Writing Resources: The Elements of Style
Originally published in 1959, The Elements of Style
The Elements of Style was the first writing book I ever owned. In sixth grade, when I was assigned my first term paper, one of the requirements was to use this book. It was only recently that I finally upgraded to the latest edition and read it in its entirety for the first time, and I was impressed beyond measure.
The Elements of Style
Of all writing resources, The Elements of Style is probably the most well-known. Since it was first published, it has helped millions of writers and is the only style guide that has ever graced the bestseller list.
William Strunk Jr., late professor of English at Cornell University, first wrote the book for his students. One of those students eventually became one of the most beloved writers of the twentieth century. E.B. White, author of such great literary works as Charlotte’s Web
The story of this little book is fascinating – but even more fascinating is its contents.
Writing Resources You Can Actually Use
Most writing resources and style guides are presented as reference material. Using an index, you visit your resource only when you need to look up something specific. The Elements of Style is an interesting cover-to-cover read, one that you can easily finish in less than a day.
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all sentences short, or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
-William Strunk, Jr. from The Elements of Style
The book is so small, you can carry it in your purse, your pocket, or keep it conveniently tucked away in your laptop bag. Each chapter is concise, and takes your straight to the point. There are no fancy introductions or lengthy explanations – just hard and fast tips, rules, and recommendations.
There are just five chapters:
- Elementary Rules of Usage
- Elementary Principles of Composition
- A Few Matters of Form
- Words and Expressions Commonly Misused
- An Approach to Style
Within these chapters, you will find answers to the most common and nagging questions that perplex writers at all levels, from the young beginner to the mature master. Plus, there’s a handy glossary that provides definitions for terms used throughout the book.
Essential for Writers
There are plenty of useful writing resources. Some of them are designed for general usage and provide readers with the straight facts about style and grammar. Others offer information for specialists (fiction or poetry writing, for example). Few are as useful or convenient as The Elements of Style
Do you have a copy of The Elements of Style? Why or why not? What are some of your favorite writing resources?
Writing Resources for Naming Your Characters
Have you ever read one of those epic fantasy novels in which the magical characters can gain total control over any living being (or non-living object) simply by discovering its real and true name? I’ve read about ten of those novels.
What do you think is more perplexing, the fact that authors continue to use this rule of magic (even though it’s tired and ready to be retired) or the astounding number of unique names that writers come up with for all the characters in these stories?
Dubworthy or Dubless?
I have been known to spend hours pondering names and wondering how a writer managed to choose a name that so perfectly fit a character, especially those characters that are iconic. Holden Caulfield. Harry Potter. Hamlet. Hanibal Lechter. And they don’t all start with the letter H. Ebenezer Scrooge. Mary Poppins. Sherlock Holmes. Gollum. Cinderella. Willy Wonka. The list goes on and on. And it doesn’t stop with literary characters. Remarkable character names can also be found in movies, comic books, and on TV.
Think about the most famous, unforgettable, and compelling characters. They have names that are memorable. Names that resonate with the character’s energy: Bond. James Bond. How do you forget a guy like that?
You don’t.
But here’s a better question. How does a writer come up with a name like that?
The Name is the Game
Let me be blunt. I suck at coming up with names. I can’t begin to tell you how many hours I’ve spent pondering great names and trying to come up with handles for my poor, nameless characters. But names elude me. They do. So, what do I do when my fiction writing antics require me to name a character? Well, if I’m already in the throes of writing, I generally write the characters’ names generically and in all caps:
GIRL is walking down the street and freezes when she spots ANIMAL sitting in the middle of the road as if it were perfectly ordinary for a tiger to be cleaning its paws smack dab in the center of a suburban middle-class neighborhood.
But I can’t avoid naming forever. The story is never finished until everybody is named, and I find that I can’t get very deep into the tale when I’m working with nameless characters. So, I do what any resourceful writer does. I turn to my handy dandy writing resources.
