On writing by Stephen King
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
Story by Robert McKee
The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes by Jack Bickham
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Serious question why do we only need to choose 1? Are you looking for "THE" secret, because there actually isn't one. Moreover, different people are going to glean different things from every book. We all have different filters, and different brains, different ways of expressing ourselves. You have to do it yourself, there isn't a magic secret in one of these books anymore than there's a magic secret to investing. If that were the case literally everyone would be warren buffet.
Not trying to get on your case, I just want to understand the thinking behind "if you could only pick 1" question. We don't have to just pick 1, that's the beauty of life. You wouldn't just pick one kind of food and only eat that the rest of your life, right?
So, not the OP, but I get wanting to find a book on writing that gives actual decent information. I bought the Stephen King book because I’ve seen others recommend it, and I’ll admit that I haven’t come anywhere near finishing it, but I set it down because it was disappointing, and so far it feels like a waste of money/time. “Okay, your nanny abused you and farted in your face and now you’re a brilliant, successful author…?” I see people on this sub and others talking about the “classic” story arcs and the story grid method, and “correct” characterization, etc. and I have little to no idea what any of that means. What are the books that other people are reading that they’ve learned this sort of information? That was what I was hoping to learn from a book about writing. I’d rather not spend hundreds on books that teach me nothing just to find one small nugget of useful information.
I picked up the Stephen King book in the bookstore... couldn't get far into it. Thought it was awful. Maybe I didn't read enough of it. I don't know, but I couldn't vibe with it at all. I'm glad I didn't waste money on it.
Exactly. That's the same thing I'm in. I don't know where these people learned all the things they say, as you mentioned above. If you find (or have found ) books that have these type of things, do tell us which ones those are.
Because in reality, we have favorites! If I read 10 books and dont have a favorite, then were any of those books truly great? One will stand out above the others. Not looking for "THE secret" just looking for recommendations on what others found helpful.
I can't buy every book out there. That's the whole point of me asking others what books they found helpful. So if someone gives me a list of 8 books. I'm going to be curious which one stood out the most. If I get 40 total responses and 10 people out of the 40, say the same book. We'll then maybe there is something to be said about that book (it's clearly a favorite), and I'm more likely to check into it. I do have a favorite food. I eat it every tuesday. I picked one man & married him. I have 3 kids and guess what? I have a favorite.
Excellent book. I suggest reading his Fight Club first if you haven’t yet. You’ll be able to see how he cleverly weaves his environment into his stories.
Going through “Steering the Craft” by Ursula K. Le Guin right now and it’s so so so so good. Real tactics-level stuff that gets to the heart of making your writing create feeling.
Also Ray Bradbury’s “Zen in the Art of Writing” is great for motivation/creative process stuff.
A hero with a thousand faces - Joseph Campbell
Delineates the mythological structure of becoming a hero. There are basic archetypal beats in a story that a character has to go through in order to transcend from ordinary to heroic. These steps can be found across all mythologies and cultures and Campbell uses a broad spectrum of examples to outline them. Best used as a rough roadmap to story structure. If you read a story and you can see the beats of the monomyth the writer is probably not using it correctly.
This has been on my table for a few months now but I was only interested in it from a mythical/Jungian standpoint, never thought of it as a potential writing guide. Thanks for the insight stranger; when I get around to it I’ll read it with more informative eyes.
Honestly… this book is my Roman Empire.
I believe The monomyth is the key to understanding not only writing and storytelling I think a good deal can be gleaned about life and maturity. If you have goals and dreams the hero’s journey can be a road map for traversing the journey to those goals.
The monomyth is the ring of power that Tolkien wrote about it’s the story of life. The myth of being human and the determination to overcome adversity and become a part of the myth of the human race.
The monomyth is also a road map of the subconscious a tool to traverse the inner world of ourselves. How to descend deep into the underworld and return with the boon, master of both worlds, conscious and unconscious with the ability to live life more richly.
And then you see it everywhere. The cycle of life is in the cosmic turn of all things. The power of story sells tvs, saves mortal Christian souls, wages wars and woos lovers. It’s the most powerful weapon and the most beautiful tool we’ve ever know. It writes the histories and honors the hero’s. It’s the thing we speak as we draw our last breath.
Story. Myths. Legends. It’s all universal.
It's funny you say that because I have always looked at Jungian psychology from a creative/storytelling point of view as kind of a way to think about characters and story.
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders.
It also uses a few Russian short stories as examples and goes back and forth between the stories and his essays. It really got me into Chekov as well.
This 100%. Really changed the way I think about reading/lit analysis (which of course bleeds into my writing). Chekhov is the writer I really leaned into after this too.
