _Story_
magazine (which has recently gone back into print as a
quarterly), published the first works of writers such as
Norman Mailer (who graces the first volume with a Preface), J.
D. Salinger, Joseph Heller, Truman Capote, and Tennessee
Williams. In these books, they bring their enormous experience
to bear in chapters that deal with both the creative process
and the craft of fiction.
Card, Orson Scott. _Character and Viewpoint._ Cincinnati, Ohio:
Writer's Digest Books, 1988. ISBN 0-89879-307-6, hardcover,
182 pp., $15.99.
Well written and very helpful. One of the few writer's manuals
I could read all the way through in one sitting.
Cook, Marshall. _Freeing Your Creativity : A Writer's Guide._
Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1995. ISBN 0-89879-
664-4, trade paperback, $14.99.
Quite a good book; covers such topics as procrastination,
creative gathering etc. Not something that could be read in
one sitting, but worth a read none the less, although I would
suggest hunting through your local hunting through your local
library before buying.
Egri, Lajos. _The Art of Creative Writing._ Citadel Press, 1965,
1995. ISBN 0-80650-200-2, softcover, $8.95.
Although Egri's books are written with a slightly dated style,
they go straight to the heart of what makes dramatic fiction
truthful and exciting. These are not books with formulas or
tips about writing, but rather, they analyze what it is that
makes a reader care about characters, what makes them
realistic, and how a compelling plot grows realistically from
them.
Frey, James N. _How To Write a Damn Good Novel._ St. Martin's
Press, 1987. ISBN 0-312-01044-3, hardcover, 174 pp., $19.95.
In a very breezy, no-nonsense style with plenty of examples,
author Frey goes into precise details about establishing good
characters, creating conflict within your story, coming up
with a premise, changing points of view, how to come up with
realistic dialog, and how to handle rewriting. Also covered is
a final chapter on the "Zen of Novel Writing," giving an
overall view of what kind of life you can expect, how to deal
with writers block, and a plethora of other tips.
I found the book to be remarkably useful. It's reasonably
short (well under 200 pages), yet zeros-in on the most
important facets of writing. Whether you're dealing with
novels or short-stories, I think there's a wealth of material
here to ponder and peruse. There's also a bibliography of
nearly two dozen additional books -- both works of fiction and
books on writing -- many of which were used as examples and
source material for the book. I think many would-be writers
who have a trouble getting a handle on _structure_ will get
something out of _Damn Good Novel_, if nothing else. And his
concept of Premise -- character, conflict and conclusion --
will be easy for beginners to digest.
Frey's book (and the sequel) has been enormously successful on
Amazon.com, and I think for good reason. Whole college courses
on writing could (and have) been taught with _How To Write a
Damn Good Novel_; Frey teaches at the University of California
at Berkeley, and his credentials are hard to criticize. I
consider both this book and the sequel to be absolutely
indispensible. Beginners looking for an ideal way to start
writing novels need look no further.
-- Marc Wielage <mfw@musictrax.com>
Frey, James N. _How To Write a Damn Good Novel II: Advanced
Techniques for Dramatic Storytelling._ St. Martin's Press,
1994. ISBN 0-312-10478-2, hardcover, 161 pp., $18.95.
A follow-up to Frey's original top-rated treatise, Frey's
second book covers more advanced novel-writing techniques,
including "The Fictive Dream and How to Induce It," how to
create suspense, creating memorable characters, more on
premise, developing your voice, and how to write with passion.
I found the chapter on "The Seven Deadly Mistakes" to be
particularly useful: the topics here include Timidity, Trying
to be Literary, Ego-Writing, Failure to Learn to Re-dream the
Dream, Failure to Keep Faith with Yourself, choosing the Wrong
Lifestyle, and Failure to Produce. I admired Frey's
willingness to admit his own mistakes and follies from his
life, even to the point of using them as examples in the
chapter.
In some cases, I found what Frey wrote didn't necessarily help
me _directly_, nor did this one have quite the same impact as
his first. But what he did do was to force me to look at
certain writing challenges from a different point of view.
That alone was worth the trip, because it enabled me to find a
way to write with more passion, with better descriptive
language, and with a clearer eye to the final goal. Like the
first book, I found it to be absolutely indispensible to new
writers.
-- Marc Wielage <mfw@musictrax.com>
Gardner, John. _The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young
Writers._ New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983. Reissue ed.
Vintage, 1991. ISBN 0-67973-403-1, trade paperback, 226 pp.,
$11.00.
John Gardner has a lot to say and often uses as many words as
he can to express himself. He claims to be speaking only to
those who seek to write artistic, literary fiction, but his
discussions will fit every genre. Almost every sentence (and
at least every paragraph) makes a challenging statement about
fiction and its creation. Gardner beautifully describes the
state where the reader experiences the events put on paper by
the author -- and admonishes us to be very aware of how our
writing affects this state. You never want to jolt your reader
away from the dream you are creating in the reader's mind.
Part two presents Gardner's advice about writing, listing
common errors, writing techniques, and methods of plotting.
