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The books that is constantly on my nightstand which I read at night right before I go to sleep.
The career novelist by Donald Maass The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman The Author's Toolkit by Mary Embree The 38 most common fiction writing mistakes by Jack M. Bickham Manuscript submission by Scott Edelstein The ABC's of writing fiction by Ann Copeland The Art & Craft of Novel Writing by Oakley Hall How to write romances by Phyllis Taylor Pianka Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card <-- the first book that I had ever got on writing and I love it.
Yes, all of them are books on writing. I rarely if ever read a fiction book at night before I go off to sleep. I basically read more books on writing then fiction.
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How to write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card Hooked by Les Edgerton On Writing by Stephen King
Reading in that order. I'm currently halfway through Hooked.
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Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by Nancy Kress
and lots of fiction since I believe you learn to write fiction by reading it.
I am currently (makes face at IB) on about my 8th reading of all four volumes of SoIaF. When I finish that I'm re-reading that I think I'm going to re-read some of Brandon Sanderson's novels.
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There's nothing constantly on my nightstand, except one or another translation of the Tao, currently Ursula K Le Guin's.
I tend to devour books and then put them either on the fiction bookshelves, or--the writerly ones--beside the desk for easy reference.
Right now the nightstand has:
Current issues of Analog, Asimov's and Interzone The Mammoth Book of the Best of the Best New SF, edited by Gardner Dozois Making Mistakes by Stephen Fry Murder at Deviation Junction by Andrew Martin
There was a time when I had several books about writing in the pile; but I became too analytic, too hopeful that if I read enough of them I'd discover an algorithm of success. Of course, there isn't one. Having absorbed much valuable wisdom from writers on writing like OSC, Bova and Bradbury, I'm getting better at writing SF--and having far more fun--by reading SF, but with more understanding of how stories are put together, not to mention writing and revising and critiquing of course.
Cheers, Pat
[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited July 27, 2008).]
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On my nightstand? Right now, I'm working my way through The Brothers Karamazov, a few chapters at a time: I've made it about a fourth of the way through so far. To compliment that, I browse through Love and Hatred, by William L. Shirer, about the love-hate relationship between Tolstoy and his wife. (Yes, I know Tolstoy isn't Dostoyevsky and didn't write The Brothers Karamazov.)
There are a lotta other books piled by my bed---I recently rearranged and sorted and put all my "political" books next to my bed. There's no book on my bedstand per se---these books are piled on other books.
On The Brothers Karamazov---a stray comment in another book a few months ago motivated me to seek out a copy and start rereading it again. I know I read it in high school, for high school, almost certainly in the same translation---but I remember absolutely nothing about it other than there were four brothers in it. I'd forgotten they'd---but that's a spoiler. Let's just say I'm getting a lot more out of the book this time around...
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I just finished House of Leaves, which gave me nightmares every night that I read it. I'm looking for something else. I decided to stop reading how-to books for a while, and spend that time writing.
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The Lost Wolves of Japan Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation Dauntless Fearless Courageous The Constitution of the United States (pocket sized) US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76 Ordnance, Maintenance U.S. Rifles, CAL .30 M1, M1C (Sniper’s) and M1D (Sniper’s) TM9-1275
That is every book on my night stand unless you would include my flight log.
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Robert Nowall, which translation of The Brothers Karamazov are you reading? If it's the Constance Garnett translation, there are much better translations out there. I would recommend the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation. Much more vibrant, interesting read than the Constance Garnett one, and I hear it's more accurately tranlated as well (although I can't vouch for that personally since I don't understand Russian). Anyway, if you're not reading the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation, I would advise you to pick a copy of it up. It's a much better read.
TheOnceandFutureMe, House of Leaves also scared the crap out of me. I found it to be a very unsettling book, and I wasn't even sure what was so scary about it.
On my nightstand right now: a big old stack of plays and books about acting. I've just accepted a job as a high school drama teacher, and I have no idea what a drama class is even supposed to look like, nevermind the fact that I actually have to direct the plays. All other reading has been temporarily put on hiatus while I try to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do as a drama teacher next month when school starts.