Enter, Internet
The internet is always my first choice for research. I use an online dictionary and thesaurus. When I need a quick fact, I’ve been known to obtain it from Wikipedia (judiciously, of course) and I also use the open-source, online encyclopedia as a starting place to look for more credible research (they often have excellent annotations). And when I need a name, I’ve engaged the power of Google (a search engine that happens to have a fantastic name of its own).
I’ve googled boy names and girl names, exotic names, and androgynous names. I’ve done it in reverse too, and searched for names by their meaning. I’ve gotten lucky a few times and found just the right name for a character I had in mind. I’ve even found a nifty tool that generates a character name, which is awesome if you can use a name like Magaga Dawntracker.
But looking for a name on the web is like looking for a song in your iPod when you can’t remember the title or artist. It takes forever. And you find yourself endlessly perusing, clicking, and nodding your head (or shaking it, as the case may be). I guess the benefit is that all those names you skim through might spark ideas for other characters, but what about the character you’ve already created? The one whose name launched you into this quest in the first place?
It’s not like this was a one-time ordeal. Name searching became a time suck for me. And fiction writing started to feel more like climbing a Mount Everest of names than a writing experience. I went through this ridiculous cycle more times than I care to recall.
And then one day, I was happily browsing through my favorite bookstore, a local and independent bookstore, and this book popped out at me:
A World of Baby Character Names
Okay, so technically, the title of this book is A World of Baby Names
Even though this was the first name book that I noticed, I checked out several others before buying this one. It had some features I thought might be useful. Turns out I was right. I’ve used this book a lot. A whole lot.
What I like best about it is that the names are separated by country of origin. And there are tons of names in this book that my American self has never heard before. I can look at the Hindu names and the Polish names, and then I can get creative and start combining them.
The names are also sorted by gender. That makes looking for an androgynous name a little challenging, but on the other hand, there’s a nice index, so I can scroll through every single name in a few minutes — a great method for finding a name that pops out at me. I can then navigate to the name page and find out what it means.
Each section also includes a written introduction about names in various cultures, which is pretty cool.
If you suck at names the way I do, then you should seriously consider getting this book or one like it.
A Rose By Any Other Name
As you can imagine, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the baby name book and buy it, I’ll get a kickback, which would be cool. But what would be cooler would be for you to tell me how you come up with character names. Do you have a name book? Is there a website you use? Do you have a knack for names using nothing more than your own brilliant imagination? And what are some of your all time favorite character names? And finally (here’s a question for the most creative souls out there), can you think of any other good uses for a baby name book, other than naming babies and fictional characters?
How to Be More Creative
Inspiration strikes at the most inopportune times — when you’re driving, taking a shower, dining at a restaurant. Then, when you sit down to write, draw, or solve a problem, your mind goes blank.
The muse has eluded you once again.
Creativity is fleeting. But there are techniques you can implement to keep creativity flowing and tools you can use to convince your muse to show up when you’re ready to create.
Alchemy
In the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance, alchemy was a form of chemistry and philosophy that sought to turn baser metals into gold and discover the elixir of life. A more modern definition of alchemy is the magical ability to change a common substance of little value into a substance of great value.
Creativity is inherently linked to alchemy. Our life experiences, thoughts, and ideas are of little value until we channel them into something of substance — a compelling book, a mesmerizing piece of art, or a dazzling performance. Creative people, such as writers, artists, and performers, are alchemists on a quest to transform the stuff of the mind and body into something that others can experience and enjoy.
A Handbook for Alchemists
Marelisa Fábrega is an alchemist in her own right, and an expert on creativity. Her website, The Abundance Blog at Marelisa Online is a hot spot for gathering ideas and resources for creativity and problem solving, and now, Marelisa has put years of experience and accumulated knowledge into a superb creativity resource.
How to Be More Creative — A Handbook for Alchemists is packed with tools, ideas, recommendations, and proven techniques that will keep your creativity flowing and help your muse stay on task.
