Resources for Writers: General BOOKS
LIBRARY BOOKS
The Practical Writer by
Poets & Writers Magazinepresents the one book that every writer needs on the journey from the writing studio to publication. An essential volume from an organization renowned for providing reliable advice, The Practical Writeris filled with valuable information that will help emerging writers make intelligent choices and professional decisions at every stage of their careers. Filled with the insights and expertise of authors and other publishing insiders, it covers a range of topics: revising a manuscript, choosing a title, applying for grants, conducting research, evaluating an agent, understanding contracts, working with an editor, finding a literary community, promoting a book, and much more. With The Practical Writer, writers will know how to make the most of every aspect of their journey.
Call Number: 808 PRAISBN: 0142004006Publication Date: 2004-03-02
The Right to Write by
Argues that conventional writing methods actually stifle creativity, presenting illustrative stories and the author's personal writing techniques that are designed to unlock one's creative powers.
Call Number: 808.02 CAMISBN: 0874779375Publication Date: 1998-12-28
Pen on Fire by
In her fifteen years of teaching, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett has found that the biggest stumbling block for aspiring writers (especially women) is not fear of the blank page but frustration with the lack of time. What woman doesn't have too much to do and too little time? Finding an hour free of work, children, or obligations can seem impossible. But anyone can find fifteen minutes, whether you're sitting in traffic, waiting at a child's soccer practice, or watching the coffee drip. DeMarco-Barrett has created a practical, inspirational guide for fitting serious writing into those stolen moments. She offers writing exercises and techniques for generating ideas, as well as pragmatic advice from the well-known authors who appear on her radio show.With fifteen minutes a day, she can help you to ignite your pen and become the writer you have always wanted to be.
Call Number: 808.02 DEMISBN: 0156029782Publication Date: 2004-10-04
Steering the Craft by
A revised and updated guide to the essentials of a writer's craft, presented by a brilliant practitioner of the art Completely revised and rewritten to address the challenges and opportunities of the modern era, this handbook is a short, deceptively simple guide to the craft of writing. Le Guin lays out ten chapters that address the most fundamental components of narrative, from the sound of language to sentence construction to point of view. Each chapter combines illustrative examples from the global canon with Le Guin's own witty commentary and an exercise that the writer can do solo or in a group. She also offers a comprehensive guide to working in writing groups, both actual and online. Masterly and concise,Steering the Craft deserves a place on every writer's shelf.
Call Number: 808.02 LEGISBN: 0544611616Publication Date: 2015-09-01
Letters to a Young Writer (and You Too) by
From the bestselling author of the National Book Award winner Let the Great World Spin comes a lesson in how to be a writer--and so much more than that. Intriguing and inspirational, this book is a call to look outward rather than inward. McCann asks his readers to constantly push the boundaries of experience, to see empathy and wonder in the stories we craft and hear. A paean to the power of language, both by argument and by example, Letters to a Young Writer is fierce and honest in its testament to the bruises delivered by writing as both a profession and a calling. It charges aspiring writers to learn the rules and even break them. These fifty-two essays are ultimately a profound challenge to a new generation to bring truth and light to a dark world through their art.
Call Number: 808.02 MCCISBN: 9780399590801Publication Date: 2017-04-04
The New Writer's Handbook 2007 by
Winner of ForeWord magazine's Book of the Year Award in the career category, The New Writer’s Handbook 2007 is an annual anthology of cross-disciplinary articles to refresh and upgrade any writer's skills, with advice on craft and career development. The first edition features an eclectic mix of essays on writing and marketing techniques, stimulating short pieces on creativity and professional issues, and overall encouragement. With a preface by Erica Jong, this first edition features more than 60 articles on everything from writing techniques to the marketing of articles, stories, and book-length projects. Contributors include luminaries such as Barry Lopez, Richard Powers, Mary Pipher, Jane Yolen, Linda Sue Park, Ridley Pearson, and William G. Tapply. They include winners of the National Book Award, Newbery Medal and many other honors. The guide contains six sections: Motivation and Creativity, The Craft of Writing, Pitching and Proposals, Marketing Your Work, Career Development and Literary Insights. The articles were recently published in major writer magazines; in books on writing, creativity, and marketing; on literary blogs; and on author websites. The New Writer’s Handbook is the premier annual anthology for ongoing professional development for working and emerging writers.
