I have to confess that none of the writing books I’ve been trying since reading the Delany have worked for me. They all seem thin and banal in comparison. I don’t think it’s necessarily the fault of the books whose object is so clearly different from Delany’s. Turns out that the book I’ve been searching for is Delany’s autobiography. Time to reread it, then I’ll reread About Writing.

And thanks muchly for the tip! Off to order the Delany now.

Richard: Well if you say so and Gwenda says so then I’ll be getting it, won’t I? Yay! More writers’ porn!

And this doesn’t seem like a book on writing, but Tim O’Brien’s book about Vietnam, “THe Things They Carried” is one of the books that changed how I write. It is a collection about the Vietnam War – make no mistake there – but he also writes about the nature of a true story, about how you can not tell a true war story, and how he came to write this collection. He even has a story in it that he follows up with an essay about what is true and not true in the story and why he wrote it the way he did. It’s very interesting on multiple levels and a first rate book about war, on top of everything else.

Looks like you have a ton of reading to do! What fun!

The Gardner books sounds just what I want: “deep and intellectual and scary”. Yum! Soon as I finish M!M!M!O!O!O! in lo, these many forty hours, I’m on to it. That or collapsing into a puddle of exhausted brainless soggy tissue . . .

and if you like judgemental guys: try nabokov’s lectures on literature. i love old crankypants nabokov in those books (though for some reason I can’t really get through his novels (same as with that guy king. say, have you read his book about writing??)), and i love tossing him aside and grumbling at him, too.

The Ray Bradbury collection sounds just the kind of thing I’m looking for. Thanks for the rec, Colleen!

Stephen King’s is also an excellent read and I would bump it to the top of my list if I was you!

Thanks so much for all the recs. I’ll check ‘em out.

Shana: I’m curious about the Lerner. One of the reasons I was attracted to the Stein book was because he is an editor.

Deb: can you remember what you loved about the Sol Stein? Cause it really really isn’t doing it for me. I, too, enjoyed the King. Far more than any of his novels (not that I haven’t adored some of those). But it’s still not what I’m looking for. I suspect that only more Delany will do. There just aren’t that many writers who are so breath-takingly smart when talking about writing. Stein, for example, barely skirts the surface compared to Delany.

Tansy: Thanks for the reminder about the Wilhelm. I’ve been meaning to pick up a copy for ages! I’m particularly interested in what she has to say on the living with a writer part. (Wonder why?)

Lauren: Scott has a copy in NYC and said it was a very useful read. I shall read it when I get back there. I also thought Adaptation was bloody awful. Kauffman has so many fascinating moments in his films but they always manage to die horribly (his films, I mean).

Tricia Sullivan: Are you the Tricia Sullivan who wrote Someone to Watch Over me? Fabulous book! Thanks so much for commenting. Sounds like I need to give the Cameron a go. I can always close my eyes for the new age bits.

Delany’s reallly isn’t a how to though there are some very practical sections. Mostly it’s Chip thinking about his own writing practice in essay, letter and interview form. He’s exacting, precise, and refreshingly judgemental. I found the book utterly exhilarating. And as I say it made me rethink some of my own writing practise. Though I’m not sure how possible it’ll be to follow through on it. I’m trying to make a living as a writer which means I have to write two books a year. I’m not sure I can do that and meet Chip’s high standards. But I really, really, really want to try.

Tristian: what did you like about it?

I used to have WRITING DOWN THE BONES on audio, with commentary by the author. This is about writing as a Zen practice and I found it really interesting, but not of direct practical, professional value.

I also recommend, tangentially, the audio recording THE CREATIVE FIRE by Jungian psychologist Clarissa Pinkola Estes (most famous for WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES). If nothing else, her voice and manner are so gorgeous you just feel totally pampered after hearing it.

That’s a pretty huge recommendation about Delany. I usually avoid how-to books like the plague but this one sounds really challenging–thanks for posting this.n

I also really liked Terry Brooks’ Sometimes the Magic Works – I’m not a big fan of his fiction, though I haven’t read much of it, but this book is a lovely collection of essays about all sides of the writing world, and are mainly personal/memoir pieces rather than being how-tos.

I loved Sol Stein’s book when I read it a few years back. Also love the Gardner, for having lots of brilliant lines in it. Enjoyed the Betsy Lerner book Shana mentions above. Think the King book will be exactly the kind of read you’re looking for.

Really enjoyed The War of Art, though I don’t think it’s what you’re looking for. It’s more a clarion call to writers to knuckle down & do battle with procrastination.

Apart from that, I lean towards books on the psychology of writing. Like Palumbo’s Writing from the Inside Out.

I stop now.

everybody here always talks about Writing Down the Bones and Bird by Bird. i’ve never read either so can’t really comment.