Helpful Books

On Writing
by Steven King

King also evokes his college days and his recovery from the van crash that nearly killed him, but the focus is always on what it all means to the craft. He gives you a whole writer’s “tool kit”: a reading list, writing assignments, a corrected story, and nuts-and-bolts advice on dollars and cents, plot and character, the basic building block of the paragraph, and literary models. He shows what you can learn from H.P. Lovecraft’s arcane vocabulary, Hemingway’s leanness, Grisham’s authenticity, Richard Dooling’s artful obscenity, Jonathan Kellerman’s sentence fragments. He explains why Hart’s War is a great story marred by a tin ear for dialogue, and how Elmore Leonard’s Be Cool could be the antidote.

King isn’t just a writer, he’s a true teacher. –Tim Appelo –This text refers to the Hardcover edition. MORE…

The Renegade Writer
by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell

The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success first hit the shelves in fall 2003. We knew we’d hit a home run with the book because we dared tell writers that a lot of rules about freelancing are complete bull doo-doo. That said, we were quite unprepared for the fanfare, the kudos, and dare we say, the adulation, our blood, sweat, and late night coffee-swilling had wrought. In 2005 we updated the book to include the stories of freelancers whose writing lives were touched by our book, as well as some new content. MORE…

The Well-Fed Writer
by Peter Bowerman

From Booklist
In this era of entrepreneurialism, Atlanta freelancer Bowerman shows those timid (but talented) souls how almost anyone can forge ahead as an independent writer. His advice is good, couched in brassy prose that is easy to read. He anticipates every conceivable question and issue, including typical charges, marketing oneself, types of available work, and dealing with deadbeats. There are great common-sense tips, too, in the psychology of handling clients who think they are writers, those with limited budgets, and others demanding creativity. Personal anecdotes make the life of a freelancer real; the author includes samples of cold-calling scripts, thank-you notes, and a story or three about starting a writers’ group and partnering with other professionals. For beginning scribblers only; more experienced soloists may disagree with some points made. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved MORE…