Review4U

I have started a new blog called Review4u. it is my intention to review books , magazines and websites for writers but not exclusively so.

If find a site that is worth tell ing you about or may of general interest i will include it on the blog. Please feel free to drop by and leave your comments.

On Writing by Stephen King

Stephen Kings sub title is " A Memoir of the Craft". The book is written in two sections the second part is stuffed full of gems from the writer on the craft of writing. I would recommend you read the book cover to cover as you would a novel. Having enjoyed this then take the time to re-read the second section with a highlighter in hand. Doing this will highlight the gems of advice.

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others:read a lot and write a lot."

" Every book you pick up has its own lessons"

Common sense yes but when seen in black and white from as prolific a writer as Stephen King the snippets make sense.

Mr King also spreads a little comfort in " No one can be as intellectually slothful as a really smart person; give smart people half a chance and they will ship their oars and drift...dozing to Byzantium,you might say" So I am not lazy just really smart. Well that's my take on it anyway.

He goes on to say that stories and novels consist of three elements,narration,description and dialogue. Its hardly rocket science or anything mysterious. The method in which he lays out the book makes for a very informative and enjoyable read.

Highly recommended.

First Book Review

The Creative Writing Course Book. ISBN-13: 978-0-333-78225-5 Published by Macmillan.

An excellent book to browse through or study. It is formulated by 40 authors who share their advice on creative writing.Topics range from getting started to characterisation, plotting, revising and workshops. The main theme ,as in the majority of writing self help books, is to write and keep writing to exercise the brain

One of the more memorable passages is called "Writing fom Experience" by Nell Dunn. In this she asks the reader to close their eyes and imagine themselves back in a childhood bedroom. Remembering the wallpaper, furniture,smells, and noises. Personally not so sure of the smells bits. I remember nappies and smelly feet. Try to write about yourself as a six-year-old from the perspective of a six-year-old using a mix of reality and fiction.

In my opinion this would make for a thought provoking piece.

Anyone else out there that has read this or indeed any book please share your thoughts with us.