I have just purchased several writing guides. Can you tell me if you have them and which one you prefer?

You really need to 'read all of them' and MORE ... there are no 'hard rules' on the use of grammar in writing, and whether it is a 'hardback book' or a 'magazine' or a 'dummies manual' you'll learn something DIFFERENT from each one ... and when you are a 'writer' that 'difference' may be 'just what you need' for one type of writing, while another 'difference' may be just what you need for another. READ ON ... and ENJOY WHAT YOU READ!

Grammar is one thing, writing is another - as well as, WHAT are you writing and why are you reading those books?

If you're writing a novel or stories, Luckman's 'first five pages' is an invaluable resource; his 'The Plot Thickens' is, as well.

I'm not much on the 'how to be published' or the 'how to write a novel' genre; I find those mostly useless and hack-tastic.

Others I have found useful are 'The Lie That Tells the Truth' by John Dufresne, 'The Writer's Journey' by Christopher Vogler, and Sol Stein's 'About Writing.'

I have the Creative Writer's Style Guide and I really like it. You don't have to read it "through." Simply flip to the page number that discusses your problem. You can access this information either through the index or through the contents. Hope this helps.