"The Reader over Your Shoulder: A Handbook for Writers of English Prose" by Robert Graves and Alan Hodge. Makes a moral case for clarity of expression. Wish I'd read it decades ago.
"Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," by Gay Talese. Gorgeous piece of nonfiction writing.
Anything by Mencken. That guy knew how to write a goddamn sentence.
Going to have a read of that Talese piece this afternoon. Great shout with regard to Mencken, I wonder if he's done any writing on his craft or creative process...
Someday this will be a tremendously large and useful list, or maybe even a community. And I want to get in early with the first participatory comment and say: The Craft of Research by Booth is an excellent book. Super useful, written in a clear style that isn't too conversational. It is written in a way that an advanced high schooler could understand it, but I'm a decade into my academic career and still use/reference it regularly. I use it to teach an undergraduate research course. Beyond all this, it makes perhaps the best argument for "pure research" I've ever heard--in I think, chapter 3? Of the fifth edition? It outlines the difference between applied and pure research and gives a much needed full-chested celebration of how pure research is the one of the most intellectually rewarding activities any of us can engage in. I talk about it in issue nine of my newsletter: https://charliebecker.substack.com/i/57756334/the-importance-of-audience-and-the-merits-of-pure-research
Now that I've seen how you're approaching this, I think there are some missing under comedy. Specifically some of the following books on improv are not necessarily about writing, but since they are about improv they focus on creation, agreement, structure, and craft. Specifically, I would include:
- Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern
- Impro by Keith Johnstone
- Improvise by Mick Napier
- Improvisation for the Theater by Viola Spolin
A few others about comedy:
- The American Language by H. L. Mencken
Depending on how far you want to stray from books strictly about craft, I would also consider Is This Anything by Jerry Seinfeld.
Also, unrelated to suggestions, but I would highly suggest publishing this in parallel on a place like Roam or Workflowy, where people can toggle, collapse, and search the lists. Would be happy to collab on building something like that with you.
This is awesome, Dylan. Some suggestions:
"The Reader over Your Shoulder: A Handbook for Writers of English Prose" by Robert Graves and Alan Hodge. Makes a moral case for clarity of expression. Wish I'd read it decades ago.
"Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," by Gay Talese. Gorgeous piece of nonfiction writing.
Anything by Mencken. That guy knew how to write a goddamn sentence.
and this should be the anthem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYvkICbTZIQ
Going to have a read of that Talese piece this afternoon. Great shout with regard to Mencken, I wonder if he's done any writing on his craft or creative process...
"Newspaper Days" was one of this memoirs
How does one achieve irony and invective that are pleasing rather peeving to readers? That's what I'm trying to learn from Vintage Mencken now.
Someday this will be a tremendously large and useful list, or maybe even a community. And I want to get in early with the first participatory comment and say: The Craft of Research by Booth is an excellent book. Super useful, written in a clear style that isn't too conversational. It is written in a way that an advanced high schooler could understand it, but I'm a decade into my academic career and still use/reference it regularly. I use it to teach an undergraduate research course. Beyond all this, it makes perhaps the best argument for "pure research" I've ever heard--in I think, chapter 3? Of the fifth edition? It outlines the difference between applied and pure research and gives a much needed full-chested celebration of how pure research is the one of the most intellectually rewarding activities any of us can engage in. I talk about it in issue nine of my newsletter: https://charliebecker.substack.com/i/57756334/the-importance-of-audience-and-the-merits-of-pure-research
Kinda funny I just re-read my own essay and a few lines had me slapping my leg in agreement with myself. Like, "Pure research is a bet on progress."
Your speaking my language, Charlie. Strange how often the old books feel new, while new books grow old fast
Incredible selection. Few recommendations for the collection:
- Paul Austre, "Why Write?" (New Yorker, 1995) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1995/12/25/why-write
- Robert Caro, 'Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing' (2019)
- Ros Atkins, 'The Art of Explaination: How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence' (2023)
Hell yeah man, appreciate the additions
wow, wow, wow ... Dylan, going through all this list is exhilarating.
Off-topic, but I would guess that this is the longest single post on all of Substack as a platform 🤔
51,600 words and counting.
Perhaps so
I'm not sure in number of words, but in number of pages/vertical length, probably!
I'll take it!
You do nothing by halves Dylan. Congratulations.
when life get hard read harder
Truf
What an opening! In the land of abundance, providers of discernment shall be rewarded with a sub :)
Cheers my man!
Truly admire what you're building Dylan. Some suggestions as you continue the later sections of screenwriting and fiction:
"On Writing" - Stephen King
"Writing for Emotional Impact" - Karl Iglesias
"Do Story" - Bobette Buster
"The Writer's Journey" - Christopher Vogler
"Story" - Robert McKee
McKee was one of the guys who got me in the game
Now that I've seen how you're approaching this, I think there are some missing under comedy. Specifically some of the following books on improv are not necessarily about writing, but since they are about improv they focus on creation, agreement, structure, and craft. Specifically, I would include:
- Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern
- Impro by Keith Johnstone
- Improvise by Mick Napier
- Improvisation for the Theater by Viola Spolin
A few others about comedy:
- The American Language by H. L. Mencken
Depending on how far you want to stray from books strictly about craft, I would also consider Is This Anything by Jerry Seinfeld.
Also, unrelated to suggestions, but I would highly suggest publishing this in parallel on a place like Roam or Workflowy, where people can toggle, collapse, and search the lists. Would be happy to collab on building something like that with you.
Love the article and the layout, but hate the gifs. I find it terribly difficult to read when there is a moving image in the middle of a text.
What was the Popper article you cite? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
Bravo, Dylan, on this debut!
You're the man, Edward. Would love to get a look at your reading list