Call Number: 808.02 NEWISBN: 0976520168Publication Date: 2007-06-06
You've Got a Book in You by
Writing a book is fun and easy--yes, FUN AND EASY--but it may not always feel that way. How do you find the time to write? How do you keep momentum? How do you deal with the horror of showing anyone a single sentence of your work-in-progress? The answers remain fun and easy, and author Elizabeth Sims will take your hand, dispel your worries, and show you how it's done in this stress-free guide to accomplishing your dream of writing your book. In You've Got a Book in You, Elizabeth is that encouraging voice guiding you through the entire process, from finding the right time and place to gathering all of your creative tools to diving right in and getting it done--page by page, step by step. It's easier than you think, and it all starts right here, right now. "This guide is witty, warm, and wise--and wonderfully down-to-earth as well. Elizabeth Sims doesn't just tell you that you've got a book in you, she shows you how to pour it out using your own creative spirit, common sense, and persistence." ~Lori L. Lake, author of The Gun Series and The Public Eye Mystery Series "If you're searching for the spark of inspiration to get started writing a book, and the nourishment to sustain you to THE END, Elizabeth Sims's You've Got a Book in You will show you how to find it in yourself." ~Hallie Ephron, award-winning author of There Was an Old Woman "You won't find an easier-to-follow or more inspirational writing guide." ~L.J. Sellers, author of the bestselling Jackson mysteries "By focusing the high beams of her intelligence (and humor!) on the twisty trail of book-writing, in You've Got a Book in You, Elizabeth Sims proves herself a true writer's friend. As she guides you from the creation of a "working title" through her (brilliant!) "Making-It-Better Process," this well-established pro plays her most impressive cards--stacking the deck in favor of YOU!" ~Jamie Morris, Director, Woodstream Writers "Elizabeth Sims packs a twelve-week writing course into 280 pages. Inspirational and yet extremely hands-on, You've Got a Book In You will give newbies confidence to forge ahead and will remind veteran writers why they began writing in the first place--for the joy of it. I won't be surprised when the brilliant terms 'stormwriting' and 'heartbrain' become part of every writer's lexicon." ~Julie Compton, author of Tell No Lies and Keep No Secrets "The book is encouraging and inspiring, practical and witty. As a seasoned writer, I appreciate the reminders about the importance of putting yourself on a writing schedule. No more excuses. The many 'writing blasts' are very helpful and will get any writer out of the starting blocks. I especially enjoyed the section, 'Writing with the Masters.' What better way to get inspired, get a feel for different styles, and get jump-started on your writing? Excellent advice that I plan to incorporate in my future classes. I concur with Sims that 'writer's block' is greatly exaggerated. Is there any other profession that claims such a phenomenon? 'Excuse, me, but I have 'book-keeping block,' 'playing music block,' or 'painting block' today? I don't think so. Get yourself on a schedule, read some Sims, write with the masters, and you'll be on your way. You'll be glad you met this friend on your journey to becoming a successful writer." ~Gesa Kirsch, Ph.D., Professor of English, Director of Valente Center for the Arts and Sciences, Bentley University
Call Number: 808.02 SIMISBN: 9781599635545Publication Date: 2013-05-13
Finishing School by
All too many people start a writing project with grand ambitions but reach a crisis of completion. Finishing School helps writers reignite the passion that started them on the project in the first place and work steadily to get it done. Untold millions of writing projects--begun with hope and a little bit of hubris--lie abandoned in desk drawers, in dated files on computer desktops, and in the far reaches of the mind. Too often, writers get tangled in self-abuse--their self-doubt, shame, yearning for perfection, and even arrogance get in the way. In Finishing School, Cary Tennis and Danelle Morton help writers overcome these emotional blocks and break down daunting projects into manageable pieces. Tennis first convened a Finishing School so that writers could help one another stay on track and complete their work. Since they weren't actually critiquing one another's writing, there was no jockeying for the title of best writer or the usual writing group politics; there was only a shared commitment to progress. Without guilt, blame, and outside critique, students were more productive than they imagined possible. Through this program, they were able to complete novels that they'd been struggling with for almost two decades, finish screenplays drafts, and revive interest in long-neglected PhD theses. In this book, the authors share this proven and easily replicable technique, as well as their own writing success stories.
