A beginning writer needs a jump-off point, whether it be a writing workshop or an undergraduate Creative Writing degree. Some undergo apprenticeship of some sort, or do a bit of ghostwriting to get their feet wet. For me, I go for the writing books. Here are the choice references currently on my shelf. While I have other references, the following tomes are the ones I find myself going back to.
1)
The 3rd Act: Writing a Great Ending to Your Screenplay (Drew Yanno)
While focused on screenplay writing, Yanno's book offers practical advice on how to pave the way toward a satisfying ending to a story.
2)
First Draft in 30 Days (Karen Wiesner)
I bought this book not so much for the writing advice, but for time management purposes. Wiesner's thrust is helping produce productive writers, the kind who pens more than one major work a year. Arguably, 'major work' may not translate to 'fantastic work,' but Wiesner's methods are nonetheless sound. I suggest expanding her system to cover 90 days instead of 30. Ninety days for a novel's first draft is still pretty fast.
3)
Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore (Elizabeth Lyon)
While I haven't gone through all of Lyon's book, the checklists at the end of each chapter whet my appetite. Plus, she goes through the writing process like a refresher course. I don't think I'll be getting any other revision book.
4)
Chapter After Chapter: Discover the Dedication and Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams (Heather Sellers)
I got Seller's book for inspiration. She talks about writing more as a passion than an occupation (though she talks a bit about the latter, too). Apart from the joys that can be had from writing, she also talks about the frustrations and pitfalls. I like the part where she likens writing to a relationship.
5)
Plot & Structure: Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish (James Scott Bell)
One of the first writing references I got. To any beginning writer, Bell's book could be a winner. It was for me.
6)
Fiction Writer's Workshop (Josip Novakovich)
I got this book primarily for the exercises, which I have yet to go through. But I believe that any writer should have at least one exercise book. I chose this book because the exercises are a bit more challenging, even though it's supposed to be for beginners.
7)
Perrine's Story and Structure (Thomas R. Arp, Greg Johnson)
Since I wanted to pursue writing, I needed some academic background to go with the practical knowledge. It's like taking a literature class.
8)
Writing Essays About Literature: A Guide and Style Sheet (Kelley Griffith)
Along with the #7, this book helps me look at stories from a technical standpoint. These two books contain short stories both classical and modern, very useful for writers who want to explore different writing styles. Plus, the guide questions at the end of these stories encourage deeper and more analytical thinking.
9)
The Dramatic Writer's Companion: Tools to Develop Characters, Cause Scenes, and Build Stories (Will Dunne)
See my review of this book in the previous post. I simply love this one.
could be worth something in the sea of oh-so-many fiction writing books. Boy, was I wrong. is not just worth something--it's simply the most comprehensive set of brainstorming exercises any storyteller needs to thoroughly flesh out a story.
