Ephemeral Athenaeum discussion

Everyone should learn, all the time. If you think you've learned everything there is to know about writing, then you're probably in particular need of learning something.
Share nuggets and gems in here, links to helpful and insightful articles, or hard truths you've been forced to face that you want other writers to be aware of, too. As long as it's related to books - writing, querying, publishing, marketing - it belongs right here.

I've been working through The Fantasy Fiction Formula, and it's definitely worth a read. Everything is broken down into chapter lessons so you get enough information in a single chapter's sitting without overload, and a few matters, such as writing scenes, are split into about three separate parts to help with the variation.

My only real gripe with it is the author's pressing of personal opinion. Some of you may disagree, but I have never found the phrase 'so-and-so burst through the door' to be a particular problem throughout my reading life - it serves the purpose far better than 'so-and-so stepped through the door angrily'. The author, however, seems to prefer the more cumbersome second option and presses it upon you, but it just doesn't paint the picture as well, to my mind, and, as I said, it's a little more cumbersome and sterile to read.
Some may well disagree and judge the phrase from a literal stand-point, and everyone is, of course, welcome to. But it equally applies to phrases like 'slipping into a room' or 'storming out' and so on, and the author is adamant that these phrases should be avoided.

That aside, the book is certainly worthwhile no matter how long you've been writing, if just to get back to grips with the basics, which are easy to lose sight of after 16 years.
Writing is a learning process - all creative paths are - and applies to everyone no matter their age or experience level.