[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited July 27, 2008).]
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Hm... let's take a look, shall we? I fear this is going to be embarrassing...
Story by Robert McKee Daily Life in Florence by J. Lucas-Dubreton Old Man's War by John Scalzi Comparative Political Corruption by James C. Scott Public Life in Renaissance Florence by Richard C. Trexler 2005 Best American Science and Nature Writing ed. Jonathan Weiner The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli The Counsels of Cormac trans. Thomas Cleary Organizing from the Inside Out by Julia Morgenstern A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce House Plants ed. Sunset magazine The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee The Deed of Pakesenarrion by Elizabeth Moon The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold The World Without Us by Alan Weisman Her Smoke Rose up Forever by James Tiptree Jr.
A Feast for Crows George R. R. Martin Sarum Edward Rutherfurd Mistborn Brandon Sanderson Emperor: The Gates of Rome Emperor: The Death of Kings Emperor: The Field of Swords Emperor: The Gods of War Genghis: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden Outlander Diana Gabaldon Jumper Steven Gould Of Fire and Night Kevin J. Anderson Pompeii Imperium Robert Harris Master and Commander Patrick O'Brian Ravevous Ray Garton The Killer Angels Michael Shaara Gods and GeneralsJeff Shaara Robert Ludlum's: The Bourne Legacy Eric Van Lustbader Sharpe's Tiger Sharpe's Eagle The Pale Horsemen Lords of the North Bernard Cornwell and Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky
But, I'm currently reading 1776 by two-time Pulitzer prize winner David McCullough.
As a former theatre major, and present Shakespeare teacher/director, I HIGHLY recommend the book "Audition" by Michael Shurtleff. While I do not agree with all of the man's morals (or lack thereof), there is not a better acting book out there! And, honestly, there's a lot of junk in the acting universe. Another good thing to have is a book of "warm-up games" or improv stuff. I wish I had a suggestion for a good one. They are usually passed on from teacher to student. I bet a Google search will yield some decent results. Your students will LOVE them!
On my nightstand Shoot! I just cleaned it off, so now there's not much. I'll asterisk the ones that I just removed.)
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published" "The Lonesome Gods" by Louis L'Amour* "The Fourth Turning" by Strauss and Howe "Silas Marner" by George Eliot* "Hamlet" by the Bard* "Love's Labour's Lost" by the Bard*
I'm currently reading "Pillage" by Obert Skye aloud to my kids and hubby.
(I'm SUPPOSED to be reading and reviewing a book called "Ships without A Shore," but it's so dry I can't get going. How do I write a bad review of a book-- especially a book the publisher sent me for free? A real conundrum...)
I'm about to start another Shakespeare tragedy, because I'm trying to decide on the play my class will be studying this Fall. (We study a tragedy first semester and perform a comedy in the second.)
quote:I've just accepted a job as a high school drama teacher, and I have no idea what a drama class is even supposed to look like, nevermind the fact that I actually have to direct the plays.
wetwilly, I just watched HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL on dvd, and I would recommend it to you for the drama teacher as portrayed there--as a stereotype you can be sure to avoid.
As for books on my nightstand, I've found if I read before I go to sleep, I often don't get to sleep until way past my bedtime.
During my tech phase, I catch up on my Dr. Dobb's Journal subscription, and all the other software / tech magazines that tend to stack up on my desk.
During my science phase, I read physics and other such books.
During my "Whatever at the Moment" phase, I will read anything from military to religion / philosophy to biographies to---at the category title says---whatever strikes me as being interesting.
Then, after a few months of educating myself, I will turn off the scholastic portion of my brain and go straight for entertainment...usually in the form of science fiction novels or short stories.
Looking at my night stand, I see that I'm currently in my science phase:
"Warped Passages" - Lisa Randall "The Black Hole War" - Leonard Susskind
Not surprising, my upcoming SF WIP deals with some of these topics.
