help with writing!

[Babe>Christ]

Does anyone know of any books to recomend with writting help in it? Like Short stories and Poems for Dummies? I dunno! I worry about my structure, grammar, spelling and tenses. I know Some times no matter how good a piece might be if it has simple misstakes like that in it noone will even bother with it. SO if yall have a partiular one that is helpful to you, Please pass it on!
It'll Be very Much appreciated!
***Babe in Christ

[DearPrudence]

Does anyone know of any books to recomend with writting help in it? Like Short stories and Poems for Dummies? I dunno! I worry about my structure, grammar, spelling and tenses. I know Some times no matter how good a piece might be if it has simple misstakes like that in it noone will even bother with it. SO if yall have a partiular one that is helpful to you, Please pass it on!
It'll Be very Much appreciated!
***Babe in Christ

I'm not the best at any of those things, I just do the writing, so I find someone else who's good at editing :)

Two books I refer back to quit often are
Elements of Style - Strunk & White
Fiction Writers Handbook - Hallie & Whit Burnett

[DrRita]

One of the first books to get and use is Strunk and White's Element's of Style. It will give you much help and guidance in writing. As for other books on writing, I wouldn't buying any books on writing yet, but I would go to the library and check out books on writing. Just browse the library catalog on the subject of writing. If your library has "The Writer" magazine, it's a really good resource too. But the best way to learn is to practice, practice, practice and keep writing. Oh, another good thing to do if you can find one in your area is a writer's group. I'd recommend a Christian one but that will be your call. Writer's groups help with encouragement and support.

[FireFeet]

Christianbook.com has an excellent home schooler's 6 book series on grammar. (LINK (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=0109190&netp_id=250164&event=EBRN&item_code=WW#details)) It's very indepth yet simple to comprehend.

[MsSherry]

A thesaurus can be invaluable also. I always like to use the same word over and over, and the thesaurus is wonderful for finding new and more accurate words. !thumbsup!

[MysticFire]

I've borrowed several books from my local library. The two current ones I'm reading are ''Heros and Heroines'', which explains the different types of characters you can use and how to make them reach out and touch a reader.
The second is "The Author's Toolkit" by Mary Embree (sp?) which I find very resourceful. She explains several things and, despite the fact that it's a short book, she gets her point across. I reccommend it if you want to be sure you're heading in the right direction. But I have just made a ripple in this ocean of writing, so what do I know? :D :o

[paulajo]

The Chicago Manual of Style, Published by the University of Chicago seems to be the road-map most publishers patronize. It renews every ten years and I am almost ready for my fourth issue. Good Luck.

[paulchernoch]

I recommend "The First Five Pages", which gives an agent/editor's approach to spotting problems in a story. And fictionfactor.com has lots of good articles on many topics.

- Paul

[venavino]

A couple of recommendations

--Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King (this is an old stand-by but totally cahnged the way i went about building a story)

--The Little Style Guide to Great Christian Writing and Publishing by Goss and Goss

[wgjones3]

Stephen King - "On Writing".

[Chiara]

There's a bazillion different grammar books out there, but unfortunately many are dry as chalk dust.

The easiest to read in my own collection is Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O'Conner (ISBN 0399141960).

It might not cover everything you'll encounter, but it sure will get you on your way.

As for punctuation, there's a great amount under this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuation



Hope this helps,

Chiara

[wgjones3]

Er, I didn't realize we were talking about grammer.

In that case, Stunk and White's "The Elements of Style".

[whitehawke]

Just like Mr. Jones, I also like Stephen King - "On Writing" it's really good.
Also, try this site. http://www.tameri.com/ It has just about everything a writer might need. And, they also have suggestions on books for writers.
Rulan

[paulchernoch]

I picked up the book you recommended, "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers", and have started reading it - excellent book! Very clear and understandable prose. (I have a lot of editing to do, it seems!)

- Paul

[writegirl1949]

I agree with every recommendation made. Especially Stephen King's, "On Writing."

Two books I've recently acquired and am still digesting are:

"Plot & Sturcture" by James Scot Bell and "The Writer's Guide to Character Traits<" by Linda N. Edelstein, Ph.D. Both are Writer's Digest Books.

Blessings, Francine