Comments on: Collect Writing Resources for Better Writing

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:53:16 +0000

Thanks for the suggestion, Wayne.

By: Wayne C. Long

Wayne C. Long — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:24:17 +0000

There is one book that can turn bland writing into brilliant —

“30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary” by Wilfred Funk.

Wayne C. Long
Writer/Editor/Digital Publisher
Where the Short Story LIVES!

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:41:42 +0000

I use Chicago Manual of Style more than any other writing resource. It answers just about every single question that comes up as I’m writing and I just love it. The book is pricey but well worth it! In any case, I’m a big style guide geek. I love them!

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:39:03 +0000

Aw, you totally just made my day and put a big smile on my face. Thanks Marc!

By: Positively Present

Positively Present — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:45:09 +0000

Style guides are a great one! I need to dig mine up and use them more often!
Positively Present´s last blog ..are the people in your life positive?

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:42:50 +0000

Hmm writing resources.

Dictionary… Check.
Thesaurus… Check.
Avid reader… Check.

WritingForward.com subscription… Check

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:09:10 +0000

@Rebecca, I almost always have dictionary.com open in the background when I’m writing. Sometimes I look up a word even if I know what it means but want to find out if it has other, subtle meanings or connotations. If we didn’t think this stuff was fun, I guess we wouldn’t be writers

By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith

Rebecca Laffar-Smith — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:37:56 +0000

I’m glad I’m not the only write who finds strange words coming from nowhere trying to dive into my writing. Today, I used the word “dearth”. WHERE did THAT come from? My mind pondered, “Does that word mean what I want it to mean?” Wizz over to dictionary.com and tada! Yes, it does! In fact, it’s perfect! We have hidden vocabulary because we absorb so much of the world around us. Just because we KNOW a word, doesn’t mean we know it and it’s always a great idea to check.

I also stockpile books ABOUT writing (and hoard online resources like Writing Forward, here. The wonderful thing about being a writer is that we can devour the topic, call it ‘working’, and never grow tired of reading and rereading resources that grow our skills.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:01:58 +0000

@Paula, I would be SO lost without Chicago. I recently got a copy of Strunk & White and can’t wait to peruse it. Hopefully sometime this decade…

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:31:31 +0000

Yes, Chicago!!! Can’t live without it.

On my wish list too is the classic Elements of Style by Strunk and White. I can’t believe I don’t have a copy anymore. Maybe “The Borrowers” took it.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:28:16 +0000

Hi Greer, Before I got Chicago, I pretty much looked up grammar and style questions on the Web. But once I started freelancing, I felt I needed a more credible resource so I did some research and settled on Chicago. It has been extremely helpful. I’d love a set of fancy dictionaries but I have to confess, for dictionary and thesaurus, I almost exclusively use the Internet

By: Greer

Greer — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:24:11 +0000

My Christmas present to myself this past year was the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (2 volumes), and I love it so much. It comes with a CD-ROM too, which is very nice. Of course, it still isn’t as fabulous as the full 20 volume set, but that is just slightly out of my budget .

You’ve convinced me to get the Chicago Manual of Style.