Books on writing

These are books on writing craft and business that have helped me a lot. These are the ones I've found most useful. I’ll be adding to this list as I read more.

Fiction 101 and Fiction 201
by Randy Ingermanson

This first resource isn’t really a book, it’s a set of audio workshops on MP3 from Randy Ingermanson.

Randy is most famous for his “Snowflake” method of plotting, which I use extensively. It’s totally worth a read, even if it’s a bit detailed for most writers (I admit it, I’m anal).

Randy taught Fiction 101 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, which was one of the first and best fiction-writing workshops I’ve ever taken. He now has the entire workshop (5 or 6 hours worth of teaching) on MP3 that is either downloadable on his website or you can order a copy on a CD. There are also pages of notes and resources offered with the workshop.

Fiction 101 is for beginning (or “Freshman”) writers, and he also has Fiction 201 for intermediate (or “Sophomore”) writers. Randy’s method is very logical, straightforward, and analytical.

For more on his Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior ideology, check out his article on his website. It’s very useful especially for beginning writers.

I can’t recommend this workshop enough especially if you are a more auditory learner, who learns best by hearing a workshop rather than reading a book.


Bringing Fiction to Life
by Donna Fleisher

This is another audio workshop for audio learners. Donna has a very conversational style, and I recommend this for people who like a more chatty, casual workshop.






Techniques of the Selling Writer
by Dwight V. Swain

This book helped me understand the principles of solid plotlines and scenes that hook the reader to the end. He’s a bit long-winded at times, but easy to read. It’s a classic, and can probably be found in your local library or through inter-library loan. It’s also been reprinted several times and you can find a cheap used copy at various online used bookstores, or on Amazon.com.

I also wrote a series of articles based on Swain’s book.


Plot and Structure
by James Scott Bell

This is a terrific, more modern alternative to Swain’s book. Bell lays out the basics of solid novel structure that can be used by Pantsers or Plotters. Very easy to read with useful exercises.


Stein on Writing
by Sol Stein

Some people find Swain difficult to read, and many writers suggest Stein’s book as a good alternative. They both cover the basics of good, solid writing.


Goal, Motivation and Conflict
by Debra Dixon

This is the classic book on characterization. Many of the character weaknesses I see in contest entries include lack external or internal goals, believable motivation, and/or sufficient conflict to carry the story. This book is not officially available via Amazon, but you can order it directly from the publishers, Gryphon Books for Writers (www.GryphonBooksforWriters.com, ISBN 0965437108).


Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn from Actors
by Brandilyn Collins

I tend to find that the underlying values and traits of my characters drive the plotline. Brandilyn’s method is one of the most unique ways to create truly three-dimensional characters. It was amazing how this book helped me add more depth, believability, consistency and intriguing behavioral traits to my story people.


45 Master Characters
by Victoria Lynn Schmidt

This is another method for character development using mythic models as archetypes. This book also goes into both the Hero's Journey and the Heroine's Journey, which are different from each other. The Heroine's Journey, especially, was described in excellent detail. I found this book very useful for both bringing out the interesting extremes in my characters, and also for ideas on how to make them unique by turning the archetype on its head.


Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, 2nd edition
by Renni Browne and Dave King

Writing today differs from when Jane Austen was accepted for publication, or even a few years ago when Nora Roberts was just starting her career. Editors look for certain technical aspects that separate the amateur from the professional. These techniques helped me tighten my writing and bring it to the next level. It especially helped that my critique partner (Sharon Hinck) also read this book, so I have two sets of eyes going through the same editing processes.


The First Five Pages
by Noah Lukeman

This book talks about many of the common mistakes seen within the first five pages of a manuscript that automatically send it to the rejection pile. It’s true—there are some types of writing foibles within the first few pages that make a manuscript seem less professional.


Writing the Breakout Novel
by Donald Maass

This book really brought my writing to the next level. Maass focuses on the common essences of the breakout novels written, both past and contemporary. His principles applied to an outlined novel can kick it up a notch and add depth. I especially like the Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, which has excellent exercises to help me draw the most conflict and interest out of my storyline and characters.


Psychology for Screenwriters
by William Indick

Even though this book is for screenwriters, everything is applicable for novelists. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it explained many of the reasons why certain archetypes and story structures are so successful in storytelling. This book also has a very good outline of the Hero's Journey as it relates to archetypes. I wrote a review of this book here.


Story Structure Architect
by Victoria Lynn Schmidt

This book goes into several aspects of story structure. It covers the typical patterns of various types/genres of stories, and it also goes into detail on Polti’s 36 Dramatic Situations, adding a few more to bring it up to 55 dramatic situations for the writer to look at. It’s not meant to be followed by rote, but to provide a framework for the writer to construct his/her own unique storyline and conflicts.


Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint
by Nancy Kress

Nancy Kress is a well-known and highly respected writing teacher, and this book is one of the most comprehensive I’ve seen on viewpoint. It shows how character and emotion are tightly woven together with viewpoint, and how a skillful understanding of all three concepts makes for great fiction. She goes into a lot of detail on different aspects of character and viewpoint, and the exercises at the end of each chapter are also useful.