Call Number: 808.02 TENISBN: 9780399184703Publication Date: 2017-01-10
The Writer's Digest Guide to Good Writing by
Timeless advice for writers from writers Writers will turn here for instruction and encouragement from many of writing's most influential authors. Drawn from past issues of Writer's Digest magazine, these articles resonate with writing wisdom. -- Erle Stanley Gardner, of Perry Mason fame, on dialogue -- Western legend Louis L'Amour on characterization -- the young Stephen King on horror fiction -- Pulitzer Prize winner Marc Connelly on playwriting philosophy -- S.S. Van Dine, on mystery writing -- Harlan Ellison on dedication to craft -- Plus short observations from Michael Crichton, Eudora Welty, Joyce Carol Oates, Kurt Vonnegut, Alex Haley, Ray Bradbury, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ring W. Lardner, Upton Sinclair, H.G. Wells, John Grisham, Thornton Wilder, Anne Rice, John Steinbeck, Rod Serling, James Michener, Tom Clancy, Barbara Cartland and many others.
Call Number: 808.02 WRIISBN: 1582971382Publication Date: 1997-01-15
Writer's Digest Writing Clinic by
This title shows readers how to take the lessons learned from the provided examples and apply them to their own work. There are also real-life query letters, novel synopses and non-fiction marketing analyses, with common problems and solutions offered by experts.
Call Number: 808.02 WRIISBN: 9781582972206Publication Date: 2003-04-20
Murder Your Darlings by
From one of America's most influential teachers, a collection of the best writing advice distilled from fifty language books -- from Aristotle to Strunk and White. With so many excellent writing guides lining bookstore shelves, it can be hard to know where to look for the best advice. Should you go with Natalie Goldberg or Anne Lamott? Maybe William Zinsser or Stephen King would be more appropriate. Then again, what about the classics -- Strunk and White, or even Aristotle himself? Thankfully, your search is over. In Murder Your Darlings, Roy Peter Clark, who has been a beloved and revered writing teacher to children and Pulitzer Prize winners alike for more than thirty years, has compiled a remarkable collection of more than 100 of the best writing tips from fifty of the best writing books of all time. With a chapter devoted to each key strategy, Clark expands and contextualizes the original author's suggestions and offers anecdotes about how each one helped him or other writers sharpen their skills. An invaluable resource for writers of all kinds, Murder Your Darlings is an inspiring and edifying ode to the craft of writing.
Call Number: 808.042 CLAISBN: 9780316481885Publication Date: 2020-01-21
Writing with Power by
A classic handbook for anyone who needs to write, Writing With Power speaks to everyone who has wrestled with words while seeking to gain power with them. Here, Peter Elbow emphasizes that the essential activities underlying good writing and the essential exercises promoting it are really notdifficult at all.Employing a cookbook approach, Elbow provides the reader (and writer) with various recipes: for getting words down on paper, for revising, for dealing with an audience, for getting feedback on a piece of writing, and still other recipes for approaching the mystery of power in writing. In a newintroduction, he offers his reflections on the original edition, discusses the responses from people who have followed his techniques, how his methods may differ from other processes, and how his original topics are still pertinent to today's writer. By taking risks and embracing mistakes, Elbowhopes the writer may somehow find a hold on the creative process and be able to heighten two mentalities--the production of writing and the revision of it.From students and teachers to novelists and poets, Writing with Power reminds us that we can celebrate the uses of mystery, chaos, nonplanning, and magic, while achieving analysis, conscious control, explicitness, and care in whatever it is we set down on paper.