The most interesting chapter has various exercises for writers
to practice which embody all the points that Gardner tried to
make in the text of his book. Much of the primary message is
somewhat cryptic and difficult to extract without rereading,
but rereading is worthwhile.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
This book is a classic, and is a must buy for anyone seriously
attempting to write fiction. However, you will not find any
formulas, point systems, or graphs that show you how to
construct a story (well, maybe a graph or two). What you will
find is meaty chapters on aesthetics, artistic mystery,
fiction as dream, genre, interest, and metafiction. You will
also find at the back a set of extremely useful exercises. All
material is gleaned from Gardner's years of teaching graduate-
level creative writing.level creative writing.
Gardner, John. _On Moral Fiction._ Basic Books, 1978. ISBN 0-465-
05225-8, hardcover, 214 pp. Out of print.
Although first printed in 1978, Gardner's book on what is
wrong and right in contemporary fiction is perhaps even more
germane to writers today than it was then. This highly
intelligent, provocative, humorous, and ultimately upbeat work
would be valuable to novice and experienced writers alike,
whether they agree with Gardner's tenets or not: the questions
he asks inevitably lead the reader to deeply reflect on his or
her own art.
_On Moral Fiction_ is garnished with practical, craft-related
case studies and examples of character and plot development,
intertwined with clearly stated opinion on the nature of
aesthetics and the creative act. The book can best be
summarized by the following excerpt:
Real art creates myths a society can live with instead of die
by, and clearly our society is in need of such myths. . . .
Such myths are not merely hopeful fairy tales but the products
of careful and disciplined thought, that a properly built myth
is worthy of belief, at least tentatively; that working at art
is a moral act; that a work of art is a moral example; and
that false art can be known for what it is if one remembers
the rules. (126)
_On Moral Fiction_ then proceeds to explain the rules, drawing
on examples from the history of literature, painting, music,
philosophy, and the sciences.
-- Richard Guziewicz <rkg@worldnet.fr>
Hills, Rust. _Writing in General, and the Short Story in
Particular: An Informal Textbook._ Revised ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 1987. ISBN 0-395-44268-0, trade paperback,
197 pp., $14.00.
L. Rust Hills was fiction editor of Esquire Magazine for some
20 years, and his book is jam-packed with rapid-fire
commentary on just about every technical aspect of crafting a
short story. It is by far the most intelligent and complete
such book I have come across, and makes a fine companion to
Gardner's _Art of Fiction_ mentioned above.
-- ?
Hills organized his personal ponderings and observations about
the short story about the short story from his years of
experience as an editor into this concise reference about the
short story as a literary form. Although his tone is
conversational, Hills gives an in-depth analysis of the
elements of the short story, continually comparing and
contrasting the short story with other literary forms. He is
amazingly thorough and maintains his conversational tone
through masterful transitions between each section. While
reading, Hills seems to be conducting one long discussion, but
in retrospect we see that he has covered many topics in
detail. This smooth transition between topics also
demonstrates the interdependency of the elements in the short
story form -- that each element of the successful short story
(character, plot, setting, tone, style) all rely so heavily on
each other that to change one changes them all. This is why
one can argue that any of the points of a short story is the
most important, because all of the elements work together in a
synergistic fashion toward the whole story.
In the afterword, Hills presents an example of his own writing
process, a chaotic, meandering method that is amazing when
reflecting on the coherent and organized result. It also fills
writers with comfort that not everyone moves from outline to
rough draft to final draft as smoothly as our College
professors would have us believe.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Knight, Damon. _Creating Short Fiction._ Vol. 1. Cincinnati, Ohio:
Writer's Digest Books, 1981. 3rd ed. St. Martins Press, 1997.
ISBN 0-312-15094-6, trade paperback, $13.95.
Really one of the very best how-to-write handbooks I have ever
read.
Lukeman, Noah. _The First Five Pages._ Fireside Books (Simon &
Shuster), 2000. ISBN 0-684-85743-X, trade paperback, 207 pp.,
$11.00.
Subtitled "A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection
Pile," Lukeman's book is designed not to tell you how to
_write_, but to tell you how _not_ to write. The book is
divided into three basic sections: "Preliminary Problems"
(dealing with issues such as presentation, excessive use of
adjectives and adverbs, sound, etc.), "Dialogue" (avoiding
cliches, how not to be melodramatic or hard to follow, etc.),
and "The Bigger Picture" (the all-important "Show, not Tell,"
various viewpoints, hooks, and so on.
I think the advice on how to grab the reader with the first
few pages of the manuscript -- plunging the characters
immediately into conflict, and introducing a dramatic element
as quickly as possible -- was most useful to me. Many other
the other tips may seem subtle at first, but put together, the
combination proved to be extremely helpful to me.
For those who immediately react negatively when told what
_not_ to do, I can only offer you two bits of advice: first,
when I went back and compared half a dozen of my favorite
best-sellers against the advice in this book, I found that
every one of them obeyed the rules to a "T". And secondly, I'm
of the school that says, "before you can break the rules,
you've got to learn what they are." Once they're mastered,
then and only then can you make the decision when and how to
break them.
