Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 12:47:19 EDT From: Randy Money Organization: Syracuse University Library Subject: WOW: Re: newbie delurking > Can anyone suggest good books on writing? I tend to start a story and have > it trickle out towards the middle or just getting started on a story is > sometimes difficult. I've read a few books, but they've been too > high-handed to be of much use to me. I need something more practical to > help me get started. I don't particularly need to know that the main > character's name should have a long vowel sound whereas minor character's > names should have short constanant sounds. Eeesh. Hi, Michael G. Unlike Robert, I haven't read _Wild Mind_. I have read Natalie Goldberg's, _Writing Down the Bones_, though. It's a good general book on practices to get writing and keep writing: She doesn't make the sort of prescriptions you mention (I've never heard that one before and would distrust anything else said by that person 'cause it just don't make sense to me). What I found interesting was that it stands as a sort of informal autobiography of the writer, touching only on those personal moments of importance to her as a writer. I would also recommend, _The Art of Fiction_ by John Gardner. Gardner's book, though written in a more academic manner, offers more about writing stories in particular. I would caution you, though, that when going to read this one, cart along a barn-size grain of salt for his discussions on art, which seems to have been tempered in a very narrow forge. Still his discussion of craftsmanship is useful. Other useful books if you can find them, The Paris Review Interviews - - last I knew there were 9 of them and I'd expect there's quite a few I haven't come across. The interviews range from E.M. Forster to S.J. Perelman, from Isak Dinesen to James Thurber, from Hemingway to Georges Simenon. Maybe not strong on the craft, but thought provoking about the art of writing fiction. Also, E.M. Forster's _Aspects of the Novel_, which is erudite, but with a light touch and a humorous outlook. > Hey, maybe I'll even submit something one day. And that seems like a good way to get yourself writing, too. Randy <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>> Randy Money rbmoney@library.syr.edu