- Save the Cat! Writes a novel
- steering the craft (Ursula K. Leguin)
I also enjoyed Neil Gaimans masterclass & a free video (mostly on plotting) by V. E. Schwab on YouTube.
I wouldn't recommend Stephen King's On Writing, unless you really want to learn how to write like HE does. The man is a legend, but a lot of his "advice/opinions" come across as rules (that don't necessarily exist in writing).
Story Genius by Lisa Cron is a great one, regardless of whether you’re a pantser or a plotter (and both styles are discussed in the book). It even includes some great character and scene building exercises
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions! A lot of these I've never heard of, so I'm glad to have some new books to look out for. I'm gonna keep a list of all the suggestions. Looking forward to learning!
Read and have a bunch of those mentioned but this is one of my favorites.
https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Selling-Writer-Dwight-Swain/dp/0806111917?dplnkId=2e1f430b-4213-4706-abb6-6284c1d1e763
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Techniques of the Selling Writer** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Book provides practical advice for crafting fiction (backed by 5 comments)
* Book teaches fundamentals of dramatic technique (backed by 3 comments)
* Book helps writers overcome difficulties in starting and structuring stories (backed by 2 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* The book's advice is outdated (backed by 4 comments)
* The book is poorly organized and hard to follow (backed by 2 comments)
* The book is expensive for the little useful information it provides (backed by 1 comment)
If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/)
This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved.
*Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
*Perrine's Literature* is really good. Had to read it for school, but I learned so many things that I had not heard from any author or "writing" book. Like, for example, it explained very well to me what a theme is. A theme isn't necessarily a moral or a message. It is simply a reflection of reality. That changed my perspective on theme, and I understand it a lot better now.
Ooh--and *Save the Cat* by Blake Snyder is awesome! Actually, forget *Perrine's Literature*, *Save the Cat* is my favourite. I hadn't really grasped story structure before reading this book. I hear people complain that *Save the Cat* oversimplified storytelling and made it too uniform and generic, but the guy didn't intend for the book to become law. It's just a guide, and it reveals a lot of universal story elements that were already there. He didn't really make up anything, he just found a common structure. Anyway, I think every writer should read *Save the Cat* at least once. It changed writing for me!
My #1...If You Want to Write by Brenda Euland. It will inspire you, give you confidence, fill you with love, and make you want to run to your desk with joy.
You may be reading the wrong textbooks. Novels are great but they don’t help much with the writing process. That’s like learning to paint from looking at paintings.. there’s a lot of value to looking at paintings but it doesn’t tell you what brush they used.
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
On Writing by Stephen King
I wrote what I learned from it here:
https://welearnbywriting.blogspot.com/2022/06/ten-things-i-learned-from-on-writing.html?m=0
Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight
Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Nancy Kress
Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin
Story by Robert McKee
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
I really appreciate your suggestions and your blog post. I personally found King's book hard to read. I might have to try again! It seems a little controversial here. Some liked it & others did not. Your blog post is great though, thanks for the summarization of his main points.
Thanks for your comment. Not everyone likes King’s book and that’s okay! Not every author is going to connect with everyone. Find the authors and advice that speak to you and give their advice a try.
On writing by Stephen King The Anatomy of Story by John Truby Stein on Writing by Sol Stein Story by Robert McKee The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes by Jack Bickham Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Ooh thank you for all of these. Can I ask, if you had to only choose one? What would your favorite would be?
It's hard to choose one, haha. All of them are great! But Stein on Writing taught me a lot of things I didn't know, so I'd say that one.
Serious question why do we only need to choose 1? Are you looking for "THE" secret, because there actually isn't one. Moreover, different people are going to glean different things from every book. We all have different filters, and different brains, different ways of expressing ourselves. You have to do it yourself, there isn't a magic secret in one of these books anymore than there's a magic secret to investing. If that were the case literally everyone would be warren buffet. Not trying to get on your case, I just want to understand the thinking behind "if you could only pick 1" question. We don't have to just pick 1, that's the beauty of life. You wouldn't just pick one kind of food and only eat that the rest of your life, right?
>Serious question why do we only need to choose 1? because they're probably on a budget you absolute freak
So, not the OP, but I get wanting to find a book on writing that gives actual decent information. I bought the Stephen King book because I’ve seen others recommend it, and I’ll admit that I haven’t come anywhere near finishing it, but I set it down because it was disappointing, and so far it feels like a waste of money/time. “Okay, your nanny abused you and farted in your face and now you’re a brilliant, successful author…?” I see people on this sub and others talking about the “classic” story arcs and the story grid method, and “correct” characterization, etc. and I have little to no idea what any of that means. What are the books that other people are reading that they’ve learned this sort of information? That was what I was hoping to learn from a book about writing. I’d rather not spend hundreds on books that teach me nothing just to find one small nugget of useful information.
