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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!faqserv From: Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Newsgroups: misc.writing,misc.answers,news.answers Subject: misc.writing Recommended Reading List [15Sep97] Supersedes: <writing/recommended-reading_876995320@rtfm.mit.edu> Followup-To: poster Date: 24 Oct 1997 09:34:28 GMT Organization: River Publishing Services Lines: 1438 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Distribution: world Expires: 14 Nov 1997 09:32:34 GMT Message-ID: <writing/recommended-reading_877685554@rtfm.mit.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu Summary: Reviews of writing-related books, journals, periodicals, and internet resources. X-Last-Updated: 1997/09/15 Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu misc.writing:231364 misc.answers:6685 news.answers:115265 Archive-name: writing/recommended-reading Posting-Frequency: weekly Last-modified: 15 September 1997 Copyright: See section 11. URL: http://www.utw.com/~jeffress/mw/rrl_toc.html Maintainer: Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Contents ======== 0 What's New in This Version 1 What is the Recommended Reading List? 1.1 What is the purpose of the misc.writing Recommended Reading List? 1.2 What is the format of the entries? 1.3 What is the order of the entries? 1.4 Who can submit to the RRL? 1.5 How do I submit to the RRL? 1.6 If this is a recommended reading list, why are some reviews negative? 1.7 What if I find an error in the list or know some missing bibliographic information? 1.8 What if I disagree with an entry in the list? 2 Awards and Links 2.1 Awards Presented to the List 2.2 Sites that Link to the List 2.3 FAQ Archives 3 Books about Writing 3.1 On Being a Writer 3.2 Writing Fiction 3.3 Writing Genre Fiction (SF/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Western) 3.4 Writing Romance Novels 3.5 Writing for Children 3.6 Writing Plays and Screenplays 3.7 Writing Nonfiction 3.8 Literary Criticism 4 Books about the Writing Industry 4.1 Literary Agents and Agencies 4.2 Copyright 4.3 Editing 5 Magazines about Writing 6 Market Listings and Reports 6.1 General 6.2 Children's Fiction 6.3 Genre Fiction 7 References of Interest to Writers 7.1 Style Guides 7.2 Grammar and Usage 8 Internet Resources and References for Writers 8.1 Sites with Content about Writing 8.2 Sites with Reference Material 8.3 Indexes 9 Software for Writers 9.1 Software That Teaches Writing 9.2 Manuscript Management Software 10 Acknowledgements 11 Copyright and Acceptable Use Statement 0 What's New in This Version ============================ New Entries - Block, Lawrence. _Telling Lies for Fun and Profit: A Manual for Fiction Writers._ (Section 3.2) - Small Press Review (Section 6.1) - Yudkin, Marcia. _Freelance Writing for Magazines and Newspapers: Breaking in Without Selling Out_. (Section 3.7) - Zuckerman, Albert. _Writing the Blockbuster Novel._ (Section 3.2) 1 What is the Recommended Reading List? ======================================= 1.1 What is the purpose of the misc.writing Recommended Reading List? As writers, we've all read some books about writing. Some of us have probably read too many -- even reading books about writing to procrastinate writing. For novice writers, this list should help you decide which books might help you along your way and possibly avoid wasting time with a loser. For you old hands, this list should help you pick a book to read while putting off rewriting your draft (you do have your draft finished, don't you?) of your earth-shattering, best-selling, blockbuster novel. At first the list included reviews of only books, but there are so many other resources available to writers that the list now includes reviews of writing-related periodicals, market lists, Internet sites, and software. 1.2 What is the format of the entries? In general, I use a bibliographic format for the list entries. Where possible, I have included some information that is not generally found in bibliographies -- ISBN, binding, price -- but is useful if you are trying to find or buy the listed work. In association with Amazon.com, you can purchase books directly from the HTML version of the list by clicking on the books' ISBNs. The prices listed are in US dollars unless otherwise noted. (These are the list prices, you will often pay 20-30% less through Amazon.com.) The general entry format looks like this: Author, First Name. _Title of Author's Book._ Nth ed. City: Publisher, Year. ISBN 0-000-00000-0, binding, pages, price. An example from the list: Curtis, Richard. _How to be Your Own Literary Agent._ New, expanded ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. ISBN 0-395-36142- 7, trade paperback, 257 pp., $11.95. Book entries include their binding method and size: - Hardcover -- standard hardcover (usually 6 x 9 inches) - Hardcover (10 x 12 inches) -- odd sized hardcover editions - Paperback -- the mass-market paperback edition - Trade paperback -- standard size (6 x 9 inches) paperback edition - Paperback (8 x 11 inches) -- odd sized paperback - Softcover -- paperback of unknown size Magazine entries are followed by ISSN, the last known mailing address, and subscription rates. One or more reviews follows each entry's bibliographic information. When the author of the review is known, I have listed the author's name and e-mail address following the review. (At the author's request, I will withhold either the E-mail address, or name, or both.) 1.3 What is the order of the entries? I have grouped the subject areas together into logical sets. As I receive more reviews, I may subdivide some of the sections. Within each section, the entries appear in alphabetical order by the author's last name, when the author is known, and by editor or title otherwise. 1.4 Who can submit to the RRL? Anyone who has read a book, magazine, or other work (including internet resources and software) about writing or the writing industry may submit a review to the list. You do not have to be a regular (or even occasional) reader of misc.writing to submit. 1.5 How do I submit to the RRL? Please mail submissions directly to me at <jeffress@utw.com>. Reviews should be concise and state the specific benefits and failings of the work. In your submission include all the bibliographic information listed in section 1.2. Especially important are the physical details of the book. I can look up most bibliographic details from the Library of Congress database, but I can't tell physical size, the price, or the number of pages. Indicate the category where you feel the entry belongs -- you've read the work so you know where it fits best. Please indicate if you do not want your name or e-mail address posted with your review. Feel free to submit reviews of works that already appear in the RRL, especially if you have a dissenting opinion. Where additional reviews add new material or information about an entry, I will include the new entry. Some entries have a one-line review that says almost nothing useful: "One of the best books in the genre. A really good read." Please send me new, expanded reviews for these entries. Sometimes I receive lengthy reviews. In this case I silently condense the review and give the author full credit for the entry. I will also make small editorial changes to keep the style of the entries consistent. 