Flintenspiel

I'm with you. I feel that as these books can give a good guideline, or some author's expertise, the writing really comes from within, and each author has their own way they do it. That's not to say that these books are useless, I have probably five on my bookshelf. But I look to them more as take it or leave it advice, not writing scripture.

SAHMAuthor

I have two that I particularly like:

Write Away by Elizabeth George and How to Write and Sell Your First Novel by Oscar Collier and Frances Spatz Leighton.

I was looking for valuable tips on characterization and techniques for enhancing dramatics and building scene structure. Both of these books had good insight and advice.

TJ Cruse

I thought Sol Stein's - Stein on Writing was really good. Lots of practical advise and examples.

Tiamat10, let me know where to find that Idiot's Guide you were talking about. I fear I've been doing it wrong all these years