Lukeman writes from an editor or literary agent's point of
view -- understandable, given that he's a major NY-based agent
-- but I think beginning writers would be wise to take heed of
his words. in Like the author, I can't guarantee that if you
follow the rules of _The First Five Pages_ your book will
sell. But it seems obvious to me that your manuscript won't
even get past the first step if you make the basic mistakes
described in the book. For that reason alone, I consider this
book to be one of the most important books on writing I've
read (out of several dozen).
-- Marc Wielage <mfw@musictrax.com>
Madden, David. _Revising Fiction: A Handbook for Writers: 185
Practical Techniques for Improving Your Story or Novel._
Plume. Reissue ed. New American Library, 1995. ISBN 0-4522-
6414-6, trade paperback, $13.95.
Touches on just about anything you could think of. A good
checklist/reference book.
Perry, Susan K. _Writing in Flow: Keys to Enhanced Creativity_
Cincinnatti, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1999. ISBN 0-89879-
929-5 hardcover, 274 pp., $19.99.
For this _Los Angeles Times_ bestseller, 76 top novelists and
poets were interviewed to find out how they enter "flow," that
timeless state of mind from which so much of the most creative
writing emerges. Pulitzer Prize winners and bestselling
authors alike, from Jane Smiley to Sue Grafton to Robert
Pinsky, share their most intimate experiences related to the
creative process. In addition to a careful analysis of what
works and why, this compulsively readable volume features
questions and answers posed by writers, as well as exercises
and insights that should help any writer, whether novelist,
poet, essayist, or nonfiction writer, to face the blank page
with more pleasure and more satisfying results.
-- Susan K. Perry, Ph.D. <http://www.bunnyape.com>
Reed, Kit. _Revision._ Writer's Digest Books, 1989. ISBN 0-89879-
350-5, hardcover. Out of print.
A decent book on revising and rewriting, though I personally
found most of it pretty self-evident.
Spinrad, Norman. _Staying Alive: A Writer's Survival Guide._
Donning, 1983. ISBN 0-89865-259-6, softcover. Out of print. <p
clas Out of print.
Spinrad's _Writer's Survival Guide,_ is, as I recall, quite
out of date, but good reading. Spinrad is always idiosyncratic
(when he's deeply sincere, he appears to lapse _out_ of
profanity!), and a lot of the book was columns he'd written
about the then-state of the sf market.
Zuckerman, Albert. _Writing the Blockbuster Novel._ Writer's
Digest Books, 1994. ISBN 0-89879-598-2, hardcover, 218 pp.,
$18.99.
If Zuckerman's title seems designed to snare every dreamer,
don't be put off. _Writing the Blockbuster Novel_ actually
delivers on the promise, and I speak from personal experience.
This is not only a review, it is a testimonial.
In clear terms, Zuckerman explains the things a book _must_
have in order for it to gain massive appeal in the
marketplace. _WTBN_ shows you why some books make the rest of
your world vanish, and others (even by the same author) don't.
Zuckerman uses many real-world examples from a handful of
familiar blockbuster novels to illustrate his points. Author
Ken Follett allowed Zuckerman (his agent) to include his
first, second, third, and final outlines for _The Man From St.
Petersburg._ Seeing how Follett went from a not-very-good
outline to a gripping story is especially useful. Zuckerman
also shows why Follett's early books (originally published in
England) are not nearly as good as _The Eye of the Needle_ and
subsequent efforts.
I read _WTBN_ in the spring of 1995 when I was almost done
with the first draft of my first novel, _Unintended
Consequences._ Zuckerman made me see how some relatively
simple changes would make my story much more compelling. A
month later I had a contract with a little no-name house that
had never before published a work of fiction. Today this 860-
page first novel is in its third hardcover printing, and is
the biggest seller the publisher has ever had. I have offers
for the movie rights and a contract for the sequel. If I had
not read read Zuckerman's book, these things would not have
happened.
-- John Ross <jfross@ix.netcom.com>
2.3 Writing Genre Fiction (SF/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Western)
Card, Orson Scott. _How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy._
Writer's digest Books, 1990. ISBN 0-89879-416-1, hardcover,
140 pp., $14.99.
The nuts and bolts part of the book is well handled, with
solid examples d, with solid examples (from other writers'
works) of handling exposition, world-building and the like.
What makes the book worth the price to writers who don't
workshop, or don't live in an area with other writers in easy
reach, is the section on creating the "wise reader." Card
explains how his wife, Kristine, became a vital part of his
writing process, even though initially she knew nothing
whatsoever about what "worked" in a novel.
Carr, Clarice M. _The Door to Doom And Other Detections._ New
York: Harold Ober Associates, 1991. ISBN 1-55882-102-3. Out of
print.
A recently reprinted collection, _The Door to Doom and Other
Detections_, includes John Dickson Carr's _The Grandest Game
in the World_. It is an essay on the art of mystery fiction,
with references to authors, their styles, techniques, and
contributions to the genre. It's highly prejudiced towards the
"fair-play" mystery, but anyone who wants a foothold in
understanding the mystery as an art form could do far worse
than to take it to heart and study the many authors and works
Carr uses as illustrations.