1.6 If this is a recommended reading list, why are some reviews negative? No one will love every book. What works for one author may be detrimental to another. By including a variety of opinions, I hope to make it easier for you to choose a book that fits your needs. If there is a real bomb of a book, I hope to steer readers away from that title, rather than not give any direction through silence. 1.7 What if I find an error in the list or know some missing bibliographic information? If you find errors in the list or know any of the missing details about an entry, please let me know. There have been several list maintainers and information may have been accidentally excluded or changed. If you are the author of an entry and your address changes, let me know and I will update your bylines. And if you are the author of an entry and it has not been attributed to you, please let me know. 1.8 What if I disagree with an entry in the list? If you read a review and have a dissenting opinion, please write a concise counter review or rebuttal. I will make every effort to give a complete listing of the various viewpoints. See sections 1.2 and 1.4 for information about submitting a review. 2 Awards and Links ================== 2.1 Awards Presented to the List <http://www.furballthegreat.com> <http://www.furballthegreat.com>Furball the Great Content Is King "Excellent resources for the veteran or novice writer reviewed by the members of misc.writing USENET Newsgroup." <http://webflier.com/> <http://webflier.com/>WebFlyer's Wings Award 2.2 Sites that Link to the List - The Official Misc.Writing Web Site <http://www.scalar.com/mw/> - Pure Fiction <http://www.purefiction.co.uk/> - Victory Crayne <http://www.crayne.com/> - Yahoo (Arts:Humanities:Literature:Reviews:Recommended) <http://www.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/Literature/Reviews/Rec ommendations/> 2.3 FAQ Archives - INTAC Access Corporation <http://www.intac.com/FAQ.html> - Internet FAQ Consortium <http://www.faqs.org/faqs/> - JMA Systems Corporation <http://www.jmas.co.jp/FAQs/> - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (RTFM) <ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/> - Ohio State University <http://www.cis.ohio- state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/FAQ-List.html> - Oxford University Libraries <http://www.lib.ox.ac.uk/internet/news/faq/by_group.index.ht ml> - University of Regina <http://www.cs.uregina.ca/links/faq/> - Universiteit Utrecht Department of Computer Science <http://www.cs.ruu.nl/wais/html/na-bng/.html> 3 Books about Writing ===================== 3.1 On Being a Writer Bradbury, Ray. _Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity._ Santa Barbara, California: Joshua Odell Editions, Capra Press, 1989. Hardcover, 154 pp, $18.95. Expanded edition. ISBN 1- 877741-09-4, trade paperback, $11.95. Bantam Books, 1995. ISBN 0-55329-634-5, mass-market paperback, $5.99. Zen in the Art of Writing is an interesting examination into the modus operandi of one of the great writers of our century. Bradbury's main theme is that writing should be fun and not arduous work. _Zen_ adequately fulfills the title by describing Bradbury's beliefs about writing and his personal practices, but it is only a self-examination and may not be useful to many other writers. (For example, Bradbury writes in spontaneous flashes and _never_ revises his material.) -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Brande, Dorothea. _Becoming a Writer._ J. P. Archer, 1981. ISBN 0- 874771-64-1, trade paperback, 186 pp., $9.95. This book was originally published in 1934 and is as fresh as ever today. An excellent and complete book, dealing with almost every aspect of the art of writing, with many wonderful suggestions on how to overcome blocks, view ones own work critically, etc. The current printing has a foreword by John Gardner, author of many books dealing with the art and craft of fiction. Brown, Rita Mae. _Starting from Scratch: A Different Kind of Writer's Manual._ Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1989. ISBN 0-553- 34630-X, trade paperback, $12.95. Care and feeding of yourself as a writer. Brown, a working writer, has useful information on what standard of living to expect (near-poverty), how to make ends meet, and what to do with screenplays (take the money and run -- what appears on the screen will probably bear almost no resemblance to your work; that's why you write novels). Also contains some interesting philosophy. Dissenting Review: The chapter on substance abuse is essential, the rest forgettable. Dillard, Annie. _The Writing Life._ HarperCollins, 1990. ISBN 0- 06-091988-4, trade paperback, $11.00. Taken from essays that first appeared in _Esquire,_ the _TriQuarterly,_ and several other magazines. Dillard describes her experiences as a writer. _The Writing Life_ is not a how- to volume in any sense; the crisp prose provides a direct glimpse into a writer's fertile mind. Gardner, John. _On Becoming a Novelist._ HarperCollins, 1983. ISBN 0-06-091126-3, trade paperback, $12.00. The Foreword by Raymond Carver alone makes this book worthwhile. Although you could call the book "inspirational" in nature because it deals with the art rather than the craft of writing (and although it says "Novelist" in the title, the book is also valuable to short story writers), it is not an exercise in cheerleading, but rather a serious discussion of the nature and training of a fiction writer. (There is also a chapter titled "Publication and Survival.") A wonderful book for the serious artist. Goldberg, Natalie. _Writing Down the Bones._ Shambhala Publications, 1986. ISBN 0-877733-75-9, trade paperback, 171 pp., $10.00. The book consists of about 60 two- or three-page chapters, each of which presents a brief technique or suggestion for improving one's writing and creative process, with emphasis on the latter. Many times, the advice is presented via anecdotes. A very "Zen" approach to creative writing, as one might guess from the publisher. Michener, James, A. _James A. Michener's Writer's Handbook: Explorations in Writing and Publishing._ New York: Random House, 1992. ISBN 0-679-74126-7, paperback (8.5 x 11 inches), 182 pp., $15.00. Michener describes his creative process from initial idea through proofing of the galleys. He offers writers a look at how much work a seasoned professional still has to put into his books. Michener follows the life of a chapter in one of his novels from manuscript, to editor, to galleys, to final copy. In an appendix, Michener answers the questions he is most often asked by would-be writers. He explains that hard work and determination with an attitude of "I can be published" are essential to success as a writer. