: Re: What are good reads about writing? What do you recommend as reading material to improve writing for beginners? If one recommendation is put per answer and can be voted separately a good list

I'm thoroughly enjoying How to Write Like Tolstoy, which along with On Writing are the most relatable books about writing.

I admit that Richard Cohen's book caught me by the title (who wouldn't want to write like Tolstoy?), but it's much, much more than that - explaining the pros and cons of viewpoint, voice, style, even the "virtues" of plagiarism, whilst scattering all of the insight with gossip and snarky comments from famous and notable writers, much of which was witnessed first hand or from his network.
Richard has been an editor to some big names, and is an author himself, and the way he writes makes it feel incredibly achievable.

If you're past the blank page stage, this is a motivation to crack on. It's truly a well researched book which reads like a great article from a Sunday paper - immensely digestible and satisfying.

BTW I've not written a review for the book on Amazon. Having read what I've just written, perhaps I should.

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: How to write long extracts in a foreign language? In my writing there are eight groups of people, each with their own language that they speak. Do I put large amounts of writing into their

@Tiffany377

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: Another answer links to a different question, which has an answer that says you can "give each of your main characters a conflicting theory of 'who done it'." The short story "In a Grove",

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: Is it OK if I just mention in one line that she looks like some real world actress? Don't do that. First of all, don't overestimate the relevance of how people look when you aren't

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: Never let them give serious consideration to their own moral failings. It's a common feature of the wickedest of people in real-life: It never occurs to them that they are the ones in the

: Re: What are good reads about writing? What do you recommend as reading material to improve writing for beginners? If one recommendation is put per answer and can be voted separately a good list

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: How to write long extracts in a foreign language? In my writing there are eight groups of people, each with their own language that they speak. Do I put large amounts of writing into their

: Another answer links to a different question, which has an answer that says you can "give each of your main characters a conflicting theory of 'who done it'." The short story "In a Grove",

: Is it OK if I just mention in one line that she looks like some real world actress? Don't do that. First of all, don't overestimate the relevance of how people look when you aren't

: Never let them give serious consideration to their own moral failings. It's a common feature of the wickedest of people in real-life: It never occurs to them that they are the ones in the

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