Finished up: On Writing by Stephen King - very much enjoyed it. Elements of Style (admittedly a very short book) by William Strunk Jr. Something I'll return to when writing as opposed to chewing on it like other books I'm reading. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers - another wholesome tale. Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo - I had been waiting to read this, so was super chuffed to get my mitts on it the week it came out. Next on my list: Stein on Writing by Sol Stein (cheers for the heads up on it, kleinbl00.) The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin (for my workplace book club, I'm excited to tuck in.) Record of a Spaceborn Few, again by Becky Chambers. I'm getting through her works by sprinkling them in when I want something light. Basically if I re-read anything by Joe Abercrombie, I'll need her books as a palate cleanser. Pondering: Anything by Guy Gavriel Kay. Apparently it'll be right up my alley, keen to explore.
King's On Writing is half memoir, half guide to music appreciation. It may have been written to help writers out but it's a better guide for people who enjoy reading to grasp why they enjoy reading. His instruction on how to write better won't hurt your writing, for sure, but is probably more intended for someone who is thinking of writing, not someone who has been at it and wishes to improve. Stein's On Writing is okay bitch, you want to get paid for this shit? Here's how. It's much less entertaining, much more ruthless and much more insightful. Unfortunately it's also contemporary to John Grisham's breakout (Stein hated the fuck out of Grisham) so it's paleoinstruction, a guidepost from an era where there were dozens of publishing houses, books came on paper and cassette tape and vanity publishing meant driving around with a trunkful of paperbacks to sell city-to-city.