What essays, books on the novel and writing fiction have you read?

by Adrian Sroka
2nd June 2013

Below is my main list.

Aspects of the novel - E. M. Forster.

George Orwell - Politics and the English Language.

Materials and Methods of Fiction - Clayton Meeker Hamilton.

Stephen King - On Writing.

Sol Stein - Solutions for Novelists: Secrets of a Master Editor

Elements of Style - E B White & William Strunk Jnr

Writers on Writing - Walter Allen.

Reading a Novel - Walter Allen.

The Short Story in English - Walter Allen.

The English Novel - Walter Allen

Tradition and Dream - Walter Allen

Replies

None.

I'm too busy writing.

When I don't know how to cook a dish I read a recipe book but when I do know I don't bother to read how to do it.

I have non-fiction on awkward technical subjects (chicken and egg concepts involved) published with some good reviews by "people wot know". As far as the fiction goes - I'm prepared to take my chances and see what happens.

I do not feel that I will significantly improve anything by cramming my head with other peoples' concepts - let alone by trying to follow definitions and rules.

Grammar is significant - but, once reasonably understood, should be used as a guideline not a immutable codex. .

:-)

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David
Foster
270 points
Developing your craft
Short stories
Fiction
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Historical
Speculative Fiction
Adventure
David Foster
02/06/2013