I'm asking that everyone reserve this thread for capsule reviews of writing books. That can include books on the writing life (Bird by Bird, The Forest for the Trees, etc.), but I think we're best off if we try to stick to books we can actually learn from. If you want to do something like the two I mentioned, let us know what their value is from the craft standpoint -- or the real life standpoint: Betsy Lerner does have a couple of good sections on what to expect when dealing with publishers and the like.

I'd suggest that we keep the capsules to 100 words or less, and try to give everyone the best idea you can as to how valuable the book is as a learning tool and/or reference. If you want to discuss a particular book, start a new thread with that book title.

For a starter, I am reserving to myself David Gerrold's Worlds of Wonder and Mary Oliver'sA Poetry Handbook. I'm behind on everything right now, but I will be back.

Bob

How to Write Killer Fiction by Carolyn Wheat
Sort of two books in one. There’s a section on writing mysteries, a section on writing suspense, and a third part that applies to both. Talks about sub-genres of both mysteries and suspense stories (hard-boiled vs. Cozy, medical thrillers vs. spy novels, etc). Does not have the worksheets and exercises that many books about writing have. Mostly geared towards writing novels but also has a bit about the short story form. There’s also a short (but not very helpful) section on getting the finished work published.
Four out of five stars.

Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook

A nice basic approach to the formal considerations of writing poetry. Oliver talks first about preparing yourself to write, and also about reading poetry, not only contemporary works, but older, classic poems by the greats. She then devotes chapters to the devices and structures of verse: sound, the line, meters and forms, free verse, imagery, poetic diction, and the like, with a separate chapter on revision. She also talks about workshops, the need for feedback, and the need for solitude. I find this one excellent, and keep it handy as a reference.

David Gerrold, Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy

A solid, entertaining "how to" book by one who knows whereof he speaks. He talks about the basic framework of SF and the basics of putting a story together: conflicts, building characters, building worlds, structure, style, dialogue, and gets into some fairly advanced areas -- metric prose, simile, memes, more on style. Also a hard-nosed look at discipline. Lots of advice from the masters of the genre, many examples from Gerrold's own works, and an easy, breezy style. Short chapters, making it a good reference, and a lot of advice and know-how that goes beyond genre boundaries. Lots of tricks you can try and/or modify to suit yourself. I found it very helpful.

Sounds cool. I like Gerrold's stuff. I'll have to look it up.

Ummmmm... Crap. I'd do one on Stephen King's book (On Writing)but I don't have a copy. Solid advice in it but it is more general stuff than anything else. About half of the book is anecdotal and the other half is relatively general. He includes one exercise but the rest is essentially talking about how to start writing and the basic skills you need to focus on to do it than the actual nuts and bolts of doing it.

I thought it a fun read more than an informative one but it is fairly solid for basic principles.

Ander

The Art of Fiction by John Gardner . For better or for worse, this is the book that inspired me to start writing fiction when it first came out in 1983. Some of it may be out of date now -- Gardner goes on big rants about meta-fiction, which was popular at the time he was writing, but seems to be a fad that has come and gone and that no one really cares about any more -- but most of it holds up well. The subtitle is "Notes on craft for young writers," but those of us who are not so young should not feel excluded, as the advice is useful for anyone who feels they still have something to learn.

There's also another edition out that's been edited, which I can't vouch for as I haven't read it. The original edition does ramble, but I think that's part of its charm, and I shudder to think what an editor may have done with it. (The book at the amazon link appears to be the original edition.)

Anyway, I basically consider it my bible on writing, and have picked it up many, many times over the years. What he's best at is explaining and illustrating his notion that fiction should induce in the reader a vivid, continuous dream. Where I think he may be wrong is his promise that anyone who wants to be a successful writer, as long as they know what that means, will become one. That part, alas, was not true for me.

Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, poemcrazy

This is a nice one to pair with the Mary Oliver book. Wooldridge doesn't get into formal aspects very much at all, but she does have a number of illustrations and recommendations for opening up the creative breathing apparatus -- she writes about things like basic images, creating a "wordpool" and playing with it (the "Magnetic Poetry" sets are great for this), using riddles as a form for poetry: she is really writing about basic impulses and how to keep them going. She also includes some stunning examples of work from workshops she has taught in schools and prisons. Great if you're feeling blocked or empty and just want to start moving again.

The Help: A Novel by Kathryn Stockett

This book is really terrific read for me.

maybe you can give some examples of some book covers you particularly like..


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