What are your favorite reference books on writing? We all have them. I learned following my first very rough draft, that I didn’t know a thing about writing a publishable novel. I thought I did, but the rejections and the one agent who responded set me straight.
Like many of you, I learn from my mistakes, but I am totally hoping I can keep some wannabees from making the same ones that I made.
If you follow me, you know I’ve said many times, ” You don’t know what you don’t know.” So needless to say, I began to research various sites and successful authors. I had to learn how to write a novel.
This led me to three of my favorite resource books.
- The Elements Of Style William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
- How To Write Best Selling Fiction Dean R. Koontz
- Eats, Shoots & Leaves Lynne Truss
I found The Elements Of Style and Eats, Shoots & Leaves at a library book sale. They cost me a dollar. Unfortunately, the Koontz book is highly recommended but nowhere to be found. I purchased mine from a dealer on eBay for $65.00. I do believe it was worth the price, but you can find all of the information contained in the book on the web.
I didn’t include the Dictionary or Thesaurus. I think they are a given.
These are a few of my favorite things. Yes, I do like Mary Poppins 🙂
-Jan R
Writing your first novel-Things you should know 