Carolly recommended "Language of the Night" in another thread. I would also like to suggest you check out another book by her called "Steering the craft; exercises and discussions on story writing for the Lone Naviagator or the Mutinous Crew." My favorite chapter introduction is the one to the punctuation section: "Damn the semicolons cried the captain full speed ahead" [sic]. If you live close to a reasonably large library, you should be able to find either one or both of the books in the collection.

From A Few Words to a Young Writer: Socrates said, "The misuse of language induces evil in the soul." He wasnt talking about grammar. To misuse language is to use it the way politicians and advertisers do, for profit, without taking responsibility for what the words mean. Language used as a means to get power or make money goes wrong: it lies. Language used as an end in itself, to sing a poem or tell a story, goes right, goes towards the truth. A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.

Thank you for sharing this excerpt, it's very encouraging to read.

:) That is well-put. Responsibility is as important as diction if you mean to be a published writer, reaching out to others. Carolly