what are the best books for learning how to write better?

>>7385174
swtg

>>7385174
Good books - especially what I guess is called the 'Western Canon'.

>>7385174
Just read.

>>7385174
Siddharta
anything by Hemingway
Catcher in the Rye

This might sound a little bit too self-referential, but ultimately the book is much less relevant than the way in which it is read. Clearly, works in "the western canon" might have a larger resonance, seeing as parallels are quickly drawn not only to popular archetype, but actually the way in which we speak to one another. However, it comes down to YOUR READING of a book. Honestly, if you didn't get it good in high school or college it'll be a lil bit more difficult to fall right into "text-consciousness," but look at and take apart a lot of poetry and short stories, and maybe even write longer responses to those within the context of one another.

Also, go to poetry readings or slam poetry events. Regardless of whether you have a moral contempt for such sport, it'll put you in conversation with people who seek to have a voice that weighs heavy on others, a voice detached from mouth or microphone.

>>7385174
you're best off reading as many books as possible by as many different authors as possible

your goal is to not copy a successful writers style, you just end up creating something trite and forgetable, so reading just one author, or just a couple similar authors will not make your writings notable
by reading as widely as possible you can get a larger base of knowledge on what works, what doesn't and eventually create your own accomplished style

File: 200px-Simon_Peyton_Jones_01.jpg (8KB, 200x189px) Image search: [Google]

8KB, 200x189px

>>7387042
>go to poetry readings or slam poetry events

>>7387060
thx for the quote, mang.

File: 1444142873140.jpg (7KB, 200x213px) Image search: [Google]

7KB, 200x213px

>>7387042
>or slam poetry events
>slam poetry

>>7387081
thx, mang, i knew it was a good idea.