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Ueland, Brenda. _If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence, and Spirit._ St. Paul, Minnesota: Greywolf Press. ISBN 1-55597-260-8, trade paperback, 180 pp., $8.95. This fine little book was originally published at about the same time as Dorothea Brande's book and must be the _most_ inspirational writing book ever to fall into my possession. Carl Sandberg called this book, "The best book ever written about how to write." This is not a "nuts-n-bolts" book; it raises you up, brushes you off, and sends you along the path to new heights of creativity. 3.2 Writing Fiction Bicknam, Jack. _Scene and Structure._ Writer's Digest Books, 1993. ISBN 0-89879-551-6, hardcover, 168 pp., $14.99. This is perhaps the best book in the "Elements of Fiction Writing" series from Writer's Digest. It is a relatively advanced book for the writer who has a pretty good handle on the basic mechanics of plot, theme, style, etc. It describes the basic mechanics of stimulus-internalization-response, how that builds into scenes, how scenes build into chapters, how to compile chapters into a book. It has a section on specialized techniques for changing the pace, dealing with multiple plot lines, interrupting scenes and more. This book explains how to make a story hang together, and how to keep it from falling apart. Although many writing books cover the same general territory, _Scene and Structure_ covers an area most fail to mention. Strongly recommended. -- Alexander von Thorn <alex@worldhouse.com> Block, Lawrence. _Telling Lies for Fun and Profit: A Manual for Fiction Writers._ Sandia: 1990. ISBN 0-9440091-1-5. Out of print. I'm relatively new to writing and still consider myself to be at most an advanced beginner, but the first book I read about the craft of writing was _Telling Lies for Fun and Profit_ by Lawrence Block. For me, at least, the book was interesting and enjoyable, and was the first to raise my awareness of certain aspects of writing, such as the importance of choosing nouns and verbs that put color into your writing rather than relying on adjectives and adverbs. He also discusses issues such as the pros and cons of using dialect and colloquialism in character dialogue. A couple of elements show the book to be a bit dated, such as his numerous references to using a typewriter, but the large majority of the material here is unaffected by the passage of a couple of decades. A more advanced writer may consider some of the material self- evident, or arguable, but for me at least it was a worthwhile read, good enough that at some point I'll probably read Block's other books about writing. -- Joe McCauley <jmccaul@ma.ultranet.com> Block, Lawrence. _Writing the Novel: From Plot to Print._ Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1979. ISBN 0-89879- 208-8, trade paperback, 198 pp., $12.99. Probably one of the most practical guides about writing that I have seen. Block reflects on the solutions to problems that he has experienced as well as referring to a survey he made of twenty or more recognized authors. His approach is very down to earth: set goals, read the type of fiction you want to write (if you don't like to read it, how do you expect to be able to write it?), diagram the structure of a novel in the genre you want to write in, and above all write every day. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Burnett, Hallie. _On Writing the Short Story._ HarperPerennial, 1983. ISBN 0-06-273174-2, trade paperback, $11.00 Burnett, Hallie and Whit. _Fiction Writer's Handbook._ HarperPerennial, 1993. ISBN 0-06-273169-6, trade paperback, $12.00. Hallie and Whit Burnett, as founding editors of _Story_ magazine (which has recently gone back into print as a quarterly), published the first works of writers such as Norman Mailer (who graces the first volume with a Preface), J. D. Salinger, Joseph Heller, Truman Capote, and Tennessee Williams. In these books, they bring their enormous experience to bear in chapters that deal with both the creative process and the craft of fiction. Card, Orson Scott. _Character and Viewpoint._ Writer's Digest Books, 1988. ISBN 0-89879-307-6, Hardcover, 182 pp., $15.99. Well written and very helpful. One of the few writer's manuals I could read all the way through in one sitting. Cook, Marshall. _Freeing Your Creativity : A Writer's Guide._ Writer's Digest Books, 1995. ISBN 0-89879-664-4, trade paperback, $14.99. Quite a good book; covers such topics as procrastination, creative gathering etc. Not something that could be read in one sitting, but worth a read none the less, although I would suggest hunting through your local library before buying. Egri, Lajos. _The Art of Creative Writing._ Citadel Press, 1965, 1995. ISBN 0-80650-200-2, softcover, $8.95. Although Egri's books are written with a slightly dated style, they go straight to the heart of what makes dramatic fiction truthful and exciting. These are not books with formulas or tips about writing, but rather, they analyze what it is that makes a reader care about characters, what makes them realistic, and how a compelling plot grows realistically from them. Gardner, John. _The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers._ New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983. Reissue ed. Vintage, 1991. ISBN 0-67973-403-1, trade paperback, 226 pp., $11.00. John Gardner has a lot to say and often uses as many words as he can to express himself. He claims to be speaking only to those who seek to write artistic, literary fiction, but his discussions will fit every genre. Almost every sentence (and at least every paragraph) makes a challenging statement about fiction and its creation. Gardner beautifully describes the state where the reader experiences the events put on paper by the author -- and admonishes us to be very aware of how our writing affects this state. You never want to jolt your reader away from the dream you are creating in the reader's mind. Part two presents Gardner's advice about writing, listing common errors, writing techniques, and methods of plotting. The most interesting chapter has various exercises for writers to practice which embody all the points that Gardner tried to make in the text of his book. Much of the primary message is somewhat cryptic and difficult to extract without rereading, but rereading is worthwhile. