Recommend a book or other source to get started...

buck65

Hi people,
have toyed with the idea of doing some writing (fiction) for a few years now but anytime I get going I hit a blank!
Can anyone recommend a Creative writing manual or book to help in getting started?
Thanks in advance.

mct1

I can recommend the following:

The Creative Writing Coursebook: Forty Authors Share Advice and Exercises for Fiction and Poetry, by Andrew Motion and Julia Bell

The Fastest Way to Write Your book, by Dave Haslett

I'm also doing a course with the Writers Bureau which is excellent (and very good value, I think). However, it's very focused on getting your writing published, which is perfect for me, but might not suit everyone. It also starts with non-fiction writing, though some people opt to do fiction first. Worth a look though.

apper76

On Writing by Stephen King... Half a biography on how he got started and half advice and tips on writing.... I would strongly recommend it.

rockbeer

Becoming A Writer by Dorothea Brande. Still a classic after all these years.

Review

jdivision

Elements of Style by Strunk and White - costs about e5 but will improve your writing skills immensely. This would be a general thing, and not necessarily just for improving your creative writing skills.

maninamousesuit

Ok this is a bit left field but i did a self help workbook called "The Artists Way". Its premise is to unlock the artist within. Ill tell you, its the dogs b*****s. I never wrote before i read it but now i am always writing. Try it out.
The maninamousesuit has spoken:D

Lainabaina

rockbeer wrote: »

Becoming A Writer by Dorothea Brande. Still a classic after all these years.

Review

Yes! I took a creative writing class and my teacher recommended this book. It is just what the review says it is: a handbook on becoming a writer, rather than stylistic tips or exercises as such. I never managed to breed the habit of writing in the morning, but it helped me figure that I'm a night owl writer.

pookie82

You should check out fontlitagency.com.... Their blog can have interesting tips/names on it and they do creative writing classes as well.

aliqueenb

maybe try going to creative writing workshops no?

Jean05

Maybe do a course in journalism? I think that's what Cecelia Ahern did.