Books for writers
@crimsonladybug (3112)
United States
November 29, 2009 5:59pm CST
There are all kinds of books for writers. There are the Writer's Market books that list all the publishers opportunities for writers each year. There are books of prompts and the "Dummies" books for each different style of writing. There are style guides for MLA, AP, Chicago style writing. Baby name books, thesaurus, dictionary....
Each of us has these books. Some of us have more than others, some of us have only one that we trust above all else. So, what about you? Which books do you have in your library that help you with your writing?
I have a couple different prompt books - The Writer's Book of Matches and Room to Write - two different baby name books, and a thesaurus. I'm a super speller and if I come across a word I can't spell, I can usually get close enough to Google it or just let the MS spell checker take care of it, so I've never bothered with a dictionary.
5 responses
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
1 Dec 09
i use a thesaurus to find alternative words to use that will sound better than the word that came to my mind write away. sometimes, i can think of the right word, and i need to brainstorm for that word. I use a writer's book filled with exercises when i have writer's block. i read all kinds of materials, from magazines, novels, graphic novels, other books, etc. i have a baby name book to pick out interesting names for characters. i also use a dictionary as needed to pick out better words than the ones i thought of but i am not happy with. i like to read other people's writings to get inspiration because everyone have their own style and interests. it is interesting what different people come up with about the same topic.
@JDBentz (37)
• United States
30 Nov 09
For inspiration, I read a book entitled How I Got Published, which is a compilation of how some of today's best-selling authors from various fields got published. Some of them are really funny to read, like Clive Cussler's, while others are thought provoking, like one where a writer for television gives pointed suggestions on how you can break into that kind of market.
For finding information on where to send manuscripts and query letters, I use the following three books the most often: Guide to Literary Agents, Writer's Market, and the Screenwriter's and Playright's Market. All three are released by the same organization/publisher.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
30 Nov 09
I don't have any books to prompt me, should I? I guess I'll see something and then research it beyond what my eyes can see and then I'll write about it. Sometimes I'm just curious about stuff so I'll look it up on the web, I know, that's a lazy man's way to do it. I should look into a book that helps me write since I've been thinking more and more about it.
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
30 Nov 09
I used to find that a thesaurus and a dictionary invaluable at one time but since the advent of computer and the net I don't use them at all. We have at our fingertips everything any writer could need online, Spellcheckers and grammar checkers, we are spoilt ofr choice
I used to write short stories many years ago and have still have a few books on the subject, I think books that specialise in certain subjects will always be needed and useful.
I used to write short stories many years ago and have still have a few books on the subject, I think books that specialise in certain subjects will always be needed and useful. @Clicker625 (196)
• United States
30 Nov 09
I use a synonym finder instead of a thesaurus. A Writers Digest magazine article recommended the synonym book as being more useful and I've used it for decades now. I also kept my AP style book from college. These two and a dictionary are my basic three for writing.