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> This book is a classic, and is a must buy for anyone seriously attempting to write fiction. However, you will not find any formulas, point systems, or graphs that show you how to construct a story (well, maybe a graph or two). What you will find is meaty chapters on aesthetics, artistic mystery, fiction as dream, genre, interest, and metafiction. You will also find at the back a set of extremely useful exercises. All material is gleaned from Gardner's years of teaching graduate- level creative writing. Hills, Rust. _Writing in General, and the Short Story in Particular: An Informal Textbook._ Revised ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987. ISBN 0-395-44268-0, trade paperback, 197 pp., $11.95. L. Rust Hills was fiction editor of Esquire Magazine for some 20 years, and his book is jam-packed with rapid-fire commentary on just about every technical aspect of crafting a short story. It is by far the most intelligent and complete such book I have come across, and makes a fine companion to Gardner's _Art of Fiction_ mentioned above. -- ? Hills organized his personal ponderings and observations about the short story from his years of experience as an editor into this concise reference about the short story as a literary form. Although his tone is conversational, Hills gives an in- depth analysis of the elements of the short story, continually comparing and contrasting the short story with other literary forms. He is amazingly thorough and maintains his conversational tone through masterful transitions between each section. While reading, Hills seems to be conducting one long discussion, but in retrospect we see that he has covered many topics in detail. This smooth transition between topics also demonstrates the interdependency of the elements in the short story form -- that each element of the successful short story (character, plot, setting, tone, style) all rely so heavily on each other that to change one changes them all. This is why one can argue that any of the points of a short story is the most important, because all of the elements work together in a synergistic fashion toward the whole story. In the afterword, Hills presents an example of his own writing process, a chaotic, meandering method that is amazing when reflecting on the coherent and organized result. It also fills writers with comfort that not everyone moves from outline to rough draft to final draft as smoothly as our College professors would have us believe. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Knight, Damon. _Creating Short Fiction._ Vol. 1. Writer's Digest Books, 1981. 3rd ed. St. Martins Press, 1997. ISBN 0-312- 15094-6, trade paperback, $13.95. Really one of the very best how-to-write handbooks I have ever read. Madden, David. _Revising Fiction: A Handbook for Writers: 185 Practical Techniques for Improving Your Story or Novel._ Plume. Reissue ed. New American Library, 1995. ISBN 0-4522- 6414-6, trade paperback, $13.95. Touches on just about anything you could think of. A good checklist/reference book. Reed, Kit. _Revision._ Writer's Digest Books, 1989. ISBN 0-89879- 350-5, hardcover. Out of print. A decent book on revising and rewriting, though I personally found most of it pretty self-evident. Spinrad, Norman. _Staying Alive: A Writer's Survival Guide._ Donning, 1983. ISBN 0-89865-259-6, softcover. Out of print. Spinrad's _Writer's Survival Guide,_ is, as I recall, quite out of date, but good reading. Spinrad is always idiosyncratic (when he's deeply sincere, he appears to lapse _out_ of profanity!), and a lot of the book was columns he'd written about the then-state of the sf market. Zuckerman, Albert. _Writing the Blockbuster Novel._ Writer's Digest Books, 1994. ISBN 0-89879-598-2, hardcover, 218 pp., $18.99. If Zuckerman's title seems designed to snare every dreamer, don't be put off. _Writing the Blockbuster Novel_ actually delivers on the promise, and I speak from personal experience. This is not only a review, it is a testimonial. In clear terms, Zuckerman explains the things a book _must_ have in order for it to gain massive appeal in the marketplace. _WTBN_ shows you why some books make the rest of your world vanish, and others (even by the same author) don't. Zuckerman uses many real-world examples from a handful of familiar blockbuster novels to illustrate his points. Author Ken Follett allowed Zuckerman (his agent) to include his first, second, third, and final outlines for _The Man From St. Petersburg._ Seeing how Follett went from a not-very-good outline to a gripping story is especially useful. Zuckerman also shows why Follett's early books (originally published in England) are not nearly as good as _The Eye of the Needle_ and subsequent efforts. I read _WTBN_ in the spring of 1995 when I was almost done with the first draft of my first novel, _Unintended Consequences._ Zuckerman made me see how some relatively simple changes would make my story much more compelling. A month later I had a contract with a little no-name house that had never before published a work of fiction. Today this 860- page first novel is in its third hardcover printing, and is the biggest seller the publisher has ever had. I have offers for the movie rights and a contract for the sequel. If I had not read read Zuckerman's book, these things would not have happened. -- John Ross <jfross@ix.netcom.com> 3.3 Writing Genre Fiction (SF/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Western) Card, Orson Scott. _How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy._ Writer's digest Books, 1990. ISBN 0-89879-416-1, hardcover, 140 pp., $14.99. The nuts and bolts part of the book is well handled, with solid examples (from other writers' works) of handling exposition, world-building and the like. What makes the book worth the price to writers who don't workshop, or don't live in an area with other writers in easy reach, is the section on creating the "wise reader." Card explains how his wife, Kristine, became a vital part of his writing process, even though initially she knew nothing whatsoever about what "worked" in a novel. Carr, Clarice M. _The Door to Doom And Other Detections._ New York: Harold Ober Associates, 1991. ISBN 1-55882-102-3. Out of print. A recently reprinted collection, _The Door to Doom and Other Detections_, includes John Dickson Carr's _The Grandest Game in the World_. It is an essay on the art