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1Cecrow
Other groups have topics like this, so why not us: tell us what you're reading about writing, and how helpful you think it is (if you've gotten far enough into it to know).
I'm just over 100 pgs into On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King, which gets me past the opening memoir portion. There's only been a couple of tips so far, but having the context of his bio really helps make his points and I agree with all of them. Looking forward to the rest.
I'm just over 100 pgs into On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King, which gets me past the opening memoir portion. There's only been a couple of tips so far, but having the context of his bio really helps make his points and I agree with all of them. Looking forward to the rest.
2Dbilyk
Like many new authors I've read Stephen King's "On Writing". Great read!
The best advice I think I took from King was the Second Draft = First Draft - 10% rule. It really made me work at my editing and clean it up, and my book improved immensely upon completion.
The second thing I remember most was his undying hatred for adverbs - a loose rule I just broke in my above sentence. I removed a total of 135 adverbs (yes I counted...) from my writing after my first draft, and once again I found the result was a much cleaner read.
Other than that I don't remember much, to be honest. What "On Writing" did do for me, however, was increase my confidence in my own ability, allowing me to break through a few bouts of writer's block.
The best advice I think I took from King was the Second Draft = First Draft - 10% rule. It really made me work at my editing and clean it up, and my book improved immensely upon completion.
The second thing I remember most was his undying hatred for adverbs - a loose rule I just broke in my above sentence. I removed a total of 135 adverbs (yes I counted...) from my writing after my first draft, and once again I found the result was a much cleaner read.
Other than that I don't remember much, to be honest. What "On Writing" did do for me, however, was increase my confidence in my own ability, allowing me to break through a few bouts of writer's block.
3Cecrow
It's getting more informative and helpful in the latter half, where he talks about a writer's toolbox. Not much yet that I haven't heard before, but good to have it validated from someone who's succeeded at his level.
In a related topic someone said they wouldn't read the advice of someone who writes in a yucky horror genre that doesn't interest them, but a) he's unquestionably successful as a writer, and b) you can still appreciate an author's style and skill independent of the subject matter and decide based on that what their advice is worth to you. I had a high school phase with his books and haven't been back lately, but I give the man credit for his clarity, atmosphere, characters, etc. Obviously it's working for him.
I'm of the school of thought that there's no hard and fast rules for good writing, only good examples. That's what makes it so tough to learn and improve at; if it were any easier then I'd expect his wife Tabitha King (also an author) would surely be his best student and more successful than she has been.
I wouldn't immediately take every bestselling author as a good example (not by a long shot, actually), but a bestselling author who can also write a sentence and has a teaching degree, has taught the language ... okay, I'm all ears.
In a related topic someone said they wouldn't read the advice of someone who writes in a yucky horror genre that doesn't interest them, but a) he's unquestionably successful as a writer, and b) you can still appreciate an author's style and skill independent of the subject matter and decide based on that what their advice is worth to you. I had a high school phase with his books and haven't been back lately, but I give the man credit for his clarity, atmosphere, characters, etc. Obviously it's working for him.
I'm of the school of thought that there's no hard and fast rules for good writing, only good examples. That's what makes it so tough to learn and improve at; if it were any easier then I'd expect his wife Tabitha King (also an author) would surely be his best student and more successful than she has been.
I wouldn't immediately take every bestselling author as a good example (not by a long shot, actually), but a bestselling author who can also write a sentence and has a teaching degree, has taught the language ... okay, I'm all ears.
4eLPy
I'm actually reading two different books about writing. The first is "Writing with Emotion, Tension, and Conflict" Cheryl St. John, the second, "On Writing" Stephen King. I only started the latter before finishing the first because I got a print copy for Christmas and couldn't resist the urge! So far, while still in the memoir part of it, I really enjoy learning about the life that built such a successful author. It's also an insight into his personality.
Cheryl St. John's book is really informative. She gives a lot of great examples of what it is to write with emotion, tension and conflict. There are exercises as well. This book has been immensely helpful to me and as I write I keep her advice in mind, including that you don't want your reader to always remember they're "reading" about someone, rather you want them to feel like they're in the story a fly on the wall perhaps. (Not quoting her by any means.)
"Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life" Dani Shapiro I read last year and this is another helpful book. She too talks about her life and becoming a writer but also shares a lot of encouraging advice. I appreciate her tip to not just run off on a moment of excitement (say when you come up with a great new idea) because this will only last so long and most likely not sustain you. We have to be able, as writers, to sustain ourselves even when we're not high on the "ah ha's".
Cheryl St. John's book is really informative. She gives a lot of great examples of what it is to write with emotion, tension and conflict. There are exercises as well. This book has been immensely helpful to me and as I write I keep her advice in mind, including that you don't want your reader to always remember they're "reading" about someone, rather you want them to feel like they're in the story a fly on the wall perhaps. (Not quoting her by any means.)
"Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life" Dani Shapiro I read last year and this is another helpful book. She too talks about her life and becoming a writer but also shares a lot of encouraging advice. I appreciate her tip to not just run off on a moment of excitement (say when you come up with a great new idea) because this will only last so long and most likely not sustain you. We have to be able, as writers, to sustain ourselves even when we're not high on the "ah ha's".
5Cecrow
I've been chipping away at the Elements of Style over a few months (kept in the car, read it whenever my wife went shopping) and just finished up, but it'll have to sit on my desk as reference because I'm sure I didn't absorb it all. Interesting to have read alongside On Writing since it was clearly an influence on Stephen King (as he admits), as it has been on so many others. Not really a book any author can afford not to read, given its reputation. I especially appreciated the final portion, which imparts general advice to complement the earlier more specific rules.