- Learn new ways to approach problems and think creatively
- Access facts and information about how the creative mind works
- Discover tons of fun tools and resources that trigger creativity
- Collect techniques that unleash innovative ideas
- Engage in exciting activities that promote creativity
This handbook includes success stories and inside tips from experts who have learned how to master their own creativity. Did you know that Stephen Spielberg’s best ideas come to him while he’s driving? Would you believe that the song “Yesterday” came to Paul McCartney in his sleep? Ever wonder what an acclaimed science-fiction author like Isaak Asimov does when he’s struck with writer’s block?
Get your copy of How to Be More Creative — A Handbook for Alchemists and find out.
More Creative Writing
As I was reading through this handbook, a funny thing happened. I started writing in my journal — profusely. Scraps of paper on my desk filled up with ideas and sketches from spontaneous brainstorming sessions. My muse seemed to be working double shifts.
Every chapter of the book opens your mind to new ways of accessing your own creativity. Each link you click takes you on a brand new adventure. And all of the activities are fun and inspiring. Make sure you read this with a notebook handy, because it’s packed with insights that you’ll want to jot down.
Now, weeks have passed since I finished reading Marelisa’s handbook, but my creativity is still flowing. If it ebbs, I can simply pop open my Handbook for Alchemists and within minutes, the creative wheels will start spinning. Yes, it’s that powerful! I can’t recommend this resource highly enough.
Be More Creative
You don’t have to sit there staring at a blank page ever again. Ideas and inspiration will never elude you again. With a copy of How to Be More Creative, you can invoke the muse whenever you want.
Click here to visit Abundance Blog at Marelisa Online website!
Do you have any favorite creativity or writing resources to share? Have you visited Marelisa’s blog or read her ebook? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
Writing Resources: No Plot? No Problem!
In 1999 Chris Baty rounded up 21 friends and together they set sail on a journey like no other. With no map and no compass, they each set out to write a novel in just one month (July). Some of the crew were lost at sea. Others survived the voyage and reached dry land with scrappy but completed novels in hand.
“That [we] were undertalented goofballs who had no business flailing around at the serious endeavor of novel writing was pretty clear. We hadn’t taken any creative writing courses in college, or read any how-to books on story or craft. And our combined post-elementary-school fiction output would have fit comfortably on a Post-it Note.” — Chris Baty, No Plot? No Problem!
Despite their lack of talent and experience and despite the fact that more than half of the original crew went overboard, Chris Baty and his friends had unlocked one of the secrets of novel writing, and with that treasure in hand, Chris went on to found one of the most loved and exciting writing events in the world.
National Novel Writing Month
Today, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) takes place every November. In 2007, the event’s ninth year, over 100,000 participants signed up from all around the world, and over 15,000 reported that they finished their novels.
Some NaNos (that’s what participants are called) have even gotten book deals and published novels they wrote for NaNoWriMo. Others found that writing a book wasn’t as hard as they thought and went on to pursue a career in writing. A few discovered that writing a novel wasn’t the dream they thought it was and moved on to other endeavors.
But every person who signed up and went through NaNoWriMo came away with a valuable experience and new wisdom about what it means to write a novel.
Writing Resources Can Be Fast, Fun, and Functional
I read No Plot? No Problem! in one night. It only took a couple of hours and I enjoyed every minute of it. The book is straightforward and easy to read, but it’s also packed with humor. I found myself laughing out loud as I made my way through the chapters. More importantly, the book proved to be a useful addition to my ever-growing collection of writing resources.
Chris takes you through his own journey to becoming a novelist and then dives right into the lessons he’s learned and techniques that he’s discovered. Much of his advice centers around plot development (which is no surprise, considering the book’s title), and I was ecstatic since the one wall I kept crashing into with every novel attempt I’d ever made was plot. For each novel I started to write, I had plenty of characters, settings, and scenes. But no plot.
No problem!
Chris Baty solved that problem for me. Oh sure, he touches on character creation, finding time to write, and why you shouldn’t EVER revise while you’re still plowing through your first draft. But more importantly, Chris revealed ideas for tackling plot that I’d never before considered (or even heard about).
