Books on Writing
Unless I've missed it along the way, there is no magic formula for breaking into writing. You must simply give yourself permission to say, "I'm a writer" and plunge into it.
Stringing words together is easy. Making them understood, not so easy. Invest in books on writing where you can immerse yourself in the basics: Point of View, Avoiding Passive Voice, Writing Scenes, Story Structure, Creating Strong Characters, Sparking your Creativity, