Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Karen Burgess on March 12, 2010 at 7:29am

Hi, my favorite "starter" book is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. I also did a blogpost on the books on my writing shelf, if you'd like to take a peek!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Linda A Lavid on March 12, 2010 at 2:03pm

Hands down for writing fiction....Jack Bickham's Scene and Structure. Put out by Writer's Digest. There's magic to fiction, but like all magic, it's craft, trickery. This book is a marvel. To make readers turn the page: have a story goal; develop conflict/emotion; make sure effect follows cause, transition with sequels; and, for the most part, show, don't tell.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Fran Dorf on March 12, 2010 at 2:05pm

I like Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones," Margaret Atwood's "Negotiating with the Dead," and for a good all purpose inclusive textbook, Janet Burroway's "Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft."

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Priscilla Long on April 8, 2010 at 9:27am

I hope I am not imposing by mentioning my own forthcoming book: The Writer's Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life. It is coming out July 1 and here is my website announcing it: www.priscillalong.com. I have also loved and used Richard Marius's The Writer's Companion, Natalie Goldberg, Janet Burroway, Jon Franklin, and many others.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ami Mattison on April 11, 2010 at 2:46am

Hey, Priscilla! Checked out your site, and your forthcoming book looks fabulous. Do let us know when it's released. I'm standing in line for my copy! Good luck!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Priscilla Long on April 11, 2010 at 11:41am

Thank you Ami! I feel so encouraged!
I also use and deeply appreciate Addonizio and Laux's book. Another I've learned from is In the Palm of Your Hand: The Poet's Portable Workshop by Steve Kowit.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ami Mattison on April 11, 2010 at 2:42am

For poets, The Poet's Companion by Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux is a must-own. It's a fun, accessible introduction to poetry basics with plenty of exercises. It's great for teaching intro courses, but I return to this book again and again to buff up on my skills. I dig Goldberg too. Right now, I'm reading her book, Thunder and Lightning.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alison Strobel Morrow on April 11, 2010 at 6:07am

For fiction, Writing the Breakout Novel is fantastic. I was in a workshop with the author last year and WOW. Absolutely mind blowing. The guy is brilliant.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sharon Cousins on April 13, 2010 at 9:09pm

My top pick broad-spectrum writing book is One Year to a Writing Life — Twelve Lessons to Deepen Every Writer's Art and Craft, by Susan Tiberghian. Whether you are a novice or an experienced writer, Susan can help you take it deeper, wider, richer, truer. Susan, who is a member of She Writes, also teaches live workshops. I gained so much when I studied creative nonfiction for a week with Susan, at the 2008 IWWG conference. Susan is an American who married a Frenchman and lives in Switzerland, but she does make occasional teaching tours on this side of the water. Do not miss the chance to workshop with this woman, even if the focus is not in your primary area of writing. She is magic. I am so pleased that she comes through so well on the printed page for people who cannot attend her workshops. You can read more about why I like this book and teacher on my Nonfiction page and here and there around my website. I mention this book on more pages of my website than any other resource.

My top pick specifically for novel writing is an e-book (also available in hard copy via LuLu, iirc) by Holly Lisle, her amazing Create A Plot Clinic. That book has done more for my novel writing on both the creativity and the process fronts than any of the many books I have read. There is more about that resource part-way down my Fiction page and even more in my monthly newsletters, especially from November on, when her methods contributed to an early NaNo 'win', a completed first draft, and a lot more confidence heading into the revision process. I've always found writing fiction to be about the most fun I can have without other people or musical instruments being involved, but this book was the most fun ever, and so far revision is a blast. What fascinating work. No one thing works for everyone, but a lot of Holly's suggestions sure worked for me. I love her clear language and the way she works up story parts before your very eyes, showing how to put her suggestions to work, creating whole new worlds and people and plot-lines with a few strokes of her fingers, a prestidigitation of words. Several of Holly's e-books have really given me a boost, but that one most of all. If the novel now in revision sells, Holly will be one of the people I will thank.

I also like Sol Stein's How to Grow a Novel (also mentioned on my Fiction page), Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, and Ursula Le Guin's Steering the Craft. Those are the ones I have found most useful and expanding.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anna Elliott on August 10, 2010 at 5:08pm

My three top pics are Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, Noah Lukeman's The Plot Thickens, and Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel. All three helped me hugely, especially when I was just figuring out my writing process.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Olga Godim on August 25, 2010 at 8:18pm

Yes, I agree with this one. Both Noah Lukeman and Donald Maass are super agents; they know what is what in fiction. I would add another book, which helps after the first or even the second draft, when you have to write a query and a synopsis: "Writing the Fiction Synopsis" by Pam McCutcheon. This book helps me focus, even figure out the theme, which is not always clear while I'm writing the story.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lauren Michelle on September 7, 2010 at 8:59am

Right now I'm reading Madeleine L'Engle's Walking On Water: Reflections On Faith and Art. It's lyrical and thought-provoking. I've only read the first chapter, but I've highlighted almost every other paragraph in the chapter so far. She offers so many insightful details and reflections on her writing that I want make not of everything and try my hardest to remember it.

• ▶ Reply