Writing for Emotional Impact
by Karl Iglesias

I’m not done with this book yet (11/2006), but so far it’s been a good guide for a variety of writing topics. It’s meant for screenwriters, but his philosophy is that screenwriters need to write for readers first, since that’s the first gatekeeper to getting a script bought, so his principles are applicable to novelists as well. He has a good chapter on hook—what can make your book unique and original—and also one on theme that’s one of the best I’ve read yet.


Finding Your Writers Voice
by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall

This book gave great exercises for developing my writer’s voice further. Not all the exercises resonated with me, but most of them were terrific to help me define and emphasize my voice more. I can’t stress enough how writers need to develop their writer’s voice to allow them to stand out from other manuscripts in the same genre, especially if they’re writing for a currently hot genre like romantic suspense.


Pyromarketing
by Greg Stielstra

This is a great book that gives solid, easy to understand principles to help writers reach their target audience and create buzz about their books. The principles of Pyromarketing are not only time-efficient, but also low-cost and specialized for each person’s niche in the market. There are lots of resources on the Pyromarketing website, including a free download of the MP3 audiobook if you register for his newsletter.


A Whack on the Side of the Head book and
Creative Whack Pack card deck
by Roger von Oech

Sharon Norris Elliott (in her 2004 Mt. Hermon workshop) recommended this kit for brainstorming or just whenever you get stuck. The book is a quick read and gives tips for how to break out of an uncreative rut and come up with new ideas. The card deck acts as a stimulus for ideas, what Oech calls an “oracle.” Be careful when ordering these products, because while the card deck is called “Creative Whack Pack” (ISBN 0880793589), there is also a “Creative Whack Pack” (ISBN 0880795433) that contains both the book and card deck. You don’t want to buy the wrong “Creative Whack Pack” in addition to (another) copy of “A Whack on the Side of the Head” (like I did! LOL).
A Whack on the Side of the Head book (ISBN 0446674559--revised edition)
Creative Whack Pack card deck only (ISBN 0880793589)
Creative Whack Pack book and card deck set (ISBN 0880795433)


The Writer’s Brainstorming Kit: Thinking in New Directions
by Pam McCutcheon and Michael Waite

Another recommendation from the Mt. Hermon 2004 conference. Based on Debra Dixon’s “Goal, Motivation, Conflict,” this book and card deck provide hundreds of ideas. Randomly chosen cards can then create innovative, unique characters or plotlines. This can also serve to jump-start creative avenues for enhancing cliché plot devices or suggesting depth to cardboard characters. This is not officially available from Amazon.com, although occasionally a kit is available via Amazon Marketplace, Auctions or zhops. It can also be ordered directly from Gryphon Books for Writers (http://www.gryphonbooksforwriters.com/, ISBN 0965437140)


The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition
by The University of Chicago Press Staff

Most publishing houses have a standard grammar reference, and many use this book. The latest edition keeps me up-to-date with what is acceptable to most major houses, because language and formatting trends change with the market and culture. There is also an official website with a search engine that lists sections of the book that answered my grammar questions. This isn’t a grammar tutorial--there are other books and websites more appropriate. This book is a bit pricey (about $35 on Amazon.com as of 10/2006) but most libraries have a copy.


Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript
by Cynthia Laufenberg

This is a comprehensive book covering proper manuscript format for both fiction and nonfiction, articles, short stories, and books. It covers every aspect of the submission process, from queries to full manuscripts.

I also have a short article on formatting specifically for CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) publishers.


Book Proposals That Sell
by Terry Whalin

Terry Whalin is a writer and an acquisitions editor at Howard Publishing. This book draws on his experience to help writers craft comprehensive, professional book propoals. In my opinion, this book is more focused on nonfiction proposals, but it is still useful as a guide for fiction proposals as well. (On a side note, his blog is incredibly useful and insightful.)


Writers Digest Magazine

The topics range from non-fiction to fiction, from articles to short stories to novels. For the price, it’s a great resource. They also have very informative (free) website discussion forums.


Writer’s Market Online (Writer’s Digest)

Writer’s Market Online is by subscription, and it allowed me to easily search for magazine markets that accept certain genres or topics. It has all the information in the print guide The Writers Market by Writers Digest, although updated more recently. The Writers Market print guide also comes in a deluxe edition that includes a one-year Writer’s Market Online subscription. Writer’s Market Online subscription can also be purchased separately. It sometimes doesn’t have the very latest magazines, but they keep as current as possible. This is useful for any writer trying to build a portfolio and find smaller press magazines to submit to, to gain publishing credits.


Christian Writers’ Market Guide by Sally Stuart

This lists a few markets not mentioned in the secular Writer’s Market guides by Writer’s Digest, and it also lists markets by more specific Christian topics. It includes both fiction and nonfiction, and is cheaper than the Writer’s Market. You can also go to Sally Stuart’s website for more information about the guide and Christian publishers (book and magazine).