Craft Book
Best book on the craft of fiction writing.?
I've purchased many books on the craft of fiction writing. Most of them repeat themselves; say the same things in a different context. What would you guys consider the "best" book on ficition writing? Also, what's the difference between 'noir' and 'pulp' fiction? Thanx much!
"Best"?
There are probably tens of thousands.
The one that got me on the right track when I was just starting is "How to write a damn good novel" by James Frey.
It's a nuts-and-bolts approach to the process of starting and finishing a novel---exactly what I needed at that time.
There are many books like this, that cover a lot of aspects of writing. There are also lots of books that focus on specific aspects, like the howdoneit series mentioned by loryintoo.
I have some of those, but each is written by a different author, so they are not all equal in quality (my humble opinion).
One book that helped be a lot is the 'Creative Writer's Style Guide', which is a good reference for punctuation and grammar. It is specifically for fiction writers. A lot of people recommend 'elements of style' but I find that one a bit old-fashioned for today's fiction, and more suitable for journalists.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
James
P.S. oh....almost forgot to mention.....I've come across many books that are just general, vague discussions about the craft, as well as 'inspirational' pieces that feature tons of quotes from famous writers and anecdotes about their lives.
I find this sort of book to be totally useless.
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