I received a package today: a box of books. Specifically, a box of writing books.
Since I’m an author, it’s no surprise that I love books. My collection would likely disturb Marie Kondo on a deep level, since there are very, very few I can bare to part with, but they all bring me joy! Another thing that’s probably no surprise is the significant portion of my personal library that is dedicated to books about the craft of writing.
I consider myself a journeyman of this art, but it’s my goal to become a master, so I consistently indulge in resources designed to help me achieve my ambition. I also consistently buy those books in paper format because I’m a kinesthetic learner, so it helps me to highlight, underline, and annotate what I’m studying, not to mention how much easier it is for me to find my way around a book when I can physically flip through the pages.
While every book on my shelves has something to offer, there are a specific few that I return to over and over again. My top three are:
The Weekend Novelist by Robert J. Ray
This is the resource that taught me the fundamentals of plot structure and how to use those fundamentals to craft a story. It discusses character development, scene building, plotting, and drafting through implementation of the three act plot structure, and it’s designed to help authors write a complete novel during the course of a year, dominantly on the weekends. It has been revised to include content from Jack Remick, who is listed as a co-author on the updated version. However, I don’t connect with the update as much as I do with the original 1994 edition, which is my dominant resource during my drafting phase.
Between the Lines: Master the Subtle Elements of Fiction Writing by Jessica Page Morrell
My copy of this book has so many page flags and notes that I will never, ever exhaust its resourcefulness. What The Weekend Novelist does at the macro level of storytelling, this book does at the micro level, specifically addressing such areas of art and artifice as cliffhangers, tension, suspense, pacing, imagery, and sensory surround. This is my dominant resource during my revision phase.
The Writer’s Digest Character Naming Sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon with Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet
I use this resource so much that the hardback cover is scarred with scratches, nicks, and dings. I love this resource because it has two parts: a section discussing names and the significance of naming from a linguistic and cultural perspective, and a section of male and female names (with variations and meanings) grouped by culture for thirty-five different cultures. I have yet to find any naming resource on the internet that compares with this book.
So there you have it: my top three writing resources. I’d love to hear about your favorites. Please tell me about them in the comments below.
Until next month, happy writing!
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These are great reads!
I also love Bradburys “Zen in the Art of Writing” for inspiration!
I haven’t read any of these, so thanks for the recommendations – I’m always interested in hearing about good writing books!
Here are my top three:
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King – because it covers the basics so well.
Understanding Show, Don’t Tell by Janice Hardy – because this is a problem so many writers have.
How Not to Write a Novel by Howard Mittlemark and Sandra Newman – because knowing what NOT to do is as important as knowing what to do!
Solid titles. The naming one sounds particularly useful.
One technique I’ve heard is to either settle on a culture, or consider what linguistic preconceptions your audience is likely to have (like how Germanic languages often sound harsh to English ears, while Latin languages often sound pleasant), and start looking at words that have a meaning you would like to associate with the character. I remember one story where a character’s name was derived from the German word for betrayal.
LOL. I have Jessica Morrell’s book and it’s tagged all over like yours. I heard her speak and she is a great workshop presenter.
I love getting a box of books. Or a bottle of wine. I am the easiest person to buy a gift for. A person who really loves me will get both! 🙂
I’ve got both of Ray’s Weekend Novelist books in my library, but will check out the other two. Mastering Suspense, Structure and Plot, by Jane Cleland, and Write Great Fiction: Plot and Structure, by James Bell are on my reading list right now.
Same here. I have ebooks for entertainment and I have books on the craft stacked on several shelves. Most of them a secondhand and way to affordable to say no to. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
I love when others help me with homework I struggle to get around to. Thanks!
I always love finding out about new resources. I’ve never really looked through The Weekend Novelist, though I have heard of it. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks for listing these. I’m always looking for good resources !
Great list! I’m particularly interested in The Weekend Novelist, so thanks for the rec. I also prefer hard copies of books on the craft of writing, for the exact same reasons as you!
Great resources 🙂 (Especially the one on naming characters. I spend too much time on different naming sites and it’d be nice to have a good book!)
At the moment I’m using Fiction Writer’s Workshop, by Josip Novakovich. One of my classmates recommended it, and it has lots of exercises as well as details on plot, character, settings and so much more 🙂