of mystery fiction, with references to authors, their styles, techniques, and contributions to the genre. It's highly prejudiced towards the "fair-play" mystery, but anyone who wants a foothold in understanding the mystery as an art form could do far worse than to take it to heart and study the many authors and works Carr uses as illustrations. Grafton, Sue, ed. _Writing Mysteries : A Handbook by the Mystery Writers of America._ Writers Digest Books. ISBN 0-89879-502-8, hardcover, 208 pp., $18.99. Very thorough. Not always easy reading, but very informative. Longyear, Barry B. _Science Fiction Writer's Workshop 1: An Introduction to Fiction Mechanics._ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Owlswick Press, 1980. ISBN 0-9138961-8-7, softcover, $9.50. Longyear not only sits you down and lectures you on how to write SF that works, he shows you various examples -- from his own writing -- of what works and what doesn't by showing a first draft and then covering the processes that took the draft to the final, improved version. There is no, and never will be a, SFWW-II. Nolan, William F. _How to Write Horror Fiction._ Writers Digest Books, 1991. ISBN 0-89879-442-0, hardcover. Out of print. An excellent source book, and damn fine reading! I couldn't put it down! Well worth it! Rusch, Kristine Kathryn, and Dean Wesley Smith, eds. _Science Fiction Writers of America Handbook: The Professional Writer's Guide to Writing Professionally._ Eugene, Oregon: Pulphouse, 1990. ISBN 1-56146-406-6, trade paperback, 248 pp., $10.00. Out of print. A collection of essays by SF writers on various aspects of the trade. A mixed bag, but the good stuff is very good. Mostly nuts-and-bolts, but some "how I write my masterpieces" essays. Also a very good section on contracts and copyright. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Note: SFWA has released a 2nd edition. Williamson, J. N., ed. _How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction._ Writers Digest Books, 1991. ISBN 0-89879- 483-8, trade paperback, $14.99. This is quite a varied book, each chapter individually written by a such authors as Ray Bradbury, William F. Nolan., James Kisner, Dean R. Koontz, Marian Zimmer Bradley, and Robert Bloch Interesting reading, and a good reference book. 3.4 Writing Romance Novels Falk, Kathryn. _How to Write a Romance and Get It Published._ Revised ed. New American Library, 1990. ISBN 0-451-16531-4, paperback, $7.99. Several writers in my workshop like it; others hate it. My assessment is that it contains some useful information, some marginal generalizations, and some downright stupid advice. (My favorite: "You cannot be a successful romance novelist unless you wear silky underwear.") On the whole, this is a worthwhile book to have/read if you're interested in selling a romance novel, if only because of the extensive descriptions of the various formulas in romance writing. Paludan, Eve. _The Romance Writer's Pink Pages: The Insider's Guide to Getting Your Romance Novel Published._ Prima Publishers, 1996. ISBN 0-761501-68-1, trade paperback. Out of print. A directory of romance publishers and agents who handle romance novels. Pianka, Phyllis Taylor. _How to Write Romances._ Writer's Digest Books, 1989. ISBN 0-89879-324-6, hardcover, 164 pp., $15.99. If memory serves me correctly, this includes a sample synopsis that the author used to sell one of her books. 3.5 Writing for Children Yolen, Jane. _Writing Books for Children._ The Writer, 1983. ISBN 0-87116-133-8, softcover. Out of print. Advice from a _very_ successful author on how to research, create, and market books for the fastest-growing market. Yolen's passion and seriousness shine through every line. 3.6 Writing Plays and Screenplays Field, Syd. _Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting_ 3rd ed. Dell, 1987. ISBN 0-44-057647-4, trade paperback, $12.95. Fairly heavy going in places, but overall very good. Egri, Lajos. _The Art of Dramatic Writing._ Simon and Schuster, 1946, 1960, 1977. ISBN 0-67121-332-6, trade paperback, $10.95. Although oriented towards playwriting, most of the advice applies to any dramatic fiction writing. 3.7 Writing Nonfiction Barzun, Jaques. _Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers._ Revised ed. University of Chicago Press, 1985. ISBN 0-226- 03868-8, trade paperback, 292 pp., $14.95. Does not describe rhetoric in the classical sense, but he does give some excellent suggestions for becoming aware of and tightening up one's writing. Eye opening and well worth the reading. Although it covers mainly rhetoric, this book really applies to any kind of technical or expository writing, and to some extent narrative fiction. I'd classify it as a general purpose writing improvement book. Hardback edition out of print. Bly, Robert W. _Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $85,000 a Year._ New York: Henry Holt, 1988. ISBN 0-8050-1192-7, trade paperback, 273 pp., $10.95. Bly goes into great detail about the various kinds of writing that businesses often need: advertising (print, radio, and television), corporate reports, brochures, direct mail. He tells how to find clients that need these types of services, how much to charge, how long such jobs usually take. Bly describes how to promote yourself, find and maintain clients, and plan your time. He describes the business end of freelance work better than most, but he still skims over many areas that could be described in detail. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Corbett, Edward P. J. _Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student._ 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. ISBN 0-19- 506293-0, hardcover, 600pp., $29.95. Highly recommended text for learning the ins and outs of expository writing. Includes technical topics such as discovering (inventing) material, organizing material, stylistic tricks and stunts, exercises, modes of reasoning and other methods of persuasion, and examples/analysis of these techniques in actual everyday (and formal) use in prose of various people ranging from Homer to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The principles described apply to any kind of prose used to persuade and inform an audience. It concentrates mainly on the written rather than the spoken word (the typical domain of Rhetoric). Van Wicklen, Janet. _The Tech Writing Game: A Comprehensive Career Guide for Aspiring Technical Writers_ Facts on File Books, 1992. ISBN 0-8160-2607-6, hardcover, 238pp., $22.95. Van Wicklen is a veteran Silicon Valley technical writer, and her advice is right on the mark. Even at the hardcover price, the book is worth every penny. -- <dianeo@genmagic.com> Yudkin, Marcia. _Freelance Writing for Magazines and Newspapers: Breaking in Without Selling Out_. HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0- 06-273278-1, trade paperback, $11.00. You can count on a huge return on your investment in _Freelance Writing_. I don't think I've ever read a dissection of the magazine industry that was as thorough, fair-minded, and full of genuinely helpful information. The appendix includes a great bibliography of resource books. Zinsser, William. _On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction._ 5th ed. HarperCollins, 1995. ISBN 0-67399-308-6, trade paperback, $14.95. Lots of good, basic advice on writing. This book is an interesting read as well as being useful. 