| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 313.1 | Notes to a Science Fiction Writer | FORTY2::ROBERTS | Nigel Roberts (DTN 830-4800) | Thu Mar 13 1986 09:18 | 19 |
| < Note 313.0 by NATASH::HYATT >
-< Looking for SF writing guide >-
> At lecture Ben Bova gave at this years BOSKONE he mentioned
> a book that he published several years ago on how to write
> science fiction. The name escapes me now. Does anyone recall
> the title/publisher etc. Also, any similar "guides" by other
> authors?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
It was called "Notes to a Science Fiction Writer" and was published in trade
paperback format. The publisher *might* have been Addison Wellesley, but I'm
not sure. I have the book at home, so I'll be able to let you know the ISBN
number on Monday, when I get back here.
Nigel.
|
| 313.2 | Notes to a Science Fiction Writer, continued | PROSE::WAJENBERG | | Thu Mar 13 1986 11:37 | 30 |
| Notes to a Science Fiction Writer, by Ben Bova
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1981
ISBN 0-395-30521-7 paperback
Much of the book would be good advice to anyone writing fiction
of any genre. Bova divides the book into four major topics: character,
background, conflict, and plot. He discusses each topic, illustrates
it with one of his own short stories, then discusses the topic as
it relates to the short story.
Contents
1. Introduction: The Slushpile
2. Character: Theory
3. FIFTEEN MILES
4. Character: Practice
5. Background: Theory
6. MEN OF GOOD WILL
7. Background: Practice
8. Conflict: Theory
9. STARS, WON'T YOU HIDE ME?
10. Conflict: Practice
11. Plot: Theory
12. THE SHINING ONES
13. Plot: Practice
14. The Science Fiction Market
15. Thinking and Doing
Bibliography
Earl Wajenberg
|
| 313.3 | The Writer's Handbook | VIRTUE::RAVAN | | Thu Mar 13 1986 12:33 | 13 |
| There's also "The Writer's Handbook," which I just noticed in the
latest offerings from "Quality Paperback Book Club". This is the
50th-anniversary edition of the "Handbook," and features articles
by dozens of writers, including (for the SF contingent) Isaac Asimov
and Ursula LeGuin.
I haven't read either this book or Bova's, and thus can't compare
them. However, this latest edition of the "Handbook" may have a
more up-to-date list of publishers. (Of course, for the *most*
up-to-date list, you should probably look at "Writer's Digest" or
some other periodical.)
-b
|
| 313.4 | Writer's Market annual | PROSE::WAJENBERG | | Thu Mar 13 1986 14:13 | 5 |
| There is an annual publication called the "Writer's Market," available
in the reference sections of bookstores. This covers all genres
and lists all the publishers, or close to it.
Earl Wajenberg
|
| 313.5 | And Furthermore .... | PEN::KALLIS | | Mon Mar 17 1986 16:42 | 8 |
| Back a number of notes ago was one that shouted EVER THINK OF WRITING
A BOOK? In it were further bits of advice.
Missing is _Science Fiction Handbook_ by L. Sprague de Camp, firth
published in the early 50s, updated in the 70s.
Steve Kallis, Jr.
|
| 313.6 | Asimov on Science Fiction | OLIVER::OSBORNE | | Wed Apr 02 1986 17:56 | 8 |
| There's "Asimov on Science Fiction", which is a collection of his
essays (relevant, most of them, to writing/submitting to Asimov's
Science Fiction Magazine) from editorials in IASFM.
If you get the magazine, you may have seen most of them before.
I got my copy of the book from the science fiction book club.
John Osborne
|