Book on Writing from Editing Service

BOOKS ABOUT WRITING
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All books on writing fiction and nonfiction reviewed here reside in the personal libraries of Leslie Ogle or Emily Moore.

WRITING FICTION AND NONFICTION

Alongside wise advice on writing and the easy-to-understand examples offered in The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile, this book's best value for a writer lies in the challenging end-of-chapter exercises that Noah Lukeman has created for his readers.

SAMPLE [p. 63]: Take an object in your room and come up with ten comparisons for it. For the first five comparisons, use similes; for the next five, use metaphors. For instance, "The dresser, tall and narrow, looked like an upright coffin"; and then "The dresser, tall and narrow, was an altar." Don't let yourself use cliché comparisons, and make sure each one is truly enlightening, teaching us something we don't already know about the object.

No writer of any genre should be without The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers.

In this must-have volume, author Christopher Vogler explains the mythic structure of storytelling and character identification by utilizing Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces and the "depth psychology" of Carl G. Jung.

By defining not only the basic character arc of all stories, and by identifying the most common and useful story archetypes, Vogler effectively reveals and relays all the basic aspects of storytelling. Coupling these revelations with excerpts from popular films and easy-to-follow story diagrams, he offers the reader clear and concrete examples of successful story structure.

Chock full of sage writing advice accompanied by a plethora of innovative writing exercises, Fiction Writer's Workshop by Josip Novakovich is a pivotal volume for serious writers. Sensible and highly descriptive, the book is an essential writing guide.

By defining all the elements of outstanding fiction, and by providing numerous examples of successful contemporary and classical works, Novakovich explains, defines, and guides writers via a handily bound workshop.

The companion book to Fiction Writer's Workshop, this volume will keep a writer happily engaged in perfecting his or her craft. Crammed with over 200 writing exercises, Writing Fiction Step By Step is truly a treasury of learning.

Similar to how a musician practices scales to hone and perfect musical talent, the exercises in this book by Josip Novakovich guide authors through writing scales, each one designed to aid the writer in becoming a literary maestro.

While not all established authors use the The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing, beginning novelists will find the book extremely helpful in organizing, executing, and selling a first novel.

Subtitled A 16-Step Program Guaranteed to Take You from Idea to Completed Manuscript, the book does just that, and many writers swear by the Marshall method. By creating this blueprint for a novel, he has offered the aspiring novelist a clear, concise way to map the technical aspects of storytelling through outlining, character development, and story timetable.

The Marshall Plan Workbook: Writing Your Novel From Start to Finish is the essential companion to The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing.

The majority of the book consists of easy-to-understand worksheets for plot, action, and character development designed to both organize and inspire an author toward novel completion.

It cannot be stressed enough how valuable is this workbook for aspiring novelists. One important tip when using this workbook: Write in pencil.

Write The Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold And Why

Book proposals are valuable author tools for sparking the interest of a publisher whether a book is completed, unfinished, or just an idea waiting to be written. And who wouldn't want to be paid in advance for his or her writing time?

In Writing the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why, authors Jeff Herman and Deborah M. Adams (both successful literary agents) present writers with ten examples of successful nonfiction book proposals. From concept to query letter, this volume is a priceless reference for learning how to correctly present a book or book idea to a literary agent or publisher.

Another great resource focusing on nonfiction book proposals is from author Elizabeth Lyon: Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write.

Using clear directions and simple-to-use templates, Lyon guides the writer through an enlightening, step-by-step book proposal process. Numerous authors have found success with Lyon's method as this book is a valuable and comprehensive reference guide for writers of nonfiction. Coupling this with Writing the Perfect Book Proposal ensures that a writer possesses the two best books on the subject.

In Beginnings, Middles, and Ends, author Nancy Kress offers yet another great book in the Elements of Fiction Writing series.

Where this book shines is not only in its clear presentation but also in clarity of description regarding the necessary progressive elements of a successful novel. Kress shows how to successfully transfer to paper a story from an author's imagination, and she also offers numerous exercises in the book designed to spark fresh ideas and increased creativity during the writing process.

Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers From Start to Finish belongs in every writer's library because it's a book to reference again and again in the course of a story's structure.

What makes this book by James Scott Bell so compelling are the practical guidelines and diagrams he has created to coach a writer in the fine points of technique, and he includes terrific writing exercises in every chapter. For plot and structure, this is the the best instruction book for the money.

Successful writers are always voracious readers, and Reading Like a Writer is a solid must-read.

In this book, Francine Prose rightly insinuates that better writing is a result of close reading. Then she goes on to deftly instruct a writer on how to glean the most from reading, and how to successfully apply the knowledge to his or her craft.

Highly instructive (and a darn fine read), Reading Like a Writer both delights and informs its audience due to Prose's dissection of well-known excerpts she includes in this book.

This thoughtfully-written volume focuses on writing as a spiritual practice, and author Natalie Goldberg's insights are just as valid today as they were 20 years ago when Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within was first published.

Writers of all genres will probably appreciate and identify with Goldberg's insights into writing because this book deals with an author's internal needs for self-expression. While it's not everyone's cup of tea, Writing Down the Bones is a wonderful work regarding the spirit of creativity.