3.8 Literary Criticism McCaffery, Larry. _Across the Wounded Galaxies: Interviews with Contemporary American Science Fiction Writers._ Univ. of Illinois Press, 1991. ISBN 0-252-06140-3, trade paperback, $12.95. Larry McCaffery is best known for his criticism of Donald Barthelme and other authors of "metafiction," but he has, in this book, compiled a stunning collection of interviews with some of America's greatest contemporary SF authors, including William S. Burroughs, William Gibson, Samuel Delany, Octavia Butler, Gene Wolfe, Ursula Le Guin, Bruce Sterling, and Greg Benford. These are not fan-oriented interviews, either, but involved questions that probe each author's views about his or her craft and the state of the art in general. Lem, Stanislaw. _Microworlds: Writings on Science Fiction and Fantasy._ Harcourt Brace, 1986. ISBN 0-15-659443-9, trade paperback, $11.00. Lem is probably one of the world's greatest living writers, and one of the few SF writers to publish a volume which analyzes the field critically. Lem makes many excellent points about the state of SF as he saw it when he was writing. 4 Books about the Writing Industry ================================== 4.1 Literary Agents and Agencies Curtis, Richard. _How to be Your Own Literary Agent: The Business of Getting Your Book Published._ Expanded ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. ISBN 0-395-36142-7, trade paperback, 257 pp., $11.95. This book is necessarily dated -- I think my version is from 1986, or maybe even 1984 -- but still germane in almost every regard. And it isn't dated much; I found virtually all of the language he discusses in his point-by-point contract review in my own 1991 contract, despite the years that have passed. (And was pleased to discover that the one section I'd made my publisher delete was one Curtis considered extremely disadvantageous.) This book is an absolute must for anyone dealing with book publishers, book contracts, and agents. 4.2 Copyright Fishman, Stephen. _The Copyright Handbook: How to Protect and Use Written Works._ 3rd ed. Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press, 1996. ISBN 0-87337-323-5, paperback (8.5 x 11 inches), 368 pp., $24.95. Nolo's order number is (800) 992-6656; (510) 549-1976 for information. They're a well-respected if somewhat irreverent publisher of legal self-help materials, including some volumes that might be relevant to the business side of freelancing and contracting. The book claims to discuss international copyright law. The further you get from the borders of the US, the bigger the grain of salt you should take everything with, of course. _Note: This review refers to the second edition._ 4.3 Editing Brown, Renni, and Dave King. _Self-editing for Fiction Writers._ New York: HarperPerennial, 1993. ISBN 0-06-272046-5, trade paperback, 226 pp., $12.50. Brown and King's summation of all the usual advice is covered in the first five or six chapters. The suggestions are made well and with excellent examples. The remaining chapters move into some areas that are not typically covered in other "advice" books. Most interesting was the discussion of "beats" -- the stage business of writing; how to handle all of those "he said" and "she said" bits between the dialog. A quick review of this section, and authors should be able to pinpoint and correct any slow or dull sections of their writing. And with a little more attention to the rest of the book, intermediate writers be able to raise their writing skill to a professional level. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> Plotnik, Arthur. _The Elements of Editing: A Modern Guide for Editors and Journalists._ MacMillan, 1982, 1997. ISBN 0-02- 861451-8, trade paperback, 156 pp., $9.95. Plotnik offers his observations and advice about editing, gained from years of experience in the field. He acknowledges that most editors are cramming six weeks worth of work into four weeks and repeating this accomplishment every four weeks. Plotnik describes the life of a manuscript from acquisition to publication -- an excellent summary for the novice, and an insightful observation to the experienced editor. He lists details for often unexplained processes such as registering the copyright and seeking permissions. He provides detailed information about copyrights and libel giving definitions and some situational examples. These provide an excellent resource for quick reference on these topics. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> 5 Magazines about Writing ========================= _ByLine._ P.O. Box 130596 Edmond, OK 73013 Subscription rates: $3.50 sample copy, $20/year (11 issues/year, one double issue; subscription only, no newsstand sales). Every issue features several articles on writing, market information, contests, some poetry, one short story, and a philosophical end piece. _ByLine_ is as much entertaining as enlightening, and even though helping writers sell is a topic, encouraging them to sit down and write is one of the primary messages. _ByLine_ assumes an intelligent and educated reader, willing to do the footwork for an article or story. A big plus: _ByLine_ is subscriber paid and has no advertisements. _Poets & Writers Magazine._ Subscription rates: $3.50/copy, $20/six issues. This magazine full of interviews of authors like Amy Tan and John Irving, and includes many articles about creative writing and even _teaching_ creative writing. It's aimed at serious authors, not the "gee, I wanna write" audience that Writer's Digest seems geared towards. There are also copious listings of contests, grants, and workshops in the back half of each issue. _And_ there's even a helpline for subscribers. Yep, call up and get advice on writing/publishing direct from the staff! _The Writer._ _Writer's Digest._ Most misc.writing contributors find these magazines target people who want to be writers rather than people who write. If you judge a magazine's intended audience by its advertisers, you'll notice that most ads in _Writer's Digest_ promise to edit/read/ghost-write/publish your masterpiece for pay; very few tell you how to invest your enormous royalty income. Some of the columns in _Writer's Digest_ are quite good; read these in the library. Note: The annual _Writer's Digest_ magazine poll often contains incorrect information about available markets, what these markets want, and where these markets are. A number of magazine editors have asked WD to _not_ include them in the list of ranked markets. Be aware inclusion or exclusion from the list is _not_ an indication of quality or availability. 