A couple of weeks after I read the book, I diligently signed up for NaNoWriMo 2008 and hopped aboard my own ship. The voyage was sometimes smooth, sometimes rocky, but in the end, I reached the far shores as a novelist. And while I’m the one who wrote that novel, I have to thank Chris Baty not only for founding the event that led me to write my first novel in just thirty days, but also for his funny, insightful, and informative book on novel writing and plotting.
Believe it or not, there is a plot lurking around somewhere inside that muddled imagination of yours. There are also characters, scenes, themes, and a whole lot more. No Plot? No Problem! will help you dig through the muck and find the novel that’s waiting to be written.
Whether you plan on participating in NaNoWriMo this year or if you just want to write a novel at your own pace, this is one of the best writing resources for starting and finishing your novel. My own experience with this book is proof that by changing the way you approach novel writing, you can also change the outcome and finally succeed. Next time you have an idea for a novel or start a novel project, you’ll actually finish it!
Get your copy of No Plot? No Problem!
Writing Resources: A Poetry Handbook
Basically, poetry reading and writing improves all other writing.
So, whether you are a poet or not, as a writer, you should have a basic understanding of poetry.
Writing Resources
Poetry starts in childhood with nursery rhymes and the famous works of authors like Shel Silverstein and Dr. Suess. But what comes next? There is a vast universe of poetry out there, so it helps to start exploring the world of poetry with a few, basic resources.
Ideally, you’ll engage in both poetry reading and poetry writing. Both of these activities will improve your own writing, whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or even business writing, marketing, or copywriting.
Good poetry writing resources touch on reading and writing poetry. Most include poems by accomplished poets and use these poems as examples to teach you the nuances, structure, and techniques that go into poetry writing.
A Poetry Handbook
Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook
Under 125 pages, this text is a quick and easy read with straightforward examples and clear explanations. Oliver talks about how to read a poem, how to imitate the greats, and then gets into the technical aspect of poetry, covering sound, literary devices, line, and form. Finally, she takes a look at free verse.
Mary Oliver herself is an acclaimed poet and her tone is friendly and witty and very easy to follow. From the text:
Something that is essential can’t be taught; it can only be given, or earned, or formulated in a manner too mysterious to be picked apart… Whatever can’t be taught, there is a great deal that can, and must, be learned.
If you’ve ever read a written work and been captivated by the magic of its language, then you have already experienced the power of poetry. The concepts you’ll learn in dealing with poetry can be applied to all forms, including songwriting. So do yourself a favor and start collecting some writing resources that deal exclusively with poetry reading and writing. Having reviewed dozens of books on poetry, I recommend starting with A Poetry Handbook.
How to Create a Believable Character
Last week we discussed the merits of character fiction and had an interesting conversation about what rules a story – plot or character.
Most people agreed that the characters make or break a story. Great character writing can breathe life into a flat or dull plot, and when we walk away from fiction, it’s the characters that continue to resonate in our imaginations.
But how do you create a character that readers believe?
Get Into Character
The Men with Pens are well-known for their smokin’ business tips, but their talents extend beyond helping freelancers and entrepreneurs make it on the world wide web.
James and Harry also run a gaming site called Escaping Reality in which creative writers collaborate in real time to forge an interactive and ongoing work of fiction, and in this fictional world, strong character writing is absolutely essential.
Step into our world any time. Collaborate with other players in scenes rich with visual imagery, description and dialogue. Improve your fiction writing skills with fast improvisation, quick wits, interactive writing and plenty of twists and turns.
Each writer enters a scene with one asset – a character. Plot happens spontaneously as different characters interact and move the story forward. As you can imagine, your character in this game has to be strong, vivid, and believable. In fact, before you’re allowed to join the game, you’ll need to submit a character sketch.
Even Fictional Character Writing Has to be Real
What does an online role-playing game have to do with fiction writing? Everything.
Realistic characters are essential to a work of fiction that compels readers just as they are essential to collaborative writing. Whether you’re developing a character for a game, a writing exercise, or for a short story or novel, you want to generate characters that step off the page and become a part of your readers’ lives.
A realistic character taps into readers’ emotions, giving rise to empathy, resentment, and adoration. We root for the protagonist because we’re on his side. We hiss and boo at the antagonist because she’s roused our senses of fear and loathing.
