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Sophie King's Top Book Recommendations

Want to know what books Sophie King recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Sophie King's favorite book recommendations of all time.

1
Recommended by Sophie King, and 1 others.

Sophie KingThis is a text book really that’s been around for donkey’s years but it’s extremely useful and absolutely packed with good advice. (Source)

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2
The fully updated essential guide to writing for children. Huge numbers of people want to write for children but it is notoriously difficult to find a publisher in this increasingly competitive area. Children's publishing has its own set of rules and demands. This comprehensive and fully updated book tells you all you need to know, in a new edition that offers the very latest information on market trends, such as self publishing. Written by an acknowledged expert on children's publishing, this inspiring, practical, and wide-ranging guide takes the reader step-by-step through all the different... more
Recommended by Sophie King, and 1 others.

Sophie KingJordan talks about writing fiction for the education market which is one market where you can still get published. (Source)

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3

Wannabe A Writer?

Wannabe a writer? This hilarious, informative guide to getting into print is a must-have for anyone who's ever thought they've got a book in them. Drawing on her own experiences as a British novelist and journalist, Wenham-Jones takes you through the minefield of the writing process, giving advice on everything from how to avoid Writer's Bottom to what to wear to your launch party. Including hot tips from authors, agents, and publishers at the sharp end of the industry. less
Recommended by Sophie King, and 1 others.

Sophie KingWenham-Jones goes into good discipline, how to write when there’s no time, plotting, whether to plan or not, growing a novel in a folder – so it’s very, very practical. (Source)

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4
'The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club' gives an unique insight into how a No.1 bestselling author writes. Inspired by a course run by the National College of Ireland, it comprises 20 letters from Maeve, offering advice, tips and her own wonderfully witty take on the life of a writer, in addition to contributions from top writers, publishers and editors.

Whether you want to write a saga or a thriller, comedy or journalism, or write for the radio or stage, this also gives advice on the best way to get started, and what editors, publishers and agents are looking for.

'The Maeve...
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Recommended by Sophie King, and 1 others.

Sophie KingIt’s a bit like the Brande book in that it is a very easy book to read and it has a voice that reaches out to the writer. But what I like about it is that Maeve Binchy wrote it because she teaches students and I teach students myself. The book was inspired by a course run by the National College of Ireland and it’s made up of 20 letters from her offering advice and tips to writers. It’s got... (Source)

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5

Becoming a Writer

Refreshingly slim, beautifully written and deliciously elegant, Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer remains evergreen decades after it was first written. Brande believed passionately that although people have varying amounts of talent, anyone can write. It's just a question of finding the "writer's magic"--a degree of which is in us all. She also insists that writing can be both taught and learned. So she is enraged by the pessimistic authors of so many writing books who rejoice in trying to put off the aspiring writer by constantly stressing how difficult it all is.

With close...
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Recommended by Sophie King, Andrew Cowan, and 2 others.

Sophie KingThis book will help you work out what you can do with your own book. (Source)

Andrew CowanBecause creative writing has now taken off and has become this very widespread academic discipline it is beginning to acquire its own canon of key works and key texts. This is one of the oldest of them. It’s a book that almost anyone who teaches creative writing will have read. They will probably have read it because some fundamentals are explained and I think the most important one is Brande’s... (Source)

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