Grafton, Sue, ed. _Writing Mysteries : A Handbook by the Mystery
Writers of America._ Writers Digest Books. ISBN 0-89879-502-8,
hardcover, 208 pp., $18.99.
Very thorough. Not always easy reading, but very informative.
Longyear, Barry B. _Science Fiction Writer's Workshop 1: An
Introduction to Fiction Mechanics._ Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania: Owlswick Press, 1980. ISBN 0-9138961-8-7,
softcover, $9.50.
Longyear not only sits you down and lectures you on how to
write SF that works, he shows you various examples -- from his
own writing -- of what works and what doesn't by showing a
first draft and then covering the processes that took the
draft to the final, improved version. There is no, and never
will be a, SFWW-II.
Nolan, William F. _How to Write Horror Fiction._ Writers Digest
Books, 1991. ISBN 0-89879-442-0, hardcover. Out of print.
An excellent source book, and damn fine reading! I couldn't
put it down! Well worth it!
Rusch, Kristine Kathryn, and Dean Wesley Smith, eds. _Science
Fiction Writers of America Handbook: The Professional Writer's
Guide to Writing Professionally._ 2nd ed. Eugene, Oregon:
Pulphouse, 1990. ISBN 1-56146-406-6, trade paperback, 248 pp.,
$10.00. Out of print.
A collection of essays by SF writers on various aspects of the
trade. A mixed bag, but the good stuff is very good. Mostly
nuts-and-bolts, but some "how I write my masterpieces" essays.
Also a very good section on contracts and copyright.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Note: SFWA has released a 3rd edition.
Williamson, J. N., ed. _How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and
Science Fiction._ Writers Digest Books, 1991. ISBN 0-89879-
483-8, trade paperback, $14.99.
This is quite a varied book, each chapter individually written
by a such authors as Ray Bradbury, William F. Nolan., James
Kisner, Dean R. Koontz, Marian Zimmer Bradley, and Robert
Bloch Interesting reading, and a good reference book.
2.4 Writing Romance Novels
Falk, Kathryn. _How to Write a Romance and Get It Published._
Revised ed. New American Library, 1990. ISBN 0-451-16531-4,
paperback, $7.99.
Several writers in my workshop like it; others hate it. My
assessment is that it contains some useful information, some
marginal generalizations, and some downright stupid advice.
(My favorite: "You cannot be a successful romance novelist
unless you wear silky underwear.") On the whole, this is a
worthwhile book to have/read if you're interested in selling a
romance novel, if only because of the extensive descriptions
of the various formul of the various formulas in romance
writing.
Paludan, Eve. _The Romance Writer's Pink Pages: The Insider's
Guide to Getting Your Romance Novel Published._ Prima
Publishers, 1996. ISBN 0-761501-68-1, trade paperback. Out of
print.
A directory of romance publishers and agents who handle
romance novels.
Pianka, Phyllis Taylor. _How to Write Romances._ Revised and
updated ed. Writer's Digest Books, 1989. ISBN 0-89879-324-6,
hardcover, 192 pp., $14.99.
If memory serves me correctly, this includes a sample synopsis
that the author used to sell one of her books.
2.5 Writing for Children
Yolen, Jane. _Writing Books for Children._ The Writer, 1983. ISBN
0-87116-133-8, softcover. Out of print.
Advice from a _very_ successful author on how to research,
create, and market books for the fastest-growing market.
Yolen's passion and seriousness shine through every line.
2.6 Writing Plays and Screenplays
Field, Syd. _Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting_ 3rd ed.
Dell, 1987. ISBN 0-44-057647-4, trade paperback, $13.95.
Fairly heavy going in places, but overall very good.
Egri, Lajos. _The Art of Dramatic Writing._ Simon and Schuster,
1946, 1960, 1977. ISBN 0-67121-332-6, trade paperback, $12.00.
Although oriented towards playwriting, most of the advice
applies to any dramatic fiction writing.
2.7 Writing Nonfiction
Barzun, Jaques. _Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers._
Revised ed. University of Chicago Press, 1985. ISBN 0-226-
03868-8, trade paperback, 292 pp., $14.95.
Does not describe rhetoric in the classical sense, but he does
give some excellent suggestions for becoming aware of and
tightening up one's writing. Eye opening and well worth the
reading. Although it covers mainly rhetoric, this book really
applies to any kind of technical or expository writing, and to
some extent narrative fiction. I'd classify it as a general
purpose writing improvement book. Hardback edition out of
print.
Bly, Robert W. _Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $85,000
a Year._ New York: Henry Holt, 1988. ISBN 0-8050-1192-7, trade
paperback, 273 pp., $10.95.
Bly goes into great detail about the various kinds of writing
that businesses often need: advertising (print, radio, and
television), corporate reports, brochures, direct mail. He
tells how to find clients that need these types of services,
how much to charge, how long such jobs usually take. Bly
describes how to promote yourself, find and maintain clients,
and plan your time. He describes the business end of freelance
work better than most, but he still skims over many areas that
could be described in detail.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Corbett, Edward P. J. _Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student._
3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. ISBN 0-19-
506293-0, hardcover, 600pp., $29.95.
