amazon has a bunch of free ebooks on writing

[Stella_Omega]

http://dailycheapreads.com/2011/11/06/free-now-six-books-on-writing-from-writer’s-digest-books/

These are not all of them. Check out the related books lower on the product page, and you'll find several more.

Anyone read any of these? recommend them? Because we always look gift horses in their mouths, naturally.

 

[litfan10]

http://dailycheapreads.com/2011/11/06/free-now-six-books-on-writing-from-writer’s-digest-books/

These are not all of them. Check out the related books lower on the product page, and you'll find several more.

Anyone read any of these? recommend them? Because we always look gift horses in their mouths, naturally.

My baby, slave_, downloaded the whole lot to my ipad as a surprise yesterday. So far they look very interesting, all published by Writer's Digest which to me is a plus.

 

[PennLady]

Thanks for the tip, Stella. I just got them all.

If one is willing pay, I highly recommend Stephen King's "On Writing" (a fun read if nothing else), and "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers."

I'd also recommend King's "Danse Macabre," which is about horror fiction. Again, a great read.

 

[litfan10]

Thanks Stella for the tip and thank you PennLady for yours as well.

I love, love Ann LaMott's Bird by Bird and have used it in my college classes at times.

 

[litfan10]

Hey thanks for the great link Stella. I never heard of that site - it's great. Definitely bookmarked that one and will check it regularly! love my cheap ebooks!

 

[Darkniciad]

The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings is a good one for fantasy world stories.

 

[sr71plt]

Of the six books listed, the Cheney book should be good to get. The Ross Self-publishing book is probably out of date. There is very little in it on e-book publishing and that's where the market is for erotica, not self-published POD. (Self-published POD you have to sell yourself out of the trunk of your car. Not many folks are going to stand on the corner trying to sell their dirty books directly.)

 

[lovecraft68]

The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings is a good one for fantasy world stories.

Eddings lost me when he couldn't leave the Belgariod alone and destroyed everything good about it by writing the "Mallorean"

I fear Donaldson is now doing the same thing with the third Thomas Covenant series, although I haven't read the latest.

Sorry, seeing Eddings name brought my geek out.

 

[lovecraft68]

Of the six books listed, the Cheney book should be good to get. The Ross Self-publishing book is probably out of date. There is very little in it on e-book publishing and that's where the market is for erotica, not self-published POD. (Self-published POD you have to sell yourself out of the trunk of your car. Not many folks are going to stand on the corner trying to sell their dirty books directly.)

Speak for yourself I'm on the process of doing that. Thanks for the trunk idea, I was going to stand on the corner in an overcoat.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings is a good one for fantasy world stories.

Just by the titles of their books, I expect cookiecutter Middle Earth.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, please do, Lovecraft. And don't bother taking your computer with you.

 

[Darkniciad]

Eddings lost me when he couldn't leave the Belgariod alone and destroyed everything good about it by writing the "Mallorean"

I fear Donaldson is now doing the same thing with the third Thomas Covenant series, although I haven't read the latest.

Sorry, seeing Eddings name brought my geek out.

Have to disagree with you completely.

Just by the titles of their books, I expect cookiecutter Middle Earth.

Seems like someone once said something about judging a book by its cover...

 

[lovecraft68]

Have to disagree with you completely.



Seems like someone once said something about judging a book by its cover...

To each their own.

My issues with Mallorean was that it screamed cash cow. Belgariad was completely self contained. It was based on the collision between tow prophecy's Garion represented one Torak the other.

The story was good and the characters amazing. Silk and Belgararth still rank amongst my favorites of all time.

Then the Mallorean. But wait there was another prophecy! and now errand is the child of light! he also totally wussed out Silk. And there were so many Sorcerers running around it was easier to keep track of who wasn't one.

But all in all.... a bucket of suck. To me anyway.

 

[lovecraft68]

Just by the titles of their books, I expect cookiecutter Middle Earth.

If you like dark depressing fantasy read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Donaldson. There are parts during the second one you'll be ready to slit your wrists. As far from Tolkienesque cookie cutter fantasy as you can get.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yes, please do, Lovecraft. And don't bother taking your computer with you.

But then I would miss all of our witty exchanges! Besides, I need you to e-mail me your address so I can send you an autographed copy of the book.

Seriously though, I have no illusions of selling a lot of them. I'm doing it because I am not an e-book fan, and would get a kick out of seeing my work in a paperback. My cost at the end will be less than a couple of hundred dollars. Worth it to me to have something that can go on a bookshelf rather than a word document.

 

[PennLady]

Eddings lost me when he couldn't leave the Belgariod alone and destroyed everything good about it by writing the "Mallorean"

I fear Donaldson is now doing the same thing with the third Thomas Covenant series, although I haven't read the latest.

Sorry, seeing Eddings name brought my geek out.

I have to agree. I read the Belgariad and enjoyed it, but the Mallorean was the same story re-done with the same characters save one or two in different roles. Turned me off enough that I haven't read anything by Eddings since.

Read one Thomas Covenant novel and never wanted another, although after talking to a few people, I might be convinced to try again, or try another series.

Wheel of Time was another disappointment. I read six of those damn books.

 

[lovecraft68]

I have to agree. I read the Belgariad and enjoyed it, but the Mallorean was the same story re-done with the same characters save one or two in different roles. Turned me off enough that I haven't read anything by Eddings since.

Read one Thomas Covenant novel and never wanted another, although after talking to a few people, I might be convinced to try again, or try another series.

Wheel of Time was another disappointment. I read six of those damn books.

The thing about Covenant is the 2nd chronicles are much better than the first. Covenant is more of a hero and less of a whiner. It is also told from the POV of a woman who gets sucked into "The Land" with him

It fit my taste because unlike "cookie cutter" fantasy there was a lot of death and heartache. Same for the second but there are some great battle scenes and "The one tree" is one of my all time favorites.

And thanks for backing me up on the Eddings thing.

You know what I thought of last night when I saw Dark mention Eddings was that although the Belgariad was very "clean" as in no profanity or sexual situations, I got a kick out of Silk being in love with his aunt. Then again I would right?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Seems like someone once said something about judging a book by its cover...

I'm judging by the titles, not the covers. "Belgariad" "Mallorean" speak of a naming convention that just reeks of Great Prophecy, Epic History, and Elder Lore to me

If you like dark depressing fantasy read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Donaldson. There are parts during the second one you'll be ready to slit your wrists. As far from Tolkienesque cookie cutter fantasy as you can get.

I do not like dark depressing fantasy, and in fact-- there is plenty of dark and depressing material in Tolkien.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'm judging by the titles, not the covers. "Belgariad" "Mallorean" speak of a naming convention that just reeks of Great Prophecy, Epic History, and Elder Lore to me

I do not like dark depressing fantasy, and in fact-- there is plenty of dark and depressing material in Tolkien.

I think I have a different level of dark. I do believe the movies however, captured a good deal of it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I think I have a different level of dark. I do believe the movies however, captured a good deal of it.

I thought the movies made less of it.