Call Number: 808.042 ELBISBN: 9780195120189Publication Date: 1998-07-09
Writing Alone and with Others by
For more than a quarter of a century, Pat Schneider has helped writers find and liberate their true voices. She has taught all kinds--the award winning, the struggling, and those who have been silenced by poverty and hardship. Her innovative methods have worked in classrooms from elementary tograduate level, in jail cells and public housing projects, in convents and seminaries, in youth at-risk programs, and with groups of the terminally ill.Now, in Writing Alone and with Others, Schneider's acclaimed methods are available in a single well-organized and highly readable volume. The first part of the book guides the reader through the perils of the solitary writing life: fear, writer's block, and the bad habits of the internal critic. Inthe second section, Schneider describes the Amherst Writers and Artists workshop method, widely used across the U.S. and abroad. Chapters on fiction and poetry address matters of technique and point to further resources, while more than a hundred writing exercises offer specific ways to jumpstartthe blocked and stretch the rut-stuck. Schneider's innovative teaching method will refresh the experienced writer and encourage the beginner. Her book is the essential owner's manual for the writer's voice.
Call Number: 808.042 SCHISBN: 9780195165722Publication Date: 2003-08-28
Word Work by
Combining sympathy with practical advice, this guide enables writers to overcome mental and spiritual battles to get words on a page. Anecdotes from established authors, psychological theory, and hands-on exercises help writers understand and move beyond writer's block. Topics include preventing procrastination, generating inspiration, staying passionate, targeting long-term happiness, the role of relationships, and dealing with both rejection and success. This sound advice will give any writer, beginner or professional, a road map to greater productivity, confidence, and satisfaction.
Call Number: 808.2 ROGISBN: 1931229171Publication Date: 2002-05-01
Starting from Scratch by
From the best-selling author of Rubyfruit Jungleand Bingo, here is a writers' manual as provocative, frank, and funny as her fiction. Unlike most writers' guides, this one had as much to do with how writers live as with mastering the tools of their trade. Rita Mae Brown begins with a very personal account of her own career, from her days as a young poet who had written a novel no publisher wanted to take a chance on, right up to her recent adventures as a Hollywood screenwriter. In a sassy style that makes her outspoken advice as entertaining as it is useful, she provides straight talk about paying the rent while maintaining the energy to write; and dealing with agents, publishers, critics, and the publicity circus; about pursuingj ournalisim, academia, or screen-writing; and about rejecting the Hemingway myth of the hard-living, hard-drinking genius. In addition Brown, a former teacher or writing, offers a serious examination of the writer's tool--language, plotting, characters, symbolism--plus exercises to sharpen the ear for dialogue, and a fascinating, annoted reading list of important works from the seventh century to the late twentieth. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Call Number: 813.54 BROISBN: 0553052462Publication Date: 1988-01-01
MORE BOOKS IN RCLS
Write Tight by
Tells writers how to say exactly what they want with grace and power, using not only the right word but also the right number of words. Includes specific instruction and helpful exercises.
ISBN: 0898795486Publication Date: 1993-03-01
The Everything Creative Writing Book by
Many people can write. But writing well enough to get published takes hours of practice, the ability to take criticism, and expert advice. Filled with stories and tips from published authors, this easy-to-use guide teaches you the basics of the writing craft. Whether you want to create poems or plays, children's books or online blogs, romance novels or a memoir, you'll learn to write more effectively and creatively. Published author, editor, and PR consultant Wendy Burt-Thomas covers all aspects of writing, including how to: Prepare to write, from planning to research to organization Properly structure your piece to fit your chosen genre Stay focused during the drafting and editing processes Work with other authors Overcome writer's block Market your writing
ISBN: 9781440501524Publication Date: 2010-06-18
Finding Your Voice by
The writers who succeed are those who develop a unique and distinctive voice, one that sets them apart from the crowd. This title shows writers how to find that elusive voice and thereby improve their chances of getting noticed by editors and agents and getting published.
