Reference Books on Writing

Books on writing, among those I have on my bookshelves or Kindle.   

Stephen King: On Writing.

Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing.

Don Pendleton:  The Metaphysics of the Novel: The Inner Workings of a Novel and a Novelist.

Michael Newton: How to Write Action Adventure Novels.

Donald Maass: Writing the Breakout Novel.

Donald Maass:  The Fire in Fiction.

Donald Maass: The Emotional Craft of Fiction.

Richard Rhodes: How to Write.

Alexandra Sokoloff: Screenwriting Tricks for Authors.

Maren Elwood: Characters Make Your Story.

J. Michael Straczynski: The Complete Book of Script-Writing.

Scott Meredith:  Writing to Sell.

James Scott Bell:  Revision and Self Editing

Jack M. Bickham:  Scene and Structure. 

~Linda 

Phyllis A. Whitney, mystery writer

Phyllis A. Whitney (1903-2008), was one of my favorite mystery/suspense writers. She published more than 70 novels. In 1988, she was recipient of the MWA Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Her novels have been translated in 30 languages and sold in the millions. She was still writing into her 90s.
She ascribed her success as a writer to persistence and an abiding faith in her abilities. She wrote in her "Guide to Fiction Writing:" "Never mind the rejections, the discouragement, the voices of ridicule (there can be those too). Work and wait and learn, and that train will come by. If you give up, you’ll never have a chance to climb aboard.”

~Linda