Brian Dana Akers

Learn to Write


I receive an astonishing number of inquiries about what it’s like to be a writer, how to write fiction, how to break into the biz, and so on. Here are 16 handpicked books, two magazines, and five web sites that will get you off to a running start.

Books

The Elements of Style

The most widely recommended book on usage and style. People who love English love this book.

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The Elements of Style
The Elements of Style

The Chicago Manual of Style

The bible of the publishing industry. Invaluable for questions on spelling, punctuation, and just about anything else. Updated every dozen years or so, the latest edition should be kept within arm’s reach.

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The Chicago Manual of Style
The Chicago Manual of Style

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

A dictionary with unusually clear and direct definitions. Also contains: illustrations, thousands of phrases, notes on usage (both British and American), and statistics on frequency (for both spoken and written English).

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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Oxford English Dictionary

The ultimate English dictionary.

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Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary

Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar

For the serious grammarian. Optional.

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Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar
Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar

The Art of Fiction

The most widely recommended book for beginning fiction writers. Probably the best one, too.

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The Art of Fiction
The Art of Fiction

Creating Short Fiction

Covers different topics in a different manner from the above book. Very useful.

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Creating Short Fiction
Creating Short Fiction

On Writing Well

A book on writing nonfiction that will benefit fiction writers as well. In the vein of Strunk and White.

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On Writing Well
On Writing Well

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

A collection of essays that addresses the problems unique to writing science fiction and fantasy.

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Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

How Many People Can the Earth Support?

A book on global population that teaches you how to think about the future.

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How Many People Can the Earth Support?
How Many People Can the Earth Support?

The Writer’s Legal Companion

Good information on contracts, copyright, taxes, agents, publishers, and more.

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The Writer’s Legal Companion
The Writer’s Legal Companion

The Copyright Handbook

Copyright—what it is, how to register it, how to use it, how to protect it.

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The Copyright Handbook
The Copyright Handbook

The New Hugo Winners, Vol. IV

Hugo-winning short stories, novelettes, and novellas. This is Volume IV. Volumes I-III are unfortunately out of print, but worth looking for. It helps to read the best, and these volumes are more exclusive than either the Dozois or Hartwell anthologies.

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The New Hugo Winners, Vol. IV
The New Hugo Winners, Vol. IV

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

Over 1,300,000 words about the science fiction field. Awesome. The best.

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The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia

A lavishly illustrated romp through the history of the genre.

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Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia
Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia

Infinite Worlds

Art has been integral to the science fiction field from the beginning. This oversized volume is bulging with lush images.

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Infinite Worlds
Infinite Worlds

Magazines

Locus

The dominant trade magazine for the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. Everybody reads Locus.

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Locus Magazine
Locus

SFWA Bulletin

Members of SFWA automatically receive the Bulletin, but you can also subscribe to it. Excellent articles in every issue.

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SFWA Bulletin
SFWA Bulletin

Science Fiction Megasites

Science Fiction and Fantasy World

SFWA

SuperSummary Science Fiction/Fantasy Resource Guide

The Next Two Worldcons

Chengdu in 2023

Glasgow in 2024