6 Market Listings and Reports ============================= 6.1 General _The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses._ 32nd ed. Paradise, California: Dustbooks, 1996. ISBN 0-916685-56-X, hardcover, $46.95. 33rd ed. ISBN 0-916685-61-6, hardcover, $47.95. Called the "bible of the business" by the Wall Street Journal, this thing is _huge,_ and full of small and literary markets that you won't find in any of the Writer's Digest books. Published annually. _Publishers Weekly_ <http://www.bookwire.com/pw/pw.html> ISSN 0000-0019 P.O. Box 6457 Torrance, CA 90504-0457 1 (800) 278-2991, 1 (310) 978-6916 Subscription rate: $169.00/year. Email: <pw.subscriptions@bookwire.com> Expensive; contains useful industry gossip, hot off the presses. (I learned about the various suits against Donning Press from _PW;_ _Locus_ and _SF Chronicle_ didn't get the story until a month later.) Skim it in your library. The book reviews can help you get a handle on what your competition is up to. _Small Press Review_ ISSN 0037-7228 Dustbooks <http://www.dustbooks.com> P.O. Box 100 Paradise, CA 95967 1 (800) 477-6110, 1 (916) 877-6110 Subscription rate individuals: $25/12 issues, $36/36 issues; institutions: $31/12 issues, $45/36 issues. Online sample copy <http://www.dustbooks.com/spr.htm>. Email: <dustbooks@telis.org>. Small Press Review is a newsprint magazine with news on the small press and small magazine industry including start-ups. A typical issue includes listings of new publishers with contact info, freelance job opportunities, contest information, and reviews of recent small press books and magazines. Writer's Market Series _1997 Writer's Market: Where and How to Sell What you Write._ Eds. Kirsten C. Holm and Don Prues. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1996. ISBN 0-89879-742-X, hardcover, 1008 pp., $27.99. _1997 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market: Where and How to Sell Your Fiction._ Ed. Barbara Kuroff. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1996. ISBN 0-89879-764-0, hardcover, 672 pp., $22.99. _1997 Poet's Market: Where and How to Publish Your Poetry._ Eds. Christine Martin and Chantelle Bentley. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1996. ISBN 0-89879-746-2, hardcover, 576 pp., $22.99. Most public libraries have these books. You can buy a copy more cheaply by joining the Writer's Digest Book Club; see _Writer's Digest_ magazine for a blow-in card. Be sure to use the latest available edition! The publishing industry is a giant amoeba; not only do publishers' needs change, but editors change employment as frequently as Warren Beatty. . . Well, you get the idea. If you can, check the listed editor's name against another source (a friend at the publishing house, the masthead of the magazine) before submitting. 6.2 Children's Fiction _Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Newsletter_ Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators <http://www.scbwi.org/> P.O. Box 296, Mar Vista Station Los Angeles, CA 90066 Subscription rate: $50/year, included in membership fees. The "SCBWI Bulletin" is a bimonthly publication containing comprehensive and current information in the field of children's literature. Features include the latest market reports, articles on issues in writing, illustrating, and publishing, information on contests and awards, reports of events in the field, news of SCBWI members, as well as information about ongoing SCBWI activities throughout the country. The "Bulletin" is an invaluable source of information and inspiration to writers and illustrators of children's literature. Each SCBWI region also publishes its own newsletter with both national and regional news. You can obtain a membership application form from the SCBWI web site. _Children's Book Insider_ P.O. Box 1030 Fairplay, CO 80440-1030 Subscription rate: $29.95/year, 12 issues. The Children's Book Insider sponsors The Children's Writing Resource Center <http://www.write4kids.com>. 6.3 Genre Fiction _Gila Queen's Guide to Markets._ <http://www.pacifier.com/~alecwest/gila/> Kathy Ptacek, editor P.O. Box 97 Newton, NJ 07860 Subscription rate: $34/year, 12 issues ($38 Canada, $50 overseas); Sample copy $5.00. Make checks payable in US funds to Kathryn Ptacek. Email: <GilaQueen@aol.com> or <K.PTACEK@genie.com>. The _Gila Queen's Guide to Markets_ has annual issues on sf/f/h, romance, mystery/suspense, children/YA markets. _Locus_ Locus Publications P.O. Box 13305 Oakland, CA 94661 Subscription rate: $35.00/year. A better source of industry gossip than _SF Chronicle;_ I suspect a working SF writer could live without it, though. Richard Curtis's industry column has ended, removing one good reason to subscribe. Locus also prints market reports, but these are done irregularly, and tend to have a "theme", such as pro market or book publisher or small press. Locus prints updates as available. _The Report_ Pulphouse Publishing Box 1227 Eugene, OR 97440 Subscription rates: $2.95/copy, $10.00/four issues. Pulphouse's blurb says, "a writer's magazine, filled with writers talking about all aspects of writing." Primarily for people interested in speculative fiction (SF, fantasy, horror). Comes out more-or-less quarterly. _Scavenger's Newsletter_ Janet Fox, editor 519 Ellinwood Osage City, KS 66523-1329 1 (913) 528-3538 Subscription rates: Bulk mailing with advertising flyers $14/year or $7/6 months; 1st class mail without advertising flyers $18/year or $9/6 months. "This little zine focuses on market information, covering, in the current issue, 91 magazines and fanzines" (SFWA Newsletter). _Science Fiction Chronicle_ P.O. Box 2730 Brooklyn, NY 11202-0056 Subscription rate: $30/year. Has quarterly Market Report sections. Useful source of information on new theme anthology, semipro magazines and other non-obvious markets, and editor shifts. _SFWA Bulletin_ Dept. H 404 Oceanside St. Islip Terrace, NY 11762-1203 Subscription rate: $14/4 issues, $27/8 issues, $36/12 issues. Sample copy $3.95. Make checks payable in US funds to SFWA Bulletin. The quarterly publication of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America <http://www.sfwa.org>. Tompkins, David G. _The Science Fiction