Writing Books Part 3
Here is my third installment on the writing books I have read. Note that if the book is so hideous I wanted to sue to get my money back, I will not list it here. I don’t want to give the perpetrator any publicity at all. Obviously, if you favorite book isn’t listed, I might not have read it yet. Go to my contact page and leave me a suggestion if you know of a good book.
This installment deals with books on editing. The end of NaNoWriMo is only four days away. Until then, all critics must stay locked in their boxes. However, after a break in December, most wrimos will want to start the arduous process of editing their first draft. These books will help you do that. If you are not yet finished with you NaNo novel, don’t look at these until you have!
James Scott Bell, Revision and Self-Editing (2008) Useful with lots of lists and problem-solving in the back. Just reading through the bold paragraph headers is enlightening. Does not include a bibliography which would include most of the books in this annotated bibliography. He seems to have summarized all these books and then added examples from books and films. Lots of lists of good questions. Very comprehensive and very direct.
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 2nd edition (May 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582975086
• ISBN-13: 978-1582975085
Browne and King, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (2004) Useful. Has examples and exercises. The checklists are great reminders.
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 2 Sub edition (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060545690
• ISBN-13: 978-0060545697
Claire Kehrwald Cook, Line by Line (1985) Strictly grammar. Useful examples.
• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition (June 30, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395393914
• ISBN-13: 978-0395393918
Kirt Hickman, Revising Fiction (2009) Excellent advice for how to revise for new writers. Lots of practical advice and lists to make the procedure go quickly and effectively.
• Paperback: 318 pages
• Publisher: Quillrunner Publishing LLC (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097963301X
• ISBN-13: 978-0979633010
Noah Lukeman, The First Five Pages: A writer’s guide to staying out of the rejection pile (2000) Good advice on how to avoid the classic problems that lead to the rejection pile. Good advice on how to hook the slush reader and get noticed (in a positive way). I took copious notes and found the book quite useful. A lot of this is common sense but sometimes, you need the two by four to the side of the head.
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; Original edition (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068485743X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684857435
This installment deals with books on editing. The end of NaNoWriMo is only four days away. Until then, all critics must stay locked in their boxes. However, after a break in December, most wrimos will want to start the arduous process of editing their first draft. These books will help you do that. If you are not yet finished with you NaNo novel, don’t look at these until you have!
Books on Editing
James Scott Bell, Revision and Self-Editing (2008) Useful with lots of lists and problem-solving in the back. Just reading through the bold paragraph headers is enlightening. Does not include a bibliography which would include most of the books in this annotated bibliography. He seems to have summarized all these books and then added examples from books and films. Lots of lists of good questions. Very comprehensive and very direct.
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 2nd edition (May 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582975086
• ISBN-13: 978-1582975085
Browne and King, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (2004) Useful. Has examples and exercises. The checklists are great reminders.
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 2 Sub edition (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060545690
• ISBN-13: 978-0060545697
Claire Kehrwald Cook, Line by Line (1985) Strictly grammar. Useful examples.
• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition (June 30, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395393914
• ISBN-13: 978-0395393918
Kirt Hickman, Revising Fiction (2009) Excellent advice for how to revise for new writers. Lots of practical advice and lists to make the procedure go quickly and effectively.
• Paperback: 318 pages
• Publisher: Quillrunner Publishing LLC (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097963301X
• ISBN-13: 978-0979633010
Noah Lukeman, The First Five Pages: A writer’s guide to staying out of the rejection pile (2000) Good advice on how to avoid the classic problems that lead to the rejection pile. Good advice on how to hook the slush reader and get noticed (in a positive way). I took copious notes and found the book quite useful. A lot of this is common sense but sometimes, you need the two by four to the side of the head.
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; Original edition (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068485743X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684857435