Books on Writing

Good books on writing/writing fiction that are not:

1. The Elements of Style
2. On Writing
3. Words Fail Me

If you cannot write then don't, don't try looking for help because it will not matter. Your writing will be bad even if you get help, I am not trying to be mean or despiriting, I am just telling the truth.

No, you are just being a troll. I can write, I just want to get better by reading about it. I don't see how trying to help with something I have a skill in is a big deal.

Stop failing me /book/

You have no skill at writing, even know you are unconvincing in how much you wish to learn.

Fuck you. These boards are useless.

Exactly what I mean, instead of using an intellects word you use cussing.

I'd say you're better off just reading more. I've paged through a few books on writing and they seem kind of useless. But mayhaps I've just been looking through bad ones.

I read plenty. I just want books on the craft. But no one is going to help me so I'll do it myself.

And Hemmingway cussed, so fuck you, #6.

>>6

Dude you are fucking retarded.

>>2
He sort of has a point. There are only 3 ways to get better at writing.

I assume you mean Fiction, btw

The first is writing. Alot.
The second is planning everything out and tweaking everything perfectly and even then you STILL need to have a good basic writing skill.
The third is by writing lots of short stories which constantly change narrative style, pace, tone, themes, motifs, etc so as to extend your range. Although this isn't suggested if you want to go into one specific genre. (Please don't be a fantasty-fag teen writer. We're looking at you, Mr.I-wrote-Eragon-at-16.)

P.S: If you try and improve your writing, it's most likely you lack the talent to write. Thus either do what I said which is all personal discovery stuff or take proper writing courses.
..Which still require talent. So, it seems you might be fucked OP. ;D

>>10

Trying to improve does not mean someone lacks talent.

>>1
Sin and Syntax. Good book. Not bad.

>>12
Someone actually awnsered my question. Thank you.

http://www.pennergame.de/ref.php?refid=8828292

The Art of Fiction (john gardner)
Writing Fiction (??? burroway)

The Art of Fiction (john gardner)
Writing Fiction (??? burroway)

oops sorry fag

Just read more of anything.

>>18
Fuck yeah.

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting.

Its for screenwriting but it still helped.  Besides, you might end up wanting to branch out in the future - if you do indeed go anywhere, that is.

Also, >>10

Has a very good point, reading many books helps.  You also need to write a lot.  Probably everyday.  Even if its just silly nonsense, write it.  Even if its a few loose ends, write a short story, hell, get into the flow of writing billions of short stories.  Sooner or later a short story can pop up in bigger and better idea's.

The only thing you need to write well is one phrase: Show Don't Tell. You will hear and read this in every course you take and in every book you read. It is the only universal rule of writing. Apply it to every sentence of every paragraph and you should do fine, provided you can finish your story. After that, everyone else has summed it up: Read everyday, write everyday. Experiment as though you were a musician trying to find a whole new genre, cause that's essentially what you're doing. You're creating your own brand (assuming you want to be published). Classes and books will help, but try not to take everything from one source. Diversify and read all sorts of stuff, good stuff and bad stuff. Critique everything you read. What works and what doesn't, and how could you make it work? There are computer programs out there that can accurately assess the "readability" of your writing. Find what works for you. Anyone can write, you just need the willpower to learn and to do.

One book that helped me immensely polish my writing (to the point that my writing professors say I should've exempted into higher courses) is The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman. Very insightful, with the goal to get your manuscript approved by a publisher. Another book I would recommend is Fiction Writer's Brainstormer by James V. Smith, Jr. It provides a lot of fun and insightful activities for helping you focus your writing, and does some interesting experiments with that readability program I mentioned.