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Recommended Books for Writers--Passionately Share

by jideofor
10 replies
With a desire to be a better writer and since I am not not a native english speaker, I have been on a search to find books that will help me to be a better write.

I hope to write for money on the web in order to raise fund for my project.

So far, I have Stephen King's 'On Writing' and William Strunk's 'The Elements of Style'

I would also like more recommendation from whatever you may have read and consider interesting to add to to my list.

I would like you to see this as a way of helping to produce better writers, which I do hope that others will find helpful as well.

Thank you for your time.
#books #recommended #share #writerspassionately
  • Profile picture of the author gyantastic
    I read copyblogger and menwithpens blog for this purpose. I generally read blogs for improving my writing skills.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    On Writing by Stephen King
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  • Profile picture of the author jideofor
    Thanks. I have 'On Writing' and 'The Elements of Style' already. Just wondering If I could get more.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
      Banned
      Originally Posted by jideofor View Post

      Thanks. I have 'On Writing' and 'The Elements of Style' already. Just wondering If I could get more.
      I know. Read it again.

      And again. And again. And again. More books aren't always the answer. Reading what you have and practicing it is.
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  • Profile picture of the author MHWSO
    There are many websites online that will help you with your grammar. You can even find quizzes, and other tools to help you know what area you need to focus on.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Books about writing are okay but if you really want to learn read the type of material you want to write. If you want to write romance stories always be reading romance stories. If you're looking to write how-to stuff, be reading how-to books.

    Really, it doesn't matter what you're reading as long as you're reading constantly. And of course, you've got to be writing too. Set a goal to write 500 words ever day as you get started. Then up that to 1000, then 1500, etc. I shoot for 2000 every day and most often get it or more. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author jideofor
    Joseph, now I get what you mean.

    Travelinguy, I love your analogy. Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      I always recommend André Jute's "Writing A Thriller". It doesn't matter in the slightest whether a thriller is what you actually want to write: it's just the best "writing book" I've ever read (and I've read 60 - 70).

      (The Stephen King book is also good, I agree).
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    • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
      Banned
      Originally Posted by jideofor View Post

      Joseph, now I get what you mean.

      Travelinguy, I love your analogy. Thanks.
      I need to use the /sarcasm tag more often lol. Listen to what travlinguy said, it actually expands on what I meant. You can read a ton of books on writing, but it's only a part of the equation. Reading actual works that are similar to what you want to do will be much more beneficial.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        travlinguy nailed it. I'll add that you should occasionally step outside your chosen genre. If you want to write romances, read westerns and thrillers and sci-fi and anything else that strikes your fancy.

        If you write fiction, read some non-fiction. If you want to write non-fiction, read fiction.

        If you do that, and keep writing every day, you'll find yourself developing your own unique style.

        Sometimes writers will fixate on a favorite author and end up sounding like an imitation of that author rather than themselves.
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