BOOKS FOR WRITERS
The number of books aimed at writers is infinite. Inevitably you will find your own favourites. Here we will only mention the ones we've used and found helpful. It goes without saying you'll need a dictionary (digital or hard copy). Of course, these days we have the Internet which negates the need to fill our writing space with reference books etc. But secretly, some of us find a hard copies and cluttered bookshelves very comforting.
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A WRITER'S JOURNAL WORKBOOK
by Lucy van Smit published November 2022: A useful book, especially for the beginner and determined wannabee. It aims to put you in the right mindset for creative writing. It will help you to understand your personal motivation. It's a book to get stuck into. Step by step, it will guide you on your route to improvement, helping you to find your niche, your writing voice, and the genre to which your style and ability are suited. Not for the weak-willed, it's more for the determined beginner. Highly recommended.
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The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook
Many writers consider this to be their "Bible". It includes a comprehensive listing of publishers, magazines, newspapers, agents, etc., in fact every aspect and every genre. For those new to the business of trying to get published this book is a "must have" reference. Published and updated annually. Have a look at a copy in your local library - they usually have one. Visit the website - there's loads of information to investigate. www.writersandartists.co.uk
Many writers consider this to be their "Bible". It includes a comprehensive listing of publishers, magazines, newspapers, agents, etc., in fact every aspect and every genre. For those new to the business of trying to get published this book is a "must have" reference. Published and updated annually. Have a look at a copy in your local library - they usually have one. Visit the website - there's loads of information to investigate. www.writersandartists.co.uk
Date-A-Base Book by Dave & Kate Haslett
Factual Articles: something not always considered by new would-be writers. You may surprise yourself if you give this genre a go. Accurate research and topical subject matter can put you well on the way to publication. Always aim your material at the right publication. It's no good sending "How to Grow Tomatoes" to a magazine that publishes items about historical battles. Know you market. Read the magazine you are targeting - note the article length - note the readership - note the subject matter - note the general tone of the items they publish. Very often success lies in the timing of a submission - sending in an item about "A Victorian Christmas" in time for December publication has more chance of being accepted than an article on "The Day Sunglasses Were Invented." Get the idea? Think of the thousands of anniversaries happening daily. You could write short fillers, informative articles, essay type pieces, again it's a matter of studying your market. The possibilities are vast. Browse the magazines in a large newsagent outlet - today we have magazines about everything. Historical, military, motoring, art, crafts, go and see for yourself. Magazine editors need material to fill their pages and the subjects needed are vast and diverse. BUT: you need an idea - an event or an anniversary of an important birth, death, happening, to spark your piece and grab readers' interest. We have found our copy of Date-A-Base Book to be invaluable in pinpointing important dates - the book is regularly updated. Find your anniversary - do the research - and write your piece. Start early, research, write, edit, final polish, and submit your manuscript a few months before your target publication date. There's a lot to think about - consider the right "angle" for the readership - find your starting point from this little reference gem, and away you go.
Available on Amazon.
Factual Articles: something not always considered by new would-be writers. You may surprise yourself if you give this genre a go. Accurate research and topical subject matter can put you well on the way to publication. Always aim your material at the right publication. It's no good sending "How to Grow Tomatoes" to a magazine that publishes items about historical battles. Know you market. Read the magazine you are targeting - note the article length - note the readership - note the subject matter - note the general tone of the items they publish. Very often success lies in the timing of a submission - sending in an item about "A Victorian Christmas" in time for December publication has more chance of being accepted than an article on "The Day Sunglasses Were Invented." Get the idea? Think of the thousands of anniversaries happening daily. You could write short fillers, informative articles, essay type pieces, again it's a matter of studying your market. The possibilities are vast. Browse the magazines in a large newsagent outlet - today we have magazines about everything. Historical, military, motoring, art, crafts, go and see for yourself. Magazine editors need material to fill their pages and the subjects needed are vast and diverse. BUT: you need an idea - an event or an anniversary of an important birth, death, happening, to spark your piece and grab readers' interest. We have found our copy of Date-A-Base Book to be invaluable in pinpointing important dates - the book is regularly updated. Find your anniversary - do the research - and write your piece. Start early, research, write, edit, final polish, and submit your manuscript a few months before your target publication date. There's a lot to think about - consider the right "angle" for the readership - find your starting point from this little reference gem, and away you go.
Available on Amazon.
The Ode Less Travelled
If you're an aspiring poet put this on your wish list. Stephen Fry explains the various forms and other technicalities of the craft in a way anyone can understand. At last, you can get to grips with iambic pentameter, trochee, spondee, and metric feet, and all the mysterious stuff associated with the art of poesy. Mr Fry's light-hearted approach to serious matters is a joy and an aid to learning. He knows his stuff! |
The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory A great reference book for the serious writer. Available in paperback. www.penguin.com
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