I have a big section of my books that when people thumb through them with a quizzical look on their faces, I promptly tell them "that's the reference section". The reference section for me, are books that I never intend to read from start to finish, but they contain a tidbit of information I found worthy of my shelves. They're usually non-fiction, but sometimes I'll buy a fiction book just because I like the blurb on the back. Blurbs are serious business afterall for writers. They help to sell your book(s).
Yes you should own the following:
1. A massive set of complete and unabridged dictionaries in whatever language you write in. I say you should, but I don't. I use the internet. Same thing for a thesaurus. I use the internet because it's much faster.
2. Encylopedias. Again, I say should, but I don't. I do however often fall into what I call "Wiki-wormholes" when I'm researching stuff. I of course verify my info through other sources. I'd personally love the 9th edition of the Encyclopedia Britanica.
3. A rhyming dictionary. Now some might say, you can find these online too and free. This is purely a psychological thing for me. When I used to write poetry I used to make long lists of words that rhymed until someone pointed out there were books full of these lists. I don't know which ones are better than others, but flipping through one is a rewarding way to have some fun with words, which can be vital when words really piss you off because you can't find any and worse when the problem is you just can't find the right one.
4. The Chicago Manual of Style. If only because you need to learn what the proofreaders are going to use when they proofread your work. I have the 12th edition, but apparently the 14th is supposed to be the holy of holies.
5. The Writer's Handbook and The Writer's Market. These books come out every year. In theory you should buy them every year until you have an agent. It's also, as Monsieur Redacteur says, a "good reality check". Wait until you realise how many agents are out there to reject you. Wait until you find the one agent your heart is really set on (for me it's Betsy Lerner). Open this book when you've told yourself you want to be published but not before you've hit your first dead end as a writer.
6. Strunk & White's Elements of Style. This book is mandatory for anyone who wants to write anything. Even if it's just a thank you note and not a novel. It's also been updated a lot. I in fact have no idea how many copies of this book I have, but I do know they're all different editions and the fact that I have different editions gives me some kind of cred. You know, amongst writers who like reference books anyways.
7. The Penguin Reference Books. I am in love and simultaneous awe of these books that I have only just discovered. I bought The Dictionary of Historical Slang in Amsterdam and have since discovered there are lots of Penguin Reference books I want. It's a great book and I couldn't find it on amazon.com, but there are lots of cheap copies on abebooks.com.
Here's an entry from the dictionary.
abaddon - a thief turned informer. 19th, 20th century. A pun on a bad 'un and the angel Abaddon.
Other Penguin Reference Books I want now:
The Penguin Dictionary of English Idioms (Amazon)
The Penguin Dictionary of Epigrams (Amazon)
Writer's Manual (Amazon)
The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames (Amazon) (because coming up with names is sometimes hard)
Penguin Guide to Synonyms and Related Words (Amazon)
Penguin Guide to Plain English (Amazon)
Penguin Guide to Punctuation (Amazon)
Now I'm going to stop the list here because I have to go to the grocery store for ingredients to perfect a recipe I'm working on for my cookbook, but I think this is a pretty solid list for any writer. If you've got great reference books to recommend, please leave recommendations in the comments. I'm always on the hunt for good reference books!
Yes you should own the following:
1. A massive set of complete and unabridged dictionaries in whatever language you write in. I say you should, but I don't. I use the internet. Same thing for a thesaurus. I use the internet because it's much faster.
2. Encylopedias. Again, I say should, but I don't. I do however often fall into what I call "Wiki-wormholes" when I'm researching stuff. I of course verify my info through other sources. I'd personally love the 9th edition of the Encyclopedia Britanica.
3. A rhyming dictionary. Now some might say, you can find these online too and free. This is purely a psychological thing for me. When I used to write poetry I used to make long lists of words that rhymed until someone pointed out there were books full of these lists. I don't know which ones are better than others, but flipping through one is a rewarding way to have some fun with words, which can be vital when words really piss you off because you can't find any and worse when the problem is you just can't find the right one.
4. The Chicago Manual of Style. If only because you need to learn what the proofreaders are going to use when they proofread your work. I have the 12th edition, but apparently the 14th is supposed to be the holy of holies.
5. The Writer's Handbook and The Writer's Market. These books come out every year. In theory you should buy them every year until you have an agent. It's also, as Monsieur Redacteur says, a "good reality check". Wait until you realise how many agents are out there to reject you. Wait until you find the one agent your heart is really set on (for me it's Betsy Lerner). Open this book when you've told yourself you want to be published but not before you've hit your first dead end as a writer.
6. Strunk & White's Elements of Style. This book is mandatory for anyone who wants to write anything. Even if it's just a thank you note and not a novel. It's also been updated a lot. I in fact have no idea how many copies of this book I have, but I do know they're all different editions and the fact that I have different editions gives me some kind of cred. You know, amongst writers who like reference books anyways.
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| I found a great Flickr site with pictures of Penguin Reference book covers here. |
7. The Penguin Reference Books. I am in love and simultaneous awe of these books that I have only just discovered. I bought The Dictionary of Historical Slang in Amsterdam and have since discovered there are lots of Penguin Reference books I want. It's a great book and I couldn't find it on amazon.com, but there are lots of cheap copies on abebooks.com.
Here's an entry from the dictionary.
abaddon - a thief turned informer. 19th, 20th century. A pun on a bad 'un and the angel Abaddon.
Other Penguin Reference Books I want now:
The Penguin Dictionary of English Idioms (Amazon)
The Penguin Dictionary of Epigrams (Amazon)
Writer's Manual (Amazon)
The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames (Amazon) (because coming up with names is sometimes hard)
Penguin Guide to Synonyms and Related Words (Amazon)
Penguin Guide to Plain English (Amazon)
Penguin Guide to Punctuation (Amazon)
Now I'm going to stop the list here because I have to go to the grocery store for ingredients to perfect a recipe I'm working on for my cookbook, but I think this is a pretty solid list for any writer. If you've got great reference books to recommend, please leave recommendations in the comments. I'm always on the hunt for good reference books!