Highly recommended text for learning the ins and outs of
expository writing. Includes technical topics such as
discovering (inventing) material, organizing material,
stylistic tricks and stunts, exercises, modes of reasoning and
other methods of persuasion, and examples/analysis of these
techniques in actual everyday (and formal) use in prose of
various people ranging from Homer to Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. The principles described apply to any kind of prose used
to persuade and inform an audience. It concentrates mainly on
the written rather than the spoken word (the typical domain of
Rhetoric).
Van Wicklen, Janet. _The Tech Writing Game: A Comprehensive Career
Guide for Aspiring Technical Writers_ Facts on File Books,
1992. ISBN 0-8160-2607-6, hardcover, 238pp., $22.95.
Van Wicklen is a veteran Silicon Valley technical writer, and
her advice is right on the mark. Even at the hardcover price,
the book is worth every penny.
-- <dianeo@genmagic.com>neo@genmagic.com>
Yudkin, Marcia. _Freelance Writing for Magazines and Newspapers:
Breaking in Without Selling Out_. HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0-
06-273278-1, trade paperback, $12.00.
You can count on a huge return on your investment in
_Freelance Writing_. I don't think I've ever read a dissection
of the magazine industry that was as thorough, fair-minded,
and full of genuinely helpful information. The appendix
includes a great bibliography of resource books.
Zinsser, William. _On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing
Nonfiction._ 6th ed. HarperCollins, 1998. ISBN 0-06-273523-3,
trade paperback, $14.00.
Lots of good, basic advice on writing. This book is an
interesting read as well as being useful.
2.8 Literary Criticism
McCaffery, Larry. _Across the Wounded Galaxies: Interviews with
Contemporary American Science Fiction Writers._ Univ. of
Illinois Press, 1991. ISBN 0-252-06140-3, trade p0-252-06140-
3, trade paperback, $14.95.
Larry McCaffery is best known for his criticism of Donald
Barthelme and other authors of "metafiction," but he has, in
this book, compiled a stunning collection of interviews with
some of America's greatest contemporary SF authors, including
William S. Burroughs, William Gibson, Samuel Delany, Octavia
Butler, Gene Wolfe, Ursula Le Guin, Bruce Sterling, and Greg
Benford. These are not fan-oriented interviews, either, but
involved questions that probe each author's views about his or
her craft and the state of the art in general.
Lem, Stanislaw. _Microworlds: Writings on Science Fiction and
Fantasy._ Harcourt Brace, 1986. ISBN 0-15-659443-9, trade
paperback, $11.00.
Lem is probably one of the world's greatest living writers,
and one of the few SF writers to publish a volume which
analyzes the field critically. Lem makes many excellent points
about the state of SF as he saw it when he was writing.
3 Books about the Writing Industry
==================================
3.1 Literary Agents and Agencies
Curtis, Richard. _How to be Your Own Literary Agent: The Business
of Getting a Book Published._ Revised and expanded ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 1996. ISBN 0-395-71819-8, trade paperback,
257 pp., $13.95.
This book is necessarily dated -- I think my version is from
1986, or maybe even 1984 -- but still germane in almost every
regard. And it isn't dated much; I found virtually all of the
language he discusses in his point-by-point contract review in
my own 1991 contract, despite the years that have passed. (And
was pleased to discover that the one section I'd made my
publisher delete was one Curtis considered extremely
disadvantageous.) This book is an absolute must for anyone
dealing with book publishers, book contracts, and agents.
3.2 Copyright
Fishman, Stephen. _The Copyright Handbook: How to Protect and Use
Written Works._ 4th ed. Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press, 1997. ISBN
0-87337-414-2, paperback (8.5 x 11 inches), 368 pp., $29.95.
Nolo's order number is (800) 992-6656; (510) 549-1976 for
information. They're a well-respected if somewhat irreverent
publisher of legal self-help materials, including some volumes
that might be relevant to the business side of freelancing and
contracting. The book claims to discuss international
copyright law. The further you get from the borders of the US,
the bigger the grain of salt you should take everythinthe US,
the bigger the grain of salt you should take everything with,
of course. _Note: This review refers to the second edition._
3.3 Editing
Brown, Renni, and Dave King. _Self-editing for Fiction Writers._
New York: HarperPerennial, 1993. ISBN 0-06-272046-5, trade
paperback, 226 pp., $13.00.
Brown and King's summation of all the usual advice is covered
in the first five or six chapters. The suggestions are made
well and with excellent examples. The remaining chapters move
into some areas that are not typically covered in other
"advice" books. Most interesting was the discussion of "beats"
-- the stage business of writing; how to handle all of those
"he said" and "she said" bits between the dialog. A quick
review of this section, and authors should be able to pinpoint
and correct any slow or dull sections of their writing. And
with a little more attention to the rest of the book,
intermediate writers be able to raise their writing skill to a
professional level.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Lerner, Betsy. _The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to
Writers._Riverhead Books (New York): 2000. ISBN 1-57322-857-5,
trade paperback, 277 pp., $12.00.
