This might seem like an antique post for old writers, because who buys books these days?
Well, I AM an antique. I also love books, although I don’t buy them quite so willy-nilly these days. And I especially love the “how-to” books when it comes to the subject of writing, even though I also think reading the types of novels you enjoy from the authors you love will teach you just about the same thing as a how-to.
Some of my writing books.
In a world where everything is AI, or a meme, or soundbite, it’s hard to get into the technical aspects of writing. If you are not part of a critique group, or if you’re an introvert, live in a rural area, or don’t have the luxury of beta readers, you’ll need some feedback. There are definitely trusted ways of writing a novel. I don’t care what some people (mostly younger people) say: Rules matter. From typing your manuscript double spaced on the page with 1″ borders all around to no double spaces at the end of the sentence, to character arcs, genre formulas, etc., there are reasons for adhering to rules. You want to look as professional as you can from the start.
Break the rules all you want after you’ve sold a million dollars worth of books. Before that, listen to the masters.
There are a few writing books I pull of the shelf continuously.
One is not a book at all, but the workbooks that came with the writing classes I took with Michelle Richmond. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a favorite, I love her style, and I learned so much taking her classes. If you’re shopping for a loved one who writes fiction, give that person a gift certificate to one of her classes.
Of course, The Chicago Manual of Style and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White are great to have in your arsenal. (They must really seem like antiques, but I still use them.)
Blockbuster Plots by Martha Alderson is a good choice too, as well as The Emotion Thesaurus will take your story to a new level.
If you’re experiencing writer’s block, a workbook like 642 Things to Write About (San Francisco Writers’ Grotto) is a great resource for shaking loose some ideas. Force yourself to do one of the exercises and you’ll be blocked no more.
These are only a few ideas from my bookshelf. In short, you can’t go wrong buying a writer any book about writing. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad or just blah. You’ll learn something if you concentrate. It may change nothing about your writing, or it may change everything.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, no matter what you celebrate. Joy and peace to us all.
Now I will return to my baking duties, which include persimmon cookies and pumpkin pie.
See you on the other side.