Writer's Market Place and Sourcebook._ Writer's Digest Books, 1994. ISBN 0-89879-692-X, hardcover, 494 pp., $19.99. The essential market reference for writers of speculative fiction; this book tells everything you need to know to turn a saleable manuscript into a sale. One hundred seventy pages of magazine markets; three to five pages given to each major magazine and a page each for secondary markets. Eighty pages on novel markets; three to five pages each to the dozen major novel publishers, focusing on what editors want, how they think, and what basic strategy each publisher uses. Other sections include: trends in sf, craft and technique, how to get an agent, the editorial process, and a long list of other resources. The latter includes a complete list of Hugo and Nebula awards, sf bookstores, organizations, conventions, workshops, online references, pointers on other sources of up- to-date market information, and much more. -- Alexander von Thorn <alex@worldhouse.com> 7 References of Interest to Writers =================================== 7.1 Style Guides _The Chicago Manual of Style._ 14th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993. ISBN 0-226-10389-7, hardcover, 921 pp., $40.00. One of the most comprehensive style guides available. With the 14th edition, the editors at the University of Chicago press got down off their high horse. Most sections have been rewritten and are much clearer than in previous editions. Many sections have been expanded, especially the sections on documentation (citing references): there are now two separate chapters, one for the author-date method, and another for the notes and bibliography method. As always, _Chicago_ has several excellent primers on manuscript preparation, editing, and printing. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> 7.2 Grammar and Usage Fowler, Henry Watson. _Modern English Usage._2nd Revised ed. Oxford University Press, 1983. ISBN 0-192-81389-7, trade paperback, 725 pp., $12.95. You either love this one or you hate it. A period piece, written by an Englishman immediately after the Great War. Maggio, Rosalie. _The Dictionary of Bias-Free Usage: A Guide to Nondiscriminatory Language._ Oryx Press, 1991. ISBN 0-89774- 653-8, trade paperback, 304 pp., $29.75. Looks like a good starting place for decisions about some issues in language. Miller, Casey, and Kate Swift. _The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing (For Writers, Editors, and Speakers)._ 2nd ed. HarperCollins, 1988. ISBN 0-06-181602-7, softcover. Offers both general guidelines and many helpful examples. Strunk and White. _The Elements of Style._ 3rd ed. Macmillan, 1982. ISBN 0-02-418190-0, hardcover, 85 pp., $11.95. ISBN 0- 02-418200-1, trade paperback, 85 pp., $7.91. The classic that can change your life. _Not_ a general reference manual. 8 Internet Resources and References for Writers =============================================== 8.1 Sites with Content about Writing Forward Motion <http://www.sff.net/people/holly.lisle/index.htp> Forward Motion is a collection of encouraging essays and advice by Holly Lisle, a full-time writer with eleven published novels and a lot more on the way. Holly offers solid advice on writing, selling, and publishing fiction; finding an agent; countering writer's block; and -- my favorite -- how to quit your day job. You'll also find a few book reviews and, of course, links to other writer's resources. The entire site focuses on the theme "never give up on your dreams," and after reading a few Forward Motion pages, you feel that through persistence you _can_ become a published writer and that there is at least one person out there rooting for you. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> 8.2 Sites with Reference Material 8.3 Indexes Gach, Gary. _Writers.net: Every Writer's Essential Guide to Online Resources and Opportunities._ Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishers, 1997. ISBN 0-761506-41-1, trade paperback, 400 pp. $22.00. _Writers.net_ includes over 750 resources, each tested and described. Chapters include Net Learning, Networking, Net Genres (SF, Mystery, Romance, Screen, Stage, Poetry, Technical, and Cybersoaps/Webisodics), Forms of Online Commerce, Net Journalism, Net Research, Net Magazines, Net Books, Self-publishing and Self-promotion, New Writing, Net Censorship and Copyright, and an Internet primer for "newbies." -- Gary Gach <writersnet@hotmail.com> 9 Software for Writers ====================== 9.1 Software That Teaches Writing The Writer's Software Companion Producer: Novation Learning Systems <http://www.novalearn.com/> Platform: Windows 3.x/95 Price: $79.95 The Writer's Software Companion by Nancy Kress (writer) and Terry Boothman (programmer) contains the same information that you would find in almost any comprehensive book about writing. In fact, all of the articles by Nancy Kress were published previously in _Writer's Digest._ But how many of us actually pull out a book or magazine article about writing while struggling at our word processors? The Companion puts its advice and guidance at your fingertips while you are writing. For example, if you feel that the dialog you've just written is flat and implausible, you can turn to the Software Companion and read an article about dialog, view key points, follow a checklist, read some examples, or go through an exercise. The Companion's interface is friendly, but has a few quirks. On many screens there is no obvious "done" or "go back" button -- only a tiny "Click to go back" hidden in the menu bar, which was nearly lost on my 21" monitor. Also, the companion hogs the screen with a modal window that cannot be resized, so you cannot view the Companion's advice next to your word processor. If you're looking for a tool that will help you write while you are writing, the Companion is a good value. -- Terry L. Jeffress <jeffress@utw.com> 9.2 Manuscript Management Software 10 Acknowledgements =================== Many of the unattributed reviews are probably by Laurie Sefton, the original compiler. My thanks go out to Erin and all other previous maintainers for their hours of work. 11 Copyright and Acceptable Use Statement ========================================= This list's purpose is to help people find resources that help them become better writers. In that spirit, feel free to copy this list to any archive or other online resource as long as you (1) keep the list intact with no modifications, (2) e-mail me the URL or other reference pointing to where you will be storing the list, and (3) don't sell or make a profit from this list (e.g. a CR-ROM of FAQs). For all other uses, please contact me by e-mail at <jeffress@utw.com>. Copyright (c) 1996, 1997 Terry L. Jeffress ###