An editor's-eye view of publishing, Lerner's book is both
informative andheartening. If you've ever tried to get your
writing published, you alreadyunderstand the value of knowing
how the other half lives, because once you'veaccumulated a
stack of rejection slips these publishing houses
resemblenothing more than black boxes. Well, there is life
inside the boxes, Lernershows us, and she is frank in
depicting the pressures and constraints thatturn a group of
book-lovers into editors.
The first half of the book, in which Lerner identifies
personality-types ofwriters she has worked with, stretches on
a bit long, but in the end hermessage is to persevere if you
believe you have the need to write (as opposedto fancying
yourself "a writer"), because no matter how old or messed-up
youare, someone has always accomplished it in even worse
shape. Plus you'll geta few laughs along the way.
-- John Mohler Jr. <Spitzbub@aol.com>
Plotnik, Arthur. _The Elements of Editing: A Modern Guide for
Editors and Journalists._ MacMillan, 1982, 1977. MacMillan,
1982, 1977. ISBN 0-02-861451-8, trade paperback, 156 pp.,
$9.95.
Plotnik offers his observations and advice about editing,
gained from years of experience in the field. He acknowledges
that most editors are cramming six weeks worth of work into
four weeks and repeating this accomplishment every four weeks.
Plotnik describes the life of a manuscript from acquisition to
publication -- an excellent summary for the novice, and an
insightful observation to the experienced editor. He lists
details for often unexplained processes such as registering
the copyright and seeking permissions. He provides detailed
information about copyrights and libel giving definitions and
some situational examples. These provide an excellent resource
for quick reference on these topics.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Rand, Ken. _The 10% Solution: Self-editing for the Modern Writer._
Seattle: Fairwood Press, 1998. ISBN 0-9668184-0-7, booklet, 64
pp., $5.99.
In _The 10% Solution_, Ken Rand describes his theory for
improved writing. First, youroved writing. First, you wear two
hats: the writer's hat and the editor's hat. As a writer, you
write quickly, without editorial criticism. As the editor, you
revise and attempt to reduce the word count by 10%.
Rand lists words and endings you should question in your
writing. For example, you should examine each time _of_,
appears and ask if it expresses your idea in the most
accurate, clear, and brief way. If not, then revise or delete.
Rand also provides the standard advice to read your prose
aloud, read them on paper, and have someone else proofread
them.
Rand's advice is mostly sound, but Fairwood Press should have
followed Rand's advice and scoured the proofs for numerous
annoyances, such as widows, inconsistent font sizes, and a
chapter of bulleted paragraphs. Rand's repeated use of, "More
on this later," reveals the need to reorganize the material --
something not covered in Rand's advice.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
4 Magazines about Writing
=========================
_ByLine._
P.O. Box 130596
Edmond, OK 73013
Every issue features several articles on writing, market
information, contests, some poetry, one short story, and a
philosophical end piece. _ByLine_ is as much entertaining as
enlightening, and even though helping writers sell is a topic,
encouraging them to sit down and write is one of the primary
messages. _ByLine_ assumes an intelligent and educated reader,
willing to do the footworr, willing to do the footwork for an
article or story. A big plus: _ByLine_ is subscriber paid and
has no advertisements.
Subscription rates: $20/year (11 issues, one double issue;
subscription only, no newsstand sales), sample copy $3.50.
_Poets & Writers Magazine._
This magazine full of interviews of authors like Amy Tan and
John Irving, and includes many articles about creative writing
and even _teaching_ creative writing. It's aimed at serious
authors, not the "gee, I wanna write" audience that Writer's
Digest seems geared towards. There are also copious listings
of contests, grants, and workshops in the back half of each
issue. _And_ there's even a helpline for subscribers. Yep,
call up and get advice on writing/publishing direct from the
staff!
Subscription rates: $20/year (six issues), sample copy $3.50.
_The Writer._
_Writer's Digest._
Most misc.writing contributors find these magazines target
people who want to be writers rather than people who write. If
you judge a magazine's intended audience by its advertisers,
you'll notice that most ads in _Writer's Digest_ promise to
edit/read/ghost-write/publish your masterpiece for pay; very h
your masterpiece for pay; very few tell you how to invest your
enormous royalty income.
Some of the columns in _Writer's Digest_ are quite good; read
these in the library.
Note: The annual _Writer's Digest_ magazine poll often
contains incorrect information about available markets, what
these markets want, and where these markets are. A number of
magazine editors have asked WD to _not_ include them in the
list of ranked markets. Be aware inclusion or exclusion from
the list is _not_ an indication of quality or availability.
5 Market Listings and Reports
=============================
5.1 General
_The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small
Presses: 1998-99._ 34th ed. Paradise, California: Dustbooks,
1998. ISBN 0-916685-66-7, hardcover, $55.00. ISBN 0-916685-70-
-5, hardcover, $34.95.
Called the "bible of the business" by the Wall Street Journal,
this thing is _huge,_ and full of small and literary markets
that you won't find in any of the Writer's Digest books.