Put simply, readers get attached to characters. But only if those characters are believable. Your job as a fiction writer is to manifest lifelike characters. And the Men with Pens have a great resource that will walk you through every step of character creation.
How to Create a Believable Character
Not all characters are created equally. Have you ever read a character that seemed more like a stereotype than a real person? Ever tried to write a character that just fell flat and lacked a genuine personality?
People are complex organisms – even characters that are non-human are complicated and difficult to write in a way that makes it easy to believe that they’re real.
In their ebook How to Create a Believable Character, James Chartrand and Harrison McLeod share tons of tips and insight for creating characters that readers will connect with. From basic stuff, like what your character looks like, to more in-depth qualities, such as major life-altering events, this book will take you through the many different aspects of a character that you need to define – both before and during the fiction writing process.
Ready, Set, Create Character!
How to Create a Believable Character is a fairly quick read and includes worksheets that you can print out to help guide you through the process of drafting a character sketch. You’ll be prompted to think about your character’s:
- Appearance
- Abilities
- Background
- Personality
Plus, you’ll learn how to tie all your character’s traits together so you end up with a realistic, believable character that will resonate with readers.
This is a fun and affordable little resource – just under twelve dollars – so you can’t afford not to pick this one up and add it to your collection of writing resources. And once you have it, you’ll find yourself scrolling through it every time you’re working on a character, just to make sure you’ve covered all your bases.
And with this book, all your character-creating bases will definitely be covered. Get your copy today.
And keep on writing.
Do you have any tips to share on strong character writing? Leave a comment or send in a guest post.
Writing Resources: Stephen King On Writing
And I hate saying it because I want to like every genre in the world of reading and writing. I can’t think of a musical genre that I don’t like, so why does there have to be a genre in literature that just turns me off?
It’s not like I hate horror. I just don’t like it. At all. I can appreciate it for its creativity and artistic merit (yes, I do think horror has artistic merit), but I can’t get into it. Sorry. Maybe the fact that I’m bonkers over sci-fi and fantasy will redeem me. Maybe Stephen King will forgive me.
I have great respect for Stephen King. I may not like horror, but I do like good writing and clever storytelling. I have read a couple of his books and while his works of horror were not to my taste, I certainly can appreciate excellent craftsmanship. Sure, he writes other stuff (I loved the movie Stand by Me), but let’s face it, he’s the king of horror. Elvis is the king of rock and roll. Michael Jackson is the king of pop. And Stephen King is the king of horror.
The Buzz On Writing
So, why would I read a writing book by a horror author? The answer is that I wouldn’t. I can’t read the stuff and I’m never going to write it. I saw Mr. King’s book on the shelf, thought it was good that horror writers now had their own bible, and moseyed downstairs to the used-books basement, where I like to hunt for old MacCafferey and Bradley books.
The buzz about King’s book wasn’t immediate, but it was persistent. First one writer, then another would throw out “Stephen King’s book on writing.” This is a convenient sentence because the book has a convenient (and brilliant) title; It’s called On Writing
Eventually the buzz became a persistent hum, almost a chant: “You haven’t read it yet?” “Oh, you’ll LOVE it.” “It’s the BEST writing book EVER.”
Here’s the thing about writers: They don’t throw around book recommendations haphazardly, especially books about writing. So, when every writer you know is telling you that this is a wonderful, staple book that you simply must experience, you really ought to read it.
So I did.
A King’s Life
On Writing
The first half of the book takes the reader through Mr. King’s life, from childhood, through young adulthood, and to his ultimate success as an author. Ever wonder what a wildly successful author read as a kid? Which movies he watched? When he started writing? What challenges he faced in getting his work published?
It’s all there, including the nail on little Stevie King’s bedroom wall upon which he impaled his rejection slips — a long nail, which eventually filled up and then led to a second nail. But little Stevie King did something most young writers fail to do; he refused to give up. So the rejections piled up, but do did his writing and his skill set. And then one day, his work was published. And then another day, he got a movie deal (Carrie). Book deals, awards, and legions of fans followed. But buried in all the acclaim and attention is a man who simply loves to write, a man who lives to write.