ISBN: 1582971730Publication Date: 2003-03-08
Writing Tools by
A special 10th anniversary edition of Roy Peter Clark's bestselling guide to writing, featuring five bonus tools. Ten years ago, Roy Peter Clark, America's most influential writing teacher, whittled down almost thirty years of experience in journalism, writing, and teaching into a series of fifty short essays on different aspects of writing. In the past decade, Writing Tools has become a classic guidebook for novices and experts alike and remains one of the best loved books on writing available. Organized into four sections, "Nuts and Bolts," "Special Effects," "Blueprints for Stories," and "Useful Habits," Writing Tools is infused with more than 200 examples from journalism and literature. This new edition includes five brand new, never-before-shared tools. Accessible, entertaining, inspiring, and above all, useful for every type of writer, from high school student to novelist, Writing Tools is essential reading.
ISBN: 9780316014991Publication Date: 2008-01-10
Being a Writer by
Being A Writer is a brief rhetoric that explores writing processes with an emphasis on their variety; invention, with an emphasis on its playfulness; revision as a technique of invention; collaboration as a means of revision; and personal engagement in academic writing, from literary analysis to argument.
ISBN: 9780072378733Publication Date: 2002-08-19
NUTS AND BOLTS
New York Times Manual of Style and Usage by
The premier source for journalists, now revised and updated for 2015. Does the White House tweet? Or does the White House post on Twitter? Can "text" be a verb and also a noun? When should you link? For anyone who writes--short stories or business plans, book reports or news articles--knotty choices of spelling, grammar, punctuation and meaning lurk in every line: Lay or lie? Who or whom? That or which? Is Band-Aid still a trademark? It's enough to send you in search of a Martini. (Or is that a martini?) Now everyone can find answers to these and thousands of other questions in the handy alphabetical guide used by the writers and editors of the world's most authoritative news organization. The guidelines to hyphenation, punctuation, capitalization and spelling are crisp and compact, created for instant reference in the rush of daily deadlines. The 2015 edition is a revised and condensed version of the classic guide, updated with solutions to problems that plague writers in the Internet age: · How to cite links and blogs · How to handle tweets, hashtags and other social-media content · How to use current terms like "transgender," or to choose thoughtfully between "same-sex marriage" and "gay marriage" With wry wit, the authors have created an essential and entertaining reference tool.
Call Number: 808 SIEISBN: 9781101905449Publication Date: 2015-09-29
The Elements of Style (Classic Edition, 2017) by
A new, expanded version of this book is available: -Paperback: https: //www.amazon.com/dp/1643990004 -Kindle: https: //www.amazon.com/dp/B07FSJKF89 This updated 2017 Classic Edition contains the original version of William Strunk's The Elements of Style, and it includes various enhancements and additional content that make this book even more useful. This edition is now being used as a textbook in numerous classes this fall at University of Minnesota, University of Texas, and elsewhere. Generations of college students and writers have learned the basics of grammar from this short book. It was rated "one of the 100 most influential books written in English" by Time in 2011, and iconic author Stephen King recommended it as a grammar handbook that all aspiring writers should read. Written a century ago, Strunk's book is a nostalgic link to the Art Deco era and the Roaring Twenties. Many of the grammar rules listed in the book still apply today; but over the years, these rules have begun to age. This Classic Edition commemorates the 100-year anniversary of Prof. Strunk's book and follows his original version, but it offers these enhancements for modern readers: 1. Editor's Notes throughout the book alert readers to grammar rules that have become obsolete and provide up-to-date advice for contemporary students and writers. 2. Grammar examples are illustrated with "right" and "wrong" graphic elements, allowing readers to discern correct usages from grammar errors at a glance. 3. A Study Guide has been added at the back of the book. 4. The paperback version provides blank, lined pages at the back of the book for note taking. 5. The e-book version has been restyled for improved display on the latest Kindles and other e-book readers; and the paperback edition has been restyled for a more modern, appealing look. If you are looking for a quick refresher to improve your grammar and style, or if you are taking a college course and this Classic Edition is on your required reading list, this book will give you the best of both worlds: a version that remains true to Strunk's original classic, plus modern touches that make this grammar book truly useful and up-to-date.
