This is the third and final part of this post about favourite writing books:

* Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande (ISBN 0 333 346734 Originally 1934, Harcourt, Brace & Company. Reissued: 1983 Papermac, UK; 1981 J. P. Tarcher Inc, USA)

Writer Says: “This book is not just about the process of writing, but about the kind of person you need to become to be a fiction writer. She writes showing clearly that she understands all the issues involved.” (Ken Rolph)

* Writing The Novel by Lawrence Block

Writer Says: “… a no-nonsense book. He addressed a lot of my fears about writing a long work of fiction.”

* New Writers’ Survival Guide by Dianne Bates (Penguin Books, Australia)

Writer Says: “This book covers in an excellent way all the techniques of writing in easy to understand language and includes numerous examples.” (Ern Carne)

* The Bible
Writer Says: “I have read many books about writing, but it is difficult to beat the Bible for reading and as an example of prose. Let me illustrate. Some years ago Oxford Univ in England held its annual essay contest for students. A senior took the book of Ruth, as I recall, changed the names of people and places to modern names, and submitted it without any further changes. It won the contest walking away. Then he told them the truth and declined the award. Interesting, eh ?” (Paul Mobley)