Published annually.
_Publishers Weekly_ <http://www.publishersweekly.com/>
ISSN 0000-0019
P.O. Box 16178
North Hollywood, CA 91615-6178
1 (800) 278-2991, 1 (818) 487-4557
Expensive; contains useful industry gossip, hot off the
presses. (I learned about the various suits against Donning
Press from _PW;_ _Locus_ and _SF Chronicle_ didn't get the
story until a month later.) Skim it in your library. The book
reviews can help you get a handle on what your competition is
up to.
Subscription rate: $169.00/year. Email:
<pw.subscriptions@bookwire.com>
_Small Press Review_
ISSN 0037-7228
Dustbooks <http://www.dustbooks.com>
P.O. Box 100
Paradise, CA 95967
1 (800) 477-6110, 1 (530) 877-6110
Small Press Review is a newsprint magazine with news on the
small press and small magazine industry including start-ups. A
typical issueincluding start-ups. A typical issue includes
listings of new publishers with contact info, freelance job
opportunities, contest information, and reviews of recent
small press books and magazines.
Subscription rate: Individuals, $25 (12 issues), $36 (36
issues); institutions: $31 (12 issues), $45 (36 issues).
<dustbooks@telis.org>.
Writer's Market Series
_2000 Writer's Market: Where and How to Sell What you Write._ Eds.
Kirsten C. Holm, Donya Dickerson, and Don Prues. Cincinnati,
Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1999. ISBN 0-89879-911-2,
hardcover, 1120 pp., $27.99.
_1999 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market: Where and How to Sell
Your Fiction._ Ed. Barbara Kuroff. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's
Digest Books, 1999. ISBN 0-89879-876-0, hardcover, 678 pp.,
$24.99.
_2000 Poet's Market: Where and How to Publish Your Poetry._ Eds.
Christine Martin and Chantelle Bentley. Cincinnati, Ohio:
Writer's Digest Books, 1999. ISBN 0-89879-915-5, hardcover,
608 pp., $23.99.
Most public libraries have these books. You can buy a copy
more cheaply by joining the Writer's Digest Book Club; see
_Writer's Digest_ magazine for a blow-in card. Be sure to use
the latest available edition! The publishing industry is a
giant amoeba; not only do publishers' needs change, but
editors change employment as frequently as Warren Beatty. . .
Well, you get the idea. If you can, check the listed editor's
name against another source (a friend at the publishing house,
the masthead of the magazine) before submitting.
5.2 Children's Fiction
_Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Newsletter_
Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
<http://www.scbwi.org/>
8271 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048 1 (323) 782-1010
The "SCBWI Bulletin" is a bimonthly publication containing
comprehensive and current information in the field of
children's literature. Features include the latest market
reports, articles on issues in writing, illustrating, and
publishing, information on contests and awards, reports of
events in the field, news of SCBWI members, as well as
information about ongoing SCBWI activities throughout the
country. The "Bulletin" is an invaluable source of information
and inspiration to writers and illustrators of children's
literature. Each SCBWI region also publishes its own
newsletter with both national and regional news. You can
obtain a membership application form from the SCBWI web site.
Subscription rate: $50/year, included in membership fees.
Email: <membership@sckwi.org>.
_Children's Book Insider_
P.O. Box 1030
Fairplay, CO 80440-1030
The Children's Book Insider sponsors The Children's Writing
Resource Center <http://www.write4kids.com>.
Subscription rate: $29.95/year, 12 issues.
5.3 Genre Fiction
_Gila Queen's Guide to Markets_ <http://www.gilaqueen.com/>
Kathy Ptacek, editor
P.O. Box 97
Newton, NJ 07860
The _Gila Queen's Guide to Markets_ has annual issues on
sf/f/h, romance, mystery/suspense, children/YA markets.
Subscarkets.
Subscription rate: $45/year, 10 issues ($49 Canada); Sample
copy $6.00. Make checks payable in US funds to Kathryn Ptacek.
Email: <kathryn@gilaqueen.com> or
<GilaQueen@worldnet.att.net>.
_Locus_
Locus Publications
P.O. Box 13305
Oakland, CA 94661
A better source of industry gossip than _SF Chronicle;_ I
suspect a working SF writer could live without it, though.
Richard Curtis's industry column has ended, removing one good
reason to subscribe.^ Locus also prints market reports, but
these are done irregularly, and tend to have a "theme", such
as pro market or book publisher or small press. Locus prints
updates as available.
Subscription rate: $35.00/year.
_The Report_
Pulphouse Publishing
Box 1227
Eugene, OR 97440
Pulphouse's blurb says, "a writer's magazine, filled with
writers talking about all aspects of writing." Primarily for
people interested in speculative fiction (SF, fantasy,
horror). Comes out more-or-less quarterly.
Subscription rates: $2.95/copy, $10.00/four issues.
_Scavenger's Newsletter_
Janet Fox, editor
519 Ellinwood
Osage City, KS 66523-1329
1 (913) 528-3538
"This little zine focuses on market information, covering, in
the current issue, 91 magazines and fanzines" (SFWA
Newsletter).