I found a few links of warm up games for you. These are great to do at the beginning of class or rehearsal. They break the ice and really get the creative juices flowing. Have fun with it-- you'll do great!
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Wow, that's incredibly helpful, LL. Thanks for taking the time to find those.
Kathleen, I don't know if I can bring myself to watch High School Musical. I might just have to put that one on the same shelf as Grease, about which I have already set an immutable rule: At no point will I ever do a production of Grease. Ever. No job is worth that.
Sorry, everybody, I didn't mean to hijack the thread.
Currently on my nightstand are "Inherit the Wind" (stidying drama), and Stephen King's "Night Shift" for the nights I just can't bring myself to read any more drama.
[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited July 28, 2008).]
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You guys either have LARGE nightstands, or the large stack of books you keep next to your bed serves as a nightstand. LOL, I read a couple books at one time, but not nearly as many as the rest of you.
I've just finished Reality Dysfunction by Peter Hamilton. I'm very aggravated with the author. I did not find it as enjoyable as my sister, who generally shares my tastes/interest in books, claimed it to be. (more on that in published books discussion, if I can get around to it...)
I've got The Left Hand of Darkness by Le Guin on hold at the library, hoping to get there later today to pick it up so I don't have to dither about which book to start next.
I have on my short-term to-read list also Peter and the Starcatchers by Barry and Pearson.
I'm in the middle of Story, by Robert McKee, and have been for something like 9 months now. Good writing book, but it's dense and it's taken me a long time to get through (in 20 minute increments every week or two, that's not helping!)
I pulled out Characters and Viewpoints last week to share some POV stuff with my IRL (in real life) writer's group.
I also have out the Breastfeeding Answer Book, as I need to research something for a friend.
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No I don’t have much space to keep things so I store books on my night stand. Although I am reading most of them, some are part of a series so I read them in order.
(But right now, it has more papers and magazines on it than books...)
Oh, and I forgot to add that my scriptures are on my nightstand, too. That's what I actually read right before sleeping. The other stuff is for morning or afternoon. (I really need to restock some bon-bons, too! LOL!)
Edited to add: You're welcome, WetWilly! Break a leg! ;-)
[This message has been edited by Lullaby Lady (edited July 28, 2008).]
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I just have a copy of each of Paradise Lost and The Martian Chronicles on my nightstand at the moment, and I haven't even started the latter. I also keep a legal pad and set of colored pencils there, as I like to scratch out maps and sketches before falling asleep.
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"wetwilly," re: translations: I deliberately picked out a paperback with the classic Constance Garnett translation---I am aware of existence of better translations, but I decided to go with the one that generations of readers in English found good and moving and important. Next time out, I may try War and Peace, and go for that better translation.
(One new translation has as its title "The Karamazov Brothers." Might be a more accurate rendering of the Russian phrase---but seems to lose something in English.)
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Robert: In the end, if it's Dostoyevsky, it's going to be good. Period. Even a terrible translation (which the Constance Garnett one is not, even if it isn't the best one out there) couldn't begin to destroy the genius that Dostoyevsky put into his stories.
Did I mention that he's my favorite writer in the history of the written word?
[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited July 28, 2008).]
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I'm reading Daniel Sliva's new thriller MOSCOW RULES. That'll last me day. Then I'll return to hunting through the shelves for something else new.
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Currently on my nightstand is everything by Brandon Sanderson. Elantris, Mistborn, The Well of Ascension, and when it comes out, The Hero of Ages will be there too. (I'm also gonna go pick up Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians . . . how can you not love that title?)
I've already finished off Elantris and Mistborn, and I'm about 50 pages from the end of Well of Ascension. Spectacular writer. I'm looking forward to what he does with the last WoT book.
And of course Shogun, Ender's Game and Starship Troopers are permanently IN my nightstand. (not ON, but close by just in case I have a fit of insomnia.)
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Shoot! I just cleaned it off, so now there's not much. I'll asterisk the ones that I just removed.)