And Stephen King is a man who has mastered writing.
On Writing
In the second half of On Writing
It all starts with the one thing every writer must have: a toolbox. In your toolbox, you’ll put your vocabulary, grammar, and a host of other tools that you can use to build effective writing that resonates and compels. Mr. King talks about plot, characters, where to get ideas, and why The Elements of Style
When I opened this book and started reading, I didn’t know what to expect. I was in the middle of at least four other books (a poetry collection, two novels, and another writing book). I quickly forgot about the others. I could not put this book down, so I devoured it in less than two days. That’s a testament to Stephen King’s writing, because I’m not easily impressed and it takes damn good writing to get me singing praises.
The value of On Writing is immeasurable. I find that writing advice is valuable, but when you add personal story and experience to the advice, it becomes priceless. Every year, I buy and read books that promise to help writers. Most of them end up in the discard pile and get hauled off to the library or used bookstore. Very few make it to my bookshelf — The Chicago Manual of Style, Writing Down the Bones, The Elements of Style, and now, On Writing.
Do yourself a favor and get a copy, then read it right away. You won’t regret it.
Two Excellent Poetry Resources
You all know by now what a huge advocate I am for collecting writing resources. When it comes to poetry resources, there are some special books out there that will help make you both a better reader and a more well-rounded writer.
Keep in mind that reading and writing poetry require two similar but different skill sets. Some academics argue that poetry is an intellectual pursuit, but that’s only partially true. Poetry is an aesthetic art that uses emotion as a canvas and paints upon it with language. Anyone can enjoy poetry, but studying it at higher levels can help you better appreciate its nuances.
The same is true with poetry writing. Nobody can stop you from sitting down and writing a poem. It will be just as meaningful if it comes straight from your heart as if it comes from years of study. However, learning various techniques can bring your poetry to heightened levels. Such study is also helpful if your objective is to get your poetry published.
Poetry Resources
I was resistant to reading and studying poetry in school because I wrote it so frequently on my own. But once I gave in and signed up for the courses, my poetry started to blossom in ways I never could have foreseen. Classes, however, aren’t necessary (though they are definitely beneficial if you get a good instructor). A few poetry resources can whittle your skills considerably.
Here are a couple of my favorite books on poetry.
The Practice of Poetry
Perhaps my all time favorite and definitely my most referenced poetry book is Perrine’s Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry
Anthologies
Speaking of anthologies, I would be remiss if I didn’t close this post by mentioning that anthologies, along with literary journals, are the best way to start discovering poets and poems that you’ll love.
Anthologies give you a taste for many different styles and genres within the poetry sphere. My own favorite is Norton Anthology of Literature by Women
Enjoy, and keep on writing!
Got any poetry resources that you’d like to recommend? Do you have any of the poetry resources listed here? If so, how have they benefitted your poetry writing and reading? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
Should You Add a Style Guide to Your Writing Resources?
One thing I haven’t decided on is this: which style guide is used more–Chicago or AP? And… why? I’ve thought about just buying them both! Should I?
Michele’s comment got me thinking about style guides and writing resources in general. Who uses them and why? When are they appropriate, and how do you choose which ones are right for you?
Who Uses Style Guides?
- Students, scholars, and other members of academia
- Scientists, doctors, and those who work in specialized fields such as law or government
- Journalists and reporters
- Authors
- Any writers who want their work to be consistent should use a style guide as just one of their writing resources
What, Exactly, is a Style Guide?
A style guide is a manual that establishes rules for language, spelling, formatting, and punctuation. Within academia, these guides also provide standards for citations, references, and bibliographies. Many disciplines have their very own style guide, such as the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
According to Wikipedia, “…consistency is the major purpose of these style guides. They are rulebooks for writers, ensuring consistent language.”
In addition, a style guide answers all those burly writing questions that are absent from the rules of grammar. Yet at the same time, the average style guide also answers those questions that deal specifically with the rules of good grammar.
Where Do I Get One?
