Tuesday, December 16, 2014

10 Books About Writing

I've probably left some great ones off the list, but here are the 10 books about writing I've found extremely helpful, in no particular order.

1)The Nighttime Novelist: Finish Your Novel in Your Spare Time by Joseph Bates   This book takes you through the story arc process and explains what you need to do to formulate characters and structure. There are only a few writing samples, which is why I liked it.

2)On Writing by Stephen King   This is an inspirational memoir from a great writer with fantastic advice.

3)Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer   A gorgeous manual on how to write, especially for fantasists, but anyone can use it. Full of illustrations and diagrams and imagination.

4)The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler   Mythic structure for writers. Basically, the Hero's Journey in detailed, helpful description.

5)Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt   I couldn't write a book in a month, but this book pretty much charts how to write a novel in detailed steps.

6)Bullies, Bastards, and Bitches by Jessica Page Morrell   Need a hand with that antagonist you're creating? This book explains how to build a villain worthy of a hero.

7)Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card   Excellent advice on how to construct a character with depth and originality.

8)Thanks, But This Isn't For Us by Jessica Page Morrell   This book warns writers what to avoid when writing, the common pitfalls and boring bits. It also explains how to correct these problems.


9)Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott   Another fantastic memoir, a guide on how to write and manage a writer's life.

10)Torn wings and Faux Pas/The New Well-Tempered Sentence by Karen Elizabeth Gordon   Two excellent and fun books on the mechanics of writing. Lots of whimsical and entertaining examples.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Thorn Jack Contest Update


So the winners have been contacted and I hope everyone stays tuned for another contest! Thank you to everyone who entered on Twitter and through my newsletter sign-up! The newsletter is almost finished!

Congrats to Melinda, Brittany, Sia, and Laurice!