Those of you with a Kindle might be interested to know that there’s currently a range of books about writing, available for free (yes, £0.00) on Amazon.
Cover via Amazon
These include:
- The Writer’s Idea Book by Jack Heffron
This book has the subtitle ‘How to Develop Great Ideas for Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry and Screenplays’. Heffron has been a professional editor for more than 15 years, has published many short stories in literary journals and won awards for his writing. Apologies, (this is embarrassing) but I’ve just been informed that this book is no longer free (thanks, Shirley!) but I’ve left the details here just in case the price is removed again (fingers crossed) - The Author’s Craft by Arnold Bennett.
‘Arnold Bennett writes in a very amusing and accessible style in this short manual of advice for authors which will be useful even to today’s writers,’ says a review. - Write Good or Die edited by the thriller writer Scott Nicholson.
This is subtitled ‘Survival Tips for the 21st Century’. One reviewer said, ‘It’s a gem of a book, not least because I came away from reading this with the thought that if the writers within this book can do it? Why can’t I?’.
I haven’t had chance to read any of these myself yet so can’t give a personal recommendation but I have just downloaded The Writer’s Idea Book in the hope of finding some inspiration. By the way, free books do tend to come and go on Amazon – so if you’re interested in any of these it’s probably worth getting them sooner rather than later.
Many thanks to Philip Mallinson whose post on Writing Magazine’s Talkback Forum alerted me to these books.
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by shirleyelmokadem on April 30, 2012 - 11:45 am
The first one doesn’t seem to be free now but the other two are. Thanks for letting me know!
#2 by Sally Jenkins on April 30, 2012 - 12:02 pm
Shirley you’re right – it’s over £9.00 now! Apologies it was free when I drafted this post at the weekend (glad I downloaded it when I did).
#3 by Terry Whitworth on April 30, 2012 - 1:04 pm
Thank you for the tip on the free books Sally. I went straight to the Amazon Kindle site and managed to download free two of the books but The Writer’s Idea Book was being charged for; at £9.94.
#4 by Carl Peters on April 30, 2012 - 2:51 pm
Always handy seeing free books fr th kindle as I’ve just finished a degree and haven’t really got money to spend! Kindle’s great though and I managed to come across three free novels last week so it’s always worth just keeping on browsing for them!! reading for writing after all…
#5 by Sam Perkins on April 30, 2012 - 3:19 pm
I have Write Good or Die, and it isn’t the worst kindle book! I am still working my way through it. Some books for kindle are really rubbish with bad grammar and editing. But Write Good or Die is well worth the outlay!
#6 by Sally Jenkins on April 30, 2012 - 3:42 pm
Terry – glad you managed to get 2 of them for free. Shame about The Writer’s Idea Book but I’ve updated the post to reflect this
Carl – Yes, we writers need to read. But not sure I’d want to give my novel away for free (if I’d completed one!)
Sam – Thanks for the recommend on Write Good or Die – but I agree some Kindle books have obviously been rushed out with no editing.
#7 by Vikki (The View Outside) on May 1, 2012 - 7:31 am
Oooooo, thanks for the links Sally 🙂
I LOVE writing books, and I can highly recommend the Writers Idea Book, especially useful if you find yourself sitting in front of a blank page lol
Xx
#8 by Sally Jenkins on May 1, 2012 - 12:15 pm
Thanks, Vikki. Blank pages are not good so I’m hoping the book will help me fill them quicker!
#9 by Ann Millington on May 2, 2012 - 3:04 pm
Hi Sally, well I never!! You can never tell what your near neighbours are up to!!
I was recently given a Kindle for my 70th birthday and boy what a fantastic gift. I have downloaded many free books. The books I first chose where those I had not read since school, i.e. The Children of the New Forrest by Frederick Marryat and the Man who Knew too Much by G.K. Chesterton. Fantascially remininsant books. The best thing about the Kindle is that once you have read a book, instead of it cluttering up your book shelves ( have have hundreds!!) you can just delete them!!
Ann
#10 by Sally Jenkins on May 2, 2012 - 6:44 pm
Hi Ann – yes the things we neighbours get up to behind closed doors! Glad you’re enjoying the Kindle. I read Gone with the Wind for the first time on Kindle – easier than holding a heavy book!