Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Two Great Books on Writing

This is topic Two Great Books on Writing in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Somerset (Member # 2277) on :

1. John Gardner, THE ART OF FICTION. Gardner is very passionate and very enlightening. He tells you what writing is all about, and he tells you what it takes to become a writer. His thoughts on how to understand your story's implications are magnificent. So is the chapter called "Common Errors"; he goes through a list of errors (writing as well as technique) that most beginners make. The downside is that Gardner comes across as a literary prig, but you have to read very carefully to see that he's not. How many in the so-called literary establishment would hold up the works of Isaac Asimov as being more true and artistic than most so-called literary fiction.

2. W. Somerset Maugham, THE SUMMING UP. A great counterpoint to Gardner. Maugham isn't as passionate as Gardner is, but is just as intense. The first third of the book (which is a memoir, more or less) deals with writing--style, character, technique, plot, story, fiction, and what it means to be a professional writer. Maugham (as my UserName should indicate) is my literary idol. There is nothing he says about writing with which I disagree.

Posted by Jeff Vehige (Member # 2284) on :

I've read both of these books. The best point Gardner makes is that a written story should set off a vivid and continuous dream, and the the only way to do that is by vivid details.

The Maugham book wasn't nearly as helpful; it wasn't for me, at any rate. But his chapters on style are very good.

If we're going to make this thread one about "books on writing," I'll add my favorite. It's The Modern Library Writer's Workshop written by Stephen Koch. In it Koch treats everything from starting out as a writer, to the writing life, to developing characters and finding your story, style, to thoughts on revision. There's so much wisdom in this book it's almost too hard to pinpoint my favorite piece of advice.

However, what really opened my eyes is his adage: The only way to "find" your story is to tell it. Thus, the only goal of a first draft (as Papa Hemingway taught) is that it must be finished.

Another good book is called Writing Fiction. It's put out by the Gotham Writer's Workshop. Imagine all the one-volume Writer's Digest books on plot, character, dialogue, description, etc., in one, inexpensive volume. Good stuff there.

And I'd be remiss not to mention Damon Knight's CREATING SHORT FICTION which is the best book on writing short stories.

Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll add one that KDW mentioned awhile back that I found extremely helpful: Donald Maass's workbook, "Writing the Breakout Novel." It contains very practical advice and hands-on exercises to revise your fiction. Excellent.

Also, any/all of OSC's books on the craft are well worth reading.

Posted by MrClean (Member # 1958) on :

Excellent point:

Quote:
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However, what really opened my eyes is his adage: The only way to "find" your story is to tell it. Thus, the only goal of a first draft (as Papa Hemingway taught) is that it must be finished.
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I know this. I think about it but now and then I need to have someone else remind me that I've got to finish the stories. I have one that's over 100,000 words but not done. Others that are only a few pages. I get caught up 'tweaking' what I have already writen and loose the drive to finish.

Also, thanks for the tips on other books for writing.

Posted by Jeff Vehige (Member # 2284) on :

I feel your pain. It takes an incredible amount of discipline NOT to go back and fiddle with what you've already written. I've tired writing my first drafts long hand so I would be tempted to do this. I also dug out my old typewriter from my parents' attic and wrote a few stories on that. But I'm a computer guy, without a doubt. I'm just not comfortable writing on anything else. So I FORCE myself not to fiddle, and I do this by getting up from my desk whenever I start to fiddle. I walk around the house, or lie on the floor, or do something and just think about the story, about what comes next. For me, that's the hardest part of writing on a computer--not fiddling when you're suppose to be writing.

Another trick I learned came from Raymond Carver. Sometimes when I get stuck I just skip that part and go on to the next. I fill in the blanks during the second and third and fourth drafts.

[This message has been edited by Jeff Vehige (edited January 05, 2005).]