A Brief Look at Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror

As promised a few Wednesday Weigh-ins ago, here is a brief synopsis of the most recent writing book I've read - "Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror".

This is a collection of articles on various areas of the writing process, along with a recommended writing exercise, each written by a different author, screenwriter or teacher of Speculative Genre fiction.  Most of the articles are only a few pages long, so it's easy to just pick one that deals with a writing topic you're interested in and read it along with the accompanying exercise, if you don't have time to attempt to read the book from cover to cover.

(As a side note, one of the group writing exercises we did at last year's Preptober Workshop was adapted from an exercise in this book.)

The book is divided into the following sections:

• Understand Your Speculative Genre
• Ideas and Inspiration
• Story Development and Plotting
• High Stakes and Terror
• Building Worlds
• Theme and Meaning
• Memorable Heroes, Villains and Monsters
• Communication and Relationships
• Scene Construction and Style
• Practicing Your Craft

There are also a few pages at the back of the book listing websites or the main online presence for each of the contributing authors or teachers, in case you'd like to learn more about them (or from them, I suppose).

Not a writer of Fantasy, Sci-Fi or Horror?

Well, it would seem this is part of a series of Now Write books:

Now Write! Fiction Writing Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers

Now Write! Nonfiction - Memoir, Journalism, and Creative Nonfiction from Today's Best Writers and Teachers

Now Write! Screenwriting - Screenwriting Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers

Now Write! Mysteries - Suspense, Crime, Thriller, and other Mystery Fiction Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers

But, I think you could learn a number of general writing tips from the articles and exercises in this edition as well.

So, Sockmonkeys, tell me, have you read any good writing craft books recently?  Do you have a favorite book of writing exercises you like to refer to when you're stuck (or just for fun)?

Please, tell us about it in the comments.  Feel free to link to it elsewhere for other Sockmonkeys to look at.  If you're willing, please, submit an email to pcsockmonkeywriters@gmail.com with your summary of the book (it doesn't have to be formal or very long) along with a link to it or a picture of the cover and what name you'd like credited in the post and it can be posted on the blog and shared with other local writers in the future.