Books on the Craft of Writing.
The following is a list of books I have read (or tried to read) and my personal opinions on each.
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Chuck Palahniuk -Consider This-Moments in my writing life after which everything was different. Chuck Palahniuk, Grand Central Publishing, NY, NY 2020 -I had never heard of Chuck Palahniuk before. Why should I? I read Harlequin romances, love Hallmark movies, and write children's books. Now that I'm on a journey to write "real" books, I am expanding my knowledge. I checked this out of my local library since it is a book about writing. (My only formal degree is in music. I am learning on my own.) I almost put it down because his genre is so far removed from the YA or MG that I want to write. But I didn't and I'm glad. While I read, I took notes. I re-read words (since I forget things easily) and now I'm going back to my manuscript to change a few things. While his genre is not my genre and some of the content is not for gentle ears, his words make so much sense and I can see a better picture of the work I'm writing. I know what to look for and have a different way of reading my words. Thanks, Chuck!
***The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing a Novel (second edition). Tom Montelone, Penguin Group, NY, NY 2010 - If you want a one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about writing a book, this is the book to get. It touches a little bit on just about every facet of writing the book from a look at the industry to the actual process of putting pen to paper (or typing on a computer). It talks about Genre, Reading books in the genre you want to write, Plot, Characters, Setting, Dialogue, Research, Viewpoint, Direction, Pacing, and more. It gives small vignettes of wisdom at the end of each chapter that sums up what was just said. It's dotted with quotes from famous authors and words of wisdom from the author himself.
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Creating Characters: How to Build Story People. Dwight V. Swain, Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH 1990
Though written in 1990, the information holds true for any generation. This book shows how to give your character life through the authentic study of human character using descriptions of people and settings, actions of and to the characters, dialogue and introspective thoughts. There is a lot to this book and I’d recommend it to anyone who is trying to write anything longer than a children’s book.
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DIALOGUE: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, Screen. Robert McKee, Twelve, a div of Hachette Book Group, New York 2016
​A serious book with great information, but in a very scholarly presentation. As the friend who recommended it said, "It's a good book in small doses." I skipped over the Stage and Screen and scanned over the Prose sections. It has useful information, but I wish it were told in a more ordinary way. For example, I understand what this says when I read it over about five times. "When characters use what they say to pursue what they want, the rambling activity of conversation turns into the focused action of dialogue." But why couldn't he just say, Use characters' words to propel the action?
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The Everything Guide to Writing a Novel, Joyce and Jim Lavene, F & W Publications, Inc, 2004. While some of the advice is dated, this book is good for someone who knows nothing about the writing world. It gives short descriptions about all aspects of writing from getting your ideas, through picking a genre, to writing, editing, and publishing (including the dreaded query process.) Chapter 3, "The Right Genre for You, does an excellent job of describing genres and sub-genres.
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***FROM IDEA TO NOVEL - Mastering the Process, Elizabeth George, Viking, a div of Penguin Random House. LLC. New York 2020.
​A wonderful look into the thought process of a writer. Elizabeth George takes you from the beginning to the end of her book "Careless in Red (A Lynley Novel)" a mystery-murder novel. Not only do you learn the journey she took to write the book, but you also learn her process into character development, plot, and scene. Each chapter ends with Optional Exercises that encourage you to use her process to develop your own ideas.
​This would be a great book for a week-long retreat where participants can read a chapter, do an exercise and then discuss what they wrote.
Help! For Writers: 210 Solutions To The Problems Every Writer Faces. Roy Peter Clark, Little, Brown and Company, 2011
​This book reads a bit like an outline to me. It contains very useful information and advice, but I couldn't stick with it. Seriously though, If you are struggling, I think this could help, but for me it was too much like taking medicine.
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How to Write A Children's Book & Get It Published. Barbara Seuling, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1984
​A good book that will take you from the idea of writing a book to publishing and marketing the book. Many of the examples are dated, but the advice is still solid. Here is one list of many that are helpful. (Listings have been shortened.)
1 A simple, clear plot is necessary. 2. Your main character must solve the plot problem. 3. Be visual, think of your story as a short film and keep things moving and interesting. 4. Read the best picture book writers. Study their style, language & content. 5. Use interesting language; never condescend to simplistic language. 6 Do not find an illustrator for your story. This is neither expected nor desired rely only on your story not the pictures that will accompany yet. 7. Write fresh new stories. 8. Read your story out loud, listen for its weak spots and how it bears up under repeated readings. 9. Make every word count. 10 Jump Right In. Start your story immediately. 11. End on a positive note
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The Romance Writer’s Handbook. Rebecca Vinyard, Kalmbach Publishing Co, 2004
You may not want to write a romance but this book is packed with general writing tips. The first section, called the “Top 10 Beginner’s Blunders” outlines everything I’ve heard in online webinars, in-person conferences, and other books. Some gems of wisdom are
1. “Slay the adverb monster… Stretch to find the verb that connotes exactly what you mean…use 6 words, not 11…” page 39
2. “Readers give more weight to what someone says in dialogue than to all the rest of it. I had a newspaper editor who said, It doesn’t matter if you know it…get someone to say it.”
3. “First, you begin the book with an inciting event, the happening that begins your entire story. Don’t begin by telling the reader all about your character. We don’t care about someone we don’t know yet. We want to see them in action, to see their dilemma portrayed before us.” I like this sentence because I put down so many books that might be good because it opens with long descriptions of what a person looks like or the place where they live.
***Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Writes Should Know About Writing. Patricia T. O'Conner, A Harvest Book, Harcourt, Inc 2000
​I read the entire book. That's saying something. Most "How to" books bore me and I cannot read past the first chapter. Patricia offers insightful suggestions and "rules" of the trade using humor and some great examples.
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Writers Workshop in a Book by The Squaw Valley Community of Writers on the Art of Fiction, Publisher the same, 2007
I found this book interesting as a short collection of essays on writing but it wasn't what I was looking for in a "How to..." book so I skimmed it. It contains essays entitled: How to Write a Novel, Wrecked, The Reconquest of Reality, The Clinic: A Liturgy about the Psychological and Spiritual Distresses of Writing... etc... So if that's your thing, you'll enjoy this book.
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​Writing the BREAKOUT NOVEL Workbook. Donald Maass, Writers Digest Books, 2004
​This is a workbook full of great advice in small snippets so as not to overwhelm. The exercises are thoughtful. It would be a great book for students who are wanting to learn how to write a novel or to use it in a classroom. I'd love to spend a weekend with someone else, just doing the exercises together. (Isn't writing such a lonely craft?)
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Writing Tools, 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer, Roy Peter Clark, Little, Brown and Company, 2006
I made it to page 16 of 248 pages of writing before I closed the book. When I returned to the book to write my opinion about it, I discovered pages 249 - 253, the outline of all his chapters. I found this outline more beneficial than all the explanations and reading of excerpts. I don't like reading long-winded explanations about grammar and sentence structure. I much prefer books like "Painless Writing..." above for that.