My first few weeks as a guide here have been interesting and fun. It's made me take a serious look at my writing life and forced me to get more organized about when and how I do things - something we should all do more often.
Whenever I'm presented with a new writing challenge like this I tend to find inspiration, motivation and guidance in books on writing. I have a massive collection of these books and tend to read almost everything new that comes out.
The downside of this habit (addiction) is that I often use the time reading writing books as an excuse not to write while still feeling like I am being "productive". However, there are a few books that I find myself reaching for again and again that never fail to get me back in my chair and writing. I've just posted a review of my favorite one, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
Please share some of your top reads on writing and creativity in the comments. I'd hate to think I missed one!
Stephen King’s “On Writing” is basically considered a holy scripture of writing books published in the past 10-15 years. For a guy so prolific, his perspective on the process is refreshing.
Raising a Realist
I completely agree with Scott Streling. When I listened to that audio book, I got more out of it than in any other book I’ve read, although that is a short list. I think it’s worth everyone’s time to give this book a readthru
King certainly knows what he’s doing! I love On Writing as well, a fabulous book that anyone interested in the writing life should read. Great pick.
“Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” is a great resource. I remember reading it for the first time. My reactions were 1) this is great writing advice and 2) I can fix my writing! I manages to tell you what you’re doing wrong, but do it in a way that makes you want to write even more.
I haven’t read that one yet. It’s now on the list though and I’ll get to it soon. Thanks for the recommendation!
well, you’re ahead of me. You use reading to procrastinate from writing, I use cleaning the house ~!
I’m guilty of that too. Sadly it’s the only time I clean this place
I think my wife wishes I would “procrastinate” more on my writing sometimes.
Non-fiction writers’ journals and notebooks are a great source of ideas for fiction. I’ve developed several stories from stray thoughts in Jean Baudrillard’s series of five journals, titled “Cool Memories.”
Poems can also liberate the mind from its ruts. Try John Ashbery, Theodore Roethke, John Koethe, or Anne Sexton for starters.
That’s great advice, Terence. I’ll have to try reading more essays and journals. And poetry is fantastic for inspiration, especially when trying to nail down a theme. I will definitely read your recommendations – thanks for the reply.
I also feel reading for ‘fun’ should always be on a writers nightstand. Sometimes, as writers, we need to ‘feel’ what we want our readers to feel about our stories. To connect with them as we do with the stories we enjoy. I just read through The Hunger Games Trilogy and although in the beginning I focused too much on the writing style (which tripped me up) it wasn’t long before I was tossed into the arena and fighting along with the characters–right up until the very end.
I think then we can answer “How do we make our fictional characters weave their way deep inside a readers heart”?
And that is what sells books.
Happy Writing! Shelly
I agree. Writers need to read constantly – non-fiction, fiction, poetry. I think it’s important to know your genre inside and out, but also to read outside of it. I like to read first novels by new authors to see what grabbed the publisher and sold the book as well.
I keep meaning to read The Hunger Games. With all the hype about the movie everywhere I look I think it might be time to read the books.
A few good books on writing I think are worth reading are:
1) Stephen King’s “On Writing” (as menitoned in other posts)
2) “Sometimes the Magic Works” by Terry Brooks
3) “Zen in the Art of Writing” by Ray Bradbury
4) “Writing Fiction” by Janet Burroway
5) “The Triggering Town” by Richard Hugo
6) “The American Writer” by Jack Cady
…and, frankly, just because it inspires you, “Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul” by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, & Bud Gardner.
Great list, Chris. A few on there I haven’t read yet that I’ve added to my list. Thanks for the recommendations!
“Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott is another good one.
You should read at least the first one before the movie comes out. However I will warn you, once you start it’s hard to put down until the last book.
I totally agree with reading outside of fiction as well. I have quite a few books on grammar (EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES–my favorite), writing a novel books, and I do a lot of research online. There is a site, and I forget the name now, where you can take tests after a grammar lesson (all free). I learned all about the ‘Gawking Character’. LOL
But, they are only helps. I think writing critique groups are the best way to learn and grow.
Try The Flame Tree of Thika by Elspeth Huxley for description, and the bare bones advice of Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande. Both well worth your time, in my opinion.
Becoming a Writer is one of my all-time favorites. That’s one I re-read at least once a year. I haven’t read The Flame Tree of Thika, but I’ll pick it up. Thanks!
What about the old University writing favorites: Lajos Egri, The Art of Dramatic Writing and The Art of Creative Writing; John Gardner’s, On Becoming a Novelist; Ayn Rand, The Art of Fiction, and many others. Plus the invaluable books on the letters written by famous classical and modern authors that give insight as to their approach on writing.
One observation is that the great Russian, English, and French authors did not invent characters, but that they wrote about people that they had met. You will discover this if you have held any management positions in corporations, government, and met people in law, show business, education, etc.
Has anyone used Dramatica Pro? What are you thoughts?
Those are all great books and highly recommended for any writer.
I did try Dramatica Pro a while back. It was interesting. I only dabbled with it and didn’t actually end up doing any finished work. Are you enjoying it? I might need to give it another look since it’s been a long time since I did.
I agree with Madhuri Y–Bird by Bird is fantastic! I also love Donald Maass, both Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire in Fiction.
Great books for sure. I still need to read The Fire in Fiction – it’s on my shelf though.
reading about writing is great for the soul but does hold you down and keeps you away from the actual work. I find reading a part of my favourite novel helps me to get my mind into the right frame of mind , Amanda craig’s first chapter in “Hearts and Minds” is a great description of a city.
Writing books, I would suggest ” Modern Library ; Writer’s workshop” by Stephen Koch. Really great stuff and very well articulated ideas about the real nuts and bolts of writing a novel.