You should be able to pick up any standard style guide at your local library or bookstore. University libraries and college bookstores should have a greater selection of specialized style guides. Of course, you can always order through Amazon
Many large companies and corporations use their own internal style guides, so if you are writing for a such an organization, they may need to provide you with their own style guide.
When is a Style Guide Appropriate?
In terms of writing resources, a style guide is almost always appropriate. Since a style guide’s primary function is to render a work consistent, any work will benefit from its application. That includes creative writing, freelance writing, and blogging!
In many cases, a style guide is not only appropriate, it’s mandatory. If you’re writing for submission, it’s a good idea to check a publication’s guidelines to see if they require writers to use particular style guidelines.
Why Should I Use a Style Guide?
A style guide will make your work more consistent. Did you use a serial comma in the first paragraph, but leave it out in the third? Have you used italics in one post to refer to a book title, but in another post used quotations?
By establishing standards, a style guide will help you streamline your work. After you’ve used a particular set of guidelines for awhile, the writing process will flow more smoothly since you won’t have to stop and deliberate whether you should use periods with abbreviations. Your readers will be pleased too, since inconsistency just causes confusion.
How Do I Choose?
In many cases, the matter of which style guide to use is not left up to the writer. As mentioned, publishers will provide guidelines explaining which style guide is required.
Most newspapers adhere to The Associated Press Stylebook on Briefing on Media Law
What about freelance writers, bloggers, and first time novelists?
The most popular style guide for general use is The Chicago Manual of Style
For general usage, Chicago is by far one of the best writing resources on the market, and for me, it’s been one of the best investments I’ve made for my own writing career.
Here are a Few Style Guide Writing Resources:
Grammar Girl’s commentary on style guides
Do You Use a Style Guide? What are Your Favorite Writing Resources?
Back to Michele’s Question… AP or Chicago?
Well, that depends. If you’re writing for a newspaper, you might want to go with AP. I’m not a big fan of AP because much of their style is dictated by saving space for the printing press (thus the absence of the serial comma). I think Chicago is more useful for freelancing and copywriting as well as authoring and blogging.
However, having both won’t hurt, and any serious writer would be wise to start building up a collection of style guides that might prove useful throughout the course of one’s career.
So, do you use a style guide, and if so, which one? Are there other writing resources that you can’t live without? Share your favorites in the comments.
Writing Resources: Grammar Girl
As a writer, it’s only natural for me to pay attention to the mechanics of my craft, which is why I’m always out the lookout for new and useful writing resources.
I’m especially on the lookout for grammar-related writing resources, since good grammar is essential to the craft that is writing.
So last spring, when I discovered the Grammar Girl podcast, my interest in good grammar piqued, and I started writing more consciously than ever before. Sure, I still break the rules of grammar now and then. That’s what creative writing is all about, right?
But if you don’t know the rules, then you shouldn’t break them or your writing will come off as amateurish. Good news: there’s a quick and dirty grammar resource out there that will only cost you a few minutes each week, and it will fine tune your grammar skills quickly and easily while rounding out your own collection of writing resources.
Meet Grammar Girl
Grammar Girl provides short, useful tips on grammar that are easy to remember and easy to put into practice. The information is available in audio format as a podcast, and it’s also available in writing, so if you don’t like listening to podcasts, you can visit the Grammar Girl blog and read the tips instead.
New Grammar Girl episodes are published a few times a week and each one lasts about five minutes or less. You’ll gain a wealth of information in that small amount of time. No matter how acute your grammar skills are, they’ll become even sharper!
You’ll get:
- Grammar Girl proofreading and editing tips and suggestions for writing resources.
- Clarification on homophones and word pairs (accept vs. except, less or fewer).
- Information about language and words that relate to writing and grammar.
- Details about proper sentence structure, writing formats, and word usage.
- The straight facts about good grammar.
Grammar Girl was created by a writer named Mignon Fogerty, and the show has received much critical acclaim, with appearances and mentions on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The New York Times, and USA Today, to name a few. In fact Grammar Girl is highly credited with sparking a fresh interest in grammar throughout our culture.