Call Number: 808 STRISBN: 9781988236513Publication Date: 2016-12-26
Dreyer's English by
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "An essential (and delightful!)"* guide to writing from Random House's longtime copy chief and one of Twitter's leading language gurus--in the tradition of The Elements of Style *People (Book of the Week) We all write, all the time: books, blogs, emails. Lots and lots of emails. And we all want to write better. Benjamin Dreyer is here to help. As Random House's copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alike--not to mention his followers on social media--for deconstructing the English language with playful erudition. Now he distills everything he has learned from the myriad books he has copyedited and overseen into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward. As authoritative as it is amusing, Dreyer's English offers lessons on punctuation, from the underloved semicolon to the enigmatic en dash; the rules and nonrules of grammar, including why it's OK to begin a sentence with "And" or "But" and to confidently split an infinitive; and why it's best to avoid the doldrums of the Wan Intensifiers and Throat Clearers, including "very," "rather," "of course," and the dreaded "actually." Dreyer will let you know whether "alright" is all right (sometimes) and even help you brush up on your spelling--though, as he notes, "The problem with mnemonic devices is that I can never remember them." And yes: "Only godless savages eschew the series comma." Chockful of advice, insider wisdom, and fun facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to everyone who wants to shore up their writing skills, mandatory for people who spend their time editing and shaping other people's prose, and--perhaps best of all--an utter treat for anyone who simply revels in language. Praise for Dreyer's English "Playful, smart, self-conscious, and personal . . . One encounters wisdom and good sense on nearly every page of Dreyer's English."--The Wall Street Journal "Destined to become a classic."--The Millions "Dreyer can help you . . . with tips on punctuation and spelling. . . . Even better: He'll entertain you while he's at it."--Newsday (What to Read This Week)
Call Number: 808.02 DREISBN: 9780812995701Publication Date: 2019-01-29
Do I Make Myself Clear? by
A wise and entertaining guide to writing English the proper way by one of the greatest newspaper editors of our time. Harry Evans has edited everything from the urgent files of battlefield reporters to the complex thought processes of Henry Kissinger. He's even been knighted for his services to journalism. In Do I Make Myself Clear?, he brings his indispensable insight to us all in his definite guide to writing well. The right words are oxygen to our ideas, but the digital era, with all of its TTYL, LMK, and WTF, has been cutting off that oxygen flow. The compulsion to be precise has vanished from our culture, and in writing of every kind we see a trend towards more -- more speed and more information but far less clarity. Evans provides practical examples of how editing and rewriting can make for better communication, even in the digital age. Do I Make Myself Clear? is an essential text, and one that will provide every writer an editor at his shoulder.
Call Number: 808.042 EVAISBN: 9780316277174Publication Date: 2017-05-16
How to Write a Sentence by
New York Times Bestseller "Both deeper and more democratic than The Elements of Style" - Adam Haslett, Financial Times "A guided tour through some of the most beautiful, arresting sentences in the English language." - Slate "Like a long periodic sentence, this book rumbles along, gathers steam, shifts gears, and packs a wallop." --Roy Blount Jr. In this entertaining and erudite New York Times bestseller, beloved professor Stanley Fish offers both sentence craft and sentence pleasure. Drawing on a wide range of great writers, from Philip Roth to Antonin Scalia to Jane Austen, How to Write a Sentence is much more than a writing manual--it is a spirited love letter to the written word, and a key to understanding how great writing works.
Call Number: 808.042 FISISBN: 9780061840548Publication Date: 2011-01-25