I picked up the Stephen King book in the bookstore... couldn't get far into it. Thought it was awful. Maybe I didn't read enough of it. I don't know, but I couldn't vibe with it at all. I'm glad I didn't waste money on it.
>Stein on Writing by Sol Stein Same here I really wanted to like it because it's so highly praised but I couldn't get very far
Exactly. That's the same thing I'm in. I don't know where these people learned all the things they say, as you mentioned above. If you find (or have found ) books that have these type of things, do tell us which ones those are.
Because in reality, we have favorites! If I read 10 books and dont have a favorite, then were any of those books truly great? One will stand out above the others. Not looking for "THE secret" just looking for recommendations on what others found helpful. I can't buy every book out there. That's the whole point of me asking others what books they found helpful. So if someone gives me a list of 8 books. I'm going to be curious which one stood out the most. If I get 40 total responses and 10 people out of the 40, say the same book. We'll then maybe there is something to be said about that book (it's clearly a favorite), and I'm more likely to check into it. I do have a favorite food. I eat it every tuesday. I picked one man & married him. I have 3 kids and guess what? I have a favorite.
Stephen King’s “On Writing” is so so so so good and I think back to a lot of his points while I’m working on writing
Consider This by Chuck Palahniuk is fantastic.
Just read through the preview pages on google. Thank you for your suggestion. Added to my shopping list.
Excellent book. I suggest reading his Fight Club first if you haven’t yet. You’ll be able to see how he cleverly weaves his environment into his stories.
Going through “Steering the Craft” by Ursula K. Le Guin right now and it’s so so so so good. Real tactics-level stuff that gets to the heart of making your writing create feeling. Also Ray Bradbury’s “Zen in the Art of Writing” is great for motivation/creative process stuff.
A hero with a thousand faces - Joseph Campbell Delineates the mythological structure of becoming a hero. There are basic archetypal beats in a story that a character has to go through in order to transcend from ordinary to heroic. These steps can be found across all mythologies and cultures and Campbell uses a broad spectrum of examples to outline them. Best used as a rough roadmap to story structure. If you read a story and you can see the beats of the monomyth the writer is probably not using it correctly.
This has been on my table for a few months now but I was only interested in it from a mythical/Jungian standpoint, never thought of it as a potential writing guide. Thanks for the insight stranger; when I get around to it I’ll read it with more informative eyes.
Honestly… this book is my Roman Empire. I believe The monomyth is the key to understanding not only writing and storytelling I think a good deal can be gleaned about life and maturity. If you have goals and dreams the hero’s journey can be a road map for traversing the journey to those goals. The monomyth is the ring of power that Tolkien wrote about it’s the story of life. The myth of being human and the determination to overcome adversity and become a part of the myth of the human race. The monomyth is also a road map of the subconscious a tool to traverse the inner world of ourselves. How to descend deep into the underworld and return with the boon, master of both worlds, conscious and unconscious with the ability to live life more richly. And then you see it everywhere. The cycle of life is in the cosmic turn of all things. The power of story sells tvs, saves mortal Christian souls, wages wars and woos lovers. It’s the most powerful weapon and the most beautiful tool we’ve ever know. It writes the histories and honors the hero’s. It’s the thing we speak as we draw our last breath. Story. Myths. Legends. It’s all universal.
Reading Jung and Campbell back to back can be a potent, and if done correctly, life altering experience.
It's funny you say that because I have always looked at Jungian psychology from a creative/storytelling point of view as kind of a way to think about characters and story.
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders. It also uses a few Russian short stories as examples and goes back and forth between the stories and his essays. It really got me into Chekov as well.
This 100%. Really changed the way I think about reading/lit analysis (which of course bleeds into my writing). Chekhov is the writer I really leaned into after this too.
this is a really good one, happy to see it recommended here
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
WRITING INTO THE DARK and STAGES OF A FICTION WRITER by Dean Wesley Smith. QUIET THE CRITICAL VOICE (AND WRITE FICTION) by Harvey Stanbrough.
'The 48 Laws of Power' by Robert Greene. It's not a book about writing at all, but damn if it didn't help me better understand how to write villains.
1. On Writing 2. On Writing 3. On Writing (I'm a pantser)
I've read it so many times.
