The first is Writing About Your Life by William Zinsser, and is about memoir writing.
The second is A Lie that Tells a Truth by John Dufresne. The jacket describes it as "A truly creative - and hilarious - guide to creative writing, full of encouragment and sound advice". Well, we'll see.
There were plenty of other titles stacked on the table, many of them style guides which I'm not really so keen on, as they tend to be very prescriptive about what is and what isn't acceptable grammar. The book I really wanted, having seen it featured in the paper this morning was one called Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within by Barbara De Marco-Barrett, but Kino was already out of stock of that one, though they said they can order it. (And still give the discount when it comes.)
I collect books on writing. Already have quite a library and keep adding to it. It isn't at all that I buy them because I feel I personally need them as a writer. (I already have excellent books of prompts and on the writer's craft). But more out of academic curiosity. What's the angle? Is it helpful? Is there anything I can lift for my courses? Would my course participants/writing friends find this useful and should I recommend it?
And also because, in a strange sort of way, I find their presence on my shelves oddly comforting ...
3 comments:
And also because, in a strange sort of way, I find their presence on my shelves oddly comforting...
I feel the same way about my books. I always thought I was weird :P I buy books just to have the comfort of seeing them on my shelf and knowing that they're there for me to read any time I choose. It's a strange love affair...
I think I'd like to have one or two of those books mentioned =)
Dear Sharon
I have two for you that I forgot to bring along the last time. One of them has a picture of a heavily marked-up page from the first draft of a Henry James novel. In his own handwriting, no less.
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