             
|
|
What Are Good Refence Books?
|
|
Below are personal recommendations to books that can help in your writing.
|
What's a good grammar book?
What books list markets for me to sell my work?
What other book is essential?
What sounds essential but isn't?
What's a good grammar book?
Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage by Muriel Harris ISBN-13: 978-0130982216
Also good is The Bedford Handbook for Writers by Diana Hacker ISBN-13: 978-0312137038 It's MLA will be out of date (pub. 1996) but the grammar sections are excellent.
Back to Top
What books list markets for me to sell my work?
The Writer's Market series is the best. Be sure to look at specific books for your needs. My shelf includes: The Writer's Market, Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, Guide to Literary Agents, Photographer's Market, Novel & Short Story Writer's Market all by Writer's Digest Books.
I purchase them used and as I need them. I started with Writer's Market. From there I added to my collection. The Writer's Market is the only one I keep current. (They're not cheap, so be selective.)
Back to Top
What other book is essential?
A collegiate dictionary! I put little trust in Microsoft's Spell Check; it's not much more than a typo finder. Similarly, Microsoft's Grammar Check is turned off on both my computers. Look up your words. Homonyms are lost on Spell Check.
Back to Top
What sounds essential but isn't?
A thesaurus once graced most desks, but I use mine maybe once a year when I have a word on the tip of my tongue and can't find it. Use of a thesaurus (digital or hardcover) overinflates your language and creates a flimsy vocabulary. Use words you know. The more you read the more you'll increase your vocabulary.
Back to Top
|
|