Subscription rates: Bulk mailing with advertising flyers
$14/year or $7/6 months; 1st class mail without advertising
flyers $18/year or $9/6 months.
_Science Fiction Chronicle_
P.O. Box 2730
Brooklyn, NY 11202-0056
Has quarterly Market Report sections. Useful source of
information on new theme anthology, semipro magazines and
other non-obvious markets, and editor shifts.
Subscription rate: $30/year.
_SFWA Bulletin_ <http://www.sfwa.org/bulletin/>
1436 Altamant Ave
PMB 292
Schenectady, NY 12303-2977
The quarterly publication of the Science Fiction and Fantasy
Writers of America <http://www.sfwa.org>.
Subscription rate: $18/4 issues, $30/8 issues, $iption rate:
$18/4 issues, $30/8 issues, $42/12 issues. Sample copy $3.95.
Make checks payable in US funds to SFWA Bulletin.
Tompkins, David G. _The Science Fiction Writer's Market Place and
Sourcebook._ Writer's Digest Books, 1994. ISBN 0-89879-692-X,
hardcover, 494 pp., $19.99.
The essential market reference for writers of speculative
fiction; this book tells everything you need to know to turn a
saleable manuscript into a sale. One hundred seventy pages of
magazine markets; three to five pages given to each major
magazine and a page each for secondary markets. Eighty pages
on novel markets; three to five pages each to the dozen major
novel publishers, focusing on what editors want, how they
think, and what basic strategy each publisher uses. Other
sections include: trends in sf, craft and technique, how to
get an agent, the editorial process, and a long list of other
resources. The latter includes a complete list of Hugo and
Nebula awards, sf bookstores, organizations, conventions,
workshops, online references, pointers on other sources of up-
to-date market information, and much more.
-- Alexander von Thorn <alex@worldhouse.com>
6 References of Interest to Writers
===================================
6.1 Style Guides
_The Chicago Manual of Style._ 14th ed. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 1993. ISBN 0-226-10389-7, hardcover, 921 pp.,
$40.00.
One of the most comprehensive style guides available. With the
14th edition, the editors at the University of Chicago press
got down off their high horse. Most sections have been
rewritten and are much clearer than in previous editions. Many
sections have been expanded, especially the sections on
documentation (citing references): there are now two separate
chapters, one for the author-date method, and another for the
notes and bibliography method. As always, _Chicago_ has
several excellent primers on manuscript preparation, editing,
and printing.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
6.2 Grammar and Usage
Bierce, Ambrose. _Write It Write: A Little Blacklise of Literary
Faults._ Toluca Lake, California: Terripam, 1986. ISBN 0-
9617270-0-4, hardcover, 74 pp., $12.95.
A short, dictionary-style guide to word usage that reminds
readers to carefully consider the meaning of the words one
uses and to choose the precise meaning one wants. Although
this might have been a good guide to follow at the end of the
19th Century, today this guide does little more than
illustrate that the English language really does evolve. For
example, Bierce labels the use of _pants_ as vulgar and
recommends _trousers_ at the acceptable alternative.
I would not recommend this book to any looking for a modern
usage guide. In fact, I don't see a good reason to recommend
_Write it Write_, except to linguists studying changes in
English.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Fowler, Henry Watson. _Modern English Usage._ 2nd Revised ed.
Oxford University Press, 1983. ISBN 0-192-81389-7, trade
paperback, 725 pp., $12.95.
You either love this one or you hate it. A period piece,
written by an Englishman immediately after the Great War.
Maggio, Rosalie. _The Dictionary of Bias-Free Usage: A Guide to
Nondiscriminatory Language._ Oryx Press, 1991. ISBN 0-89774-
653-8, trade paperback, 304 pp., $29.75.
Looks like a good starting place for decisions about some
issues in language.
Miller, Casey, and Kate Swift. _The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing
(For Writers, Editors, and Speakers)._ 2nd ed. HarperCollins,
1988. ISBN 0-06-181602-7, softcover.
Offers both general guidelines and many helpful examples.
Strunk and White (and Osgood). _The Elements of Style._ 4th ed.
Allyn & Bacon, 1999. ISBN 0-205-30902-X, paperback, 85 pp.,
$6.95.
The classic that can change your life. _Not_ a general
reference manual.
7 Acknowledgements
==================
Many of the unattributed reviews are probably by Laurie Sefton,
the original compiler. My thanks go out to Erin and all other
previous maintainers for their hours of work. Also thanks to those
who sent the occasional correction.
8 Copyright and Acceptable Use Statement
========================================
The misc.writing community started this list to help people find
resources for becoming better writers. In that spirit, feel free
to copy this list to any archive or other online resource as long
as you (1) keep the list intact with no modifications, (2) e-mail
me the URL or other reference pointing to where you will be
storing the list, and (3) don't sell or make a profit from this
list (e.g. a CR-ROM of FAQs). For all other uses, please contact
me by e-mail at <jeffress@xmission.com>.
Copyright (c) 1996 - 2002 Terry L Jeffress
###
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