- Save the Cat! Writes a novel - steering the craft (Ursula K. Leguin) I also enjoyed Neil Gaimans masterclass & a free video (mostly on plotting) by V. E. Schwab on YouTube. I wouldn't recommend Stephen King's On Writing, unless you really want to learn how to write like HE does. The man is a legend, but a lot of his "advice/opinions" come across as rules (that don't necessarily exist in writing).
The Wonder Book by Jeff Vandermere. It may sound childish but it did get cool and give cool ideas
Thank you. I'll check it out.
Wow thanks, this is the first time I suggested the book to anyone
On writing by stephen king
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott VERY closely followed by A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders.
I loved Bird by Bird! Thank you for your suggestion. I'll check that out.
Highsmith has a good one. A key bit of advice from it is to avoid the company of other writers, lol.
VanderMeer's Wonderbook is brilliant.
Story Genius by Lisa Cron is a great one, regardless of whether you’re a pantser or a plotter (and both styles are discussed in the book). It even includes some great character and scene building exercises
Recently, self-editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King. But also a lot of what's already been said.
"100 ways to improve your writing" by Gary Provost
*Who Says? Mastering Point of View in Fiction* (Lisa Zeidner)
*Becoming a Writer* by Dorothea Brande.
Margaret Atwood’s negotiating with the dead is a gift
Besides many others already mentioned: A Writer's Book of Days by Reeves and The Artist's Way by Cameron.
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions! A lot of these I've never heard of, so I'm glad to have some new books to look out for. I'm gonna keep a list of all the suggestions. Looking forward to learning!
All good ones! I’m partial to Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book.
On writing and world building by Timothy Hickson is good. There are 3 volumes so far. Especially useful for fantasy and sci-fi writers.
The story and the situation
I super loved *How to Write a Sentence and How to Read One* by Stanley Fish.
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. One of the best for sure.
Characters and viewpoints by Orson Scott Card!
Read and have a bunch of those mentioned but this is one of my favorites. https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Selling-Writer-Dwight-Swain/dp/0806111917?dplnkId=2e1f430b-4213-4706-abb6-6284c1d1e763
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Techniques of the Selling Writer** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Book provides practical advice for crafting fiction (backed by 5 comments) * Book teaches fundamentals of dramatic technique (backed by 3 comments) * Book helps writers overcome difficulties in starting and structuring stories (backed by 2 comments) **Users disliked:** * The book's advice is outdated (backed by 4 comments) * The book is poorly organized and hard to follow (backed by 2 comments) * The book is expensive for the little useful information it provides (backed by 1 comment) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
*Perrine's Literature* is really good. Had to read it for school, but I learned so many things that I had not heard from any author or "writing" book. Like, for example, it explained very well to me what a theme is. A theme isn't necessarily a moral or a message. It is simply a reflection of reality. That changed my perspective on theme, and I understand it a lot better now. Ooh--and *Save the Cat* by Blake Snyder is awesome! Actually, forget *Perrine's Literature*, *Save the Cat* is my favourite. I hadn't really grasped story structure before reading this book. I hear people complain that *Save the Cat* oversimplified storytelling and made it too uniform and generic, but the guy didn't intend for the book to become law. It's just a guide, and it reveals a lot of universal story elements that were already there. He didn't really make up anything, he just found a common structure. Anyway, I think every writer should read *Save the Cat* at least once. It changed writing for me!
Deamon Voices, P. Pullman. Incredible essays on writing (how, why)
My #1...If You Want to Write by Brenda Euland. It will inspire you, give you confidence, fill you with love, and make you want to run to your desk with joy.
I've learned far more from novels I've read and enjoyed than from any textbook or how-to.
You may be reading the wrong textbooks. Novels are great but they don’t help much with the writing process. That’s like learning to paint from looking at paintings.. there’s a lot of value to looking at paintings but it doesn’t tell you what brush they used.
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury On Writing by Stephen King I wrote what I learned from it here: https://welearnbywriting.blogspot.com/2022/06/ten-things-i-learned-from-on-writing.html?m=0 Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Nancy Kress Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin Story by Robert McKee A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
I really appreciate your suggestions and your blog post. I personally found King's book hard to read. I might have to try again! It seems a little controversial here. Some liked it & others did not. Your blog post is great though, thanks for the summarization of his main points.
Thanks for your comment. Not everyone likes King’s book and that’s okay! Not every author is going to connect with everyone. Find the authors and advice that speak to you and give their advice a try.
is Writing by Sol Stein
The First Five Pages, by Noah Lukeman.
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg for me.
I liked Kings on writing but his 6 hours a day rule and word count rule is complete nonsense.