Meet Grammar Girl’s Mignon Fogarty
Not only is she the creator of Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty is also the founder of Quick and Dirty Tips. She has written for magazines, worked as a technical writer, and is an entrepreneur. Much of her writing experience has been in health and science, and she holds B.A. in English from the University of Washington and an M.S. in biology from Stanford.
Get Interested in Grammar and Writing Resources
Since discovering Grammar Girl, I’ve acquired plenty of fresh knowledge about grammar, much of which I’ve shared here on the Writing Forward grammar posts.
For today, I thought I’d pay homage to the source of my revived appreciation for good grammar. I encourage all you writers out there to head over and subscribe to Grammar Girl. You can do so through iTunes for the audio podcast or through RSS.
Do you already listen to Grammar Girl, or do you have any other writerly podcasts or writing resources that you enjoy? Leave a comment and let me know!
Writing Resources: Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones
“I used to think freedom meant doing whatever you want. It means knowing who you are, what you are supposed to be doing on this earth, and then simply doing it.” – Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
Ah, words of wisdom.
I was assigned Writing Down the Bones
Goldberg, who has penned a number of books about writing, including several well-known writing resources, mastered the mechanics of writing in college. It was later that she discovered how to tap into her creativity and write more artfully. Four years after that discovery, she began teaching writing workshops and has since become a master of the craft.
Priceless Writing Resources
“This is the practice school of writing. Like running, the more you do it, the better you get at it.” – Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
Writing Down the Bones
Natalie’s experience in Zen meditation, which is essentially a subtractive process, has provided her insights. -Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
With over seventy chapters, each just a couple of pages long, this text is a quick and easy read. At the same time, it’s packed with ideas, information, inspiration, exercises, and writing tips that will get you writing, and keep you on task. This is one of my favorite writing books, and the first one that I recommend to anyone who loves to write and everyone who shows the slightest interest in writing.
Have you read Writing Down the Bones? What did you think of it? Are there any other books or writing resources for creative writers that you would recommend?
Writing Resources: The Writing Show
Looking for some great writing resources? Sit down and listen to interviews with writers – but read this first.
The Writing Show
The Writing Show is a weekly podcast that features interviews with writers, publishers, editors, agents, and other professionals who work in the literary and publishing industries.
It’s one of the best writing resources out there, and all you have to do is listen.
The show explores every aspect of writing, from generating ideas to collecting royalties. Host Paula B. delivers original, entertaining, and informative content that is designed to help writers better understand writing as a profession.
The Inside Scoop on Writing Resources
Whether you’re just starting out as a writer or already an established professional, The Writing Show will provide you with news, information, and insight that you simply can’t get anywhere else. Paula B. leaves no stone unturned, and gives attention to a wide range of writerly topics and writing resources:
- Freelancing, web writing, fiction writing, poetry writing, and more
- Agents, editors, and publishers
- Business management and royalty collections
- Every genre imaginable from greeting cards to novels to comic books
- Tips that will lead to you even more great writing resources
Paula and her guests explore writing challenges and how to overcome them, the ins and outs of the publishing world, and writing within a genre. On any given episode, the guest might be an agent, a professional copywriter or editor, or ambitious young writer who tackled NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).
That’s what I love best about this show – it doesn’t focused solely on published authors and agents (although interviews with authors and agents are also immensely helpful). Paula B. has featured freelance web writers, professional greeting card writers, and book editors, cover designers, even comic book authors. Basically, anything connected to writing is fair game.
After listening to almost every episode of The Writing Show, I realized that interviews with writers are incredibly educational as well as fascinating writing resources because they give you an inside perspective on different angles of the writing life.
Listen Up
One of the best things about The Writing Show is that unlike most writing resources, it’s a podcast, which means it’s published in audio format. You can listen to it anytime, and if you own an mp3 player, you can download and listen to it in your car, at work, or at the gym. That’s what I call convenient!
Check out The Writing Show online at www.writingshow.com or download directly from
And keep on writing!
Got any favorite writing resources of your own? Share them in the comments!