Lifelines: A Guide to Writing Your Personal Recollections by Evelyn Nichols and Anne Lowenkopf

Lifelines is subtitled A Guide to Writing Your Personal Recollections and the intrinsic value of this book for writers is that it serves as an excellent guide for developing believable characters. Sadly, the book is out-of-print (and very difficult to find) but it's worth the detective work to obtain a copy.

Lifelines, written by Evelyn Nichols and Anne Lowenkopf, offers chapters that simply are vast collections of questions, serving as a guide to spark personal memories. However, these in-depth questions work exquisitely well for character development.

In Writing Successful Self-Help and How-To Books, author Jean Marie Stein follows the exact advice she offers in the book. She tells prospective writers what she will tell them, then she tells them, and then she tells them what she just told them. Thusly, the main "rule of three" in writing self-help or how-to books is revealed.

Stein leaves nothing to imagination is outlining both the technical and emotional aspects of writing instructional books. Her subtitle, An Insider's Guide to Everything You Need to Know, is no false claim. By far, this volume outshines all others in its subject category.

SCREENWRITING AND SCREENPLAYS

Final Draft Screenwriting Software and Syd Field DVD bundle

Final Draft 7 is the first and only investment to make in screenwriting format software, and the best value is the Final Draft 7 Bundle that includes the DVD Syd Field's Screenwriting Workshop alongside the latest release of Final Draft. The technical and creative value of this bundle is beyond measure.

Field has taught and coached thousands of professional screenwriters, and he is "regarded by entertainment professionals as the foremost authority on the craft of screenwriting." Field accepts only 12 students a year, and the DVD is an encapsulation of his exclusive course.

Although Formatting Your Screenplay is now out-of-print, every screenwriter should have a copy in his or her reference library.

Author Rick Reichman packs this book full of screenplay formatting examples and technical advice. It's a book you'll refer to time and time again because Reichman has coupled his screenwriting expertise with numerous, easy-to-follow presentations of script examples.

Formatting Your Screenplay clearly defines technical text including dialogue, direction, marginals, slug lines, and special slugs such as SFX, montage and intercutting.

Heralded by screenwriters as the premier screenwriting reference, The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script is the #1 print guide for both aspiring and established screenwriters.

From soup to nuts, author David Trottier has compiled a volume that covers all aspects of screenwriting. Due to his common sense style and his vast knowledge of the film industry, this is a volume that belongs in all screenwriters' libraries because it will be referenced again and again.

Syd Field, by far the most prolific screenwriting guru in Hollywood and the most sought-after screenwriting instructor in the world, is the authority on successful screenwriting. No screenwriter's library is complete without the works of Syd Field.

In this revised edition of his classic, The Screenwriter's Workbook, Field again reveals the secrets of successful screenplays as he shows how to build a screenplay from idea to printed script. Two other of his valuable classics are Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting and The Screenwriter's Problem-Solver: How To Recognize, Identify and Define Screenwriting Problems.

Essentially a collection of screenplay worksheets, The Screenplay Workbook: The Writing Before the Writing by Jeremy Robinson and Tom Mungovan offers a simple and effective way to organize and explore film ideas before proceeding with a script. Just as a novelist first begins with a story outline, so does a screenwriter, and these worksheets are exceptional tools.

Included in the book are worksheets for concept creation, character development, character relationships, plot structure, plot points, character arc, plot charting, and scenes.

When your ready to sell your script, then it's time to get a copy of The Savvy Screenwriter: How to Sell Your Screenplay (and Yourself) Without Selling Out. In her book, screenplay doctor Susan Kouguell has put together a treasure chest of information on navigating the complex workings of the screenwriting industry.

Thoroughly insightful and presented with wit and clarity, Kouguell's savvy book offers gem after gem of practical advice. In sharing her insider's knowledge, she does a great service to screenwriters everywhere.

PLAYWRITING

Playwriting: From Formula To Form by William M. Missouri Downs and Lou Ann Wright is the ultimate textbook course in and source for successful playwriting. Both authors are professors of playwriting at Wyoming University, and their astute presentations in this volume reflect their tried and true successes in classroom instruction.

Highlighting every aspect of the playwriting process from idea to stage production, this book is highly prized by playwrights on all levels of career achievement.

The Elements of Playwriting by Louis E. Catron serves both playwrights and fiction writers as a textbook guide to story development.

In its pages, Catron analyzes storytelling ideas as falling into one of three basic categories: Character, situation or thematic. He also includes instruction on character development, plot building, dialogue creation, and proper script formatting, and he reminds his readers that revisions are the playwright's friend. This is an excellent book for both beginning and established playwrights.

Although The Playwright's Art by Dr. Roger M. Busfield is out-of-print, used copies are still available from various outlets.

Inside the book are time-tested techniques for clarity and focus in scripting for the stage and other performance mediums. This is a perfect primer for the aspiring playwright, and a prized reference volume.

In Naked Playwriting: The Art, the Craft, and the Life Laid Bare, William Missouri Downs and Robin U. Russin offer a complete course in playwriting. With professional guidance, Downs and Russin include advice on marketing, submitting plays for production and competition, and how to secure a copyright.

Basically a course in Playwriting 101, the book also includes practical production advice.

PLEASE VISIT WRITING RESOURCES FOR COMPREHENSIVE LINKS AND INFORMATION FOR WRITERS

If you'd like your book on writing reviewed for possible inclusion in our Recommended Reading, please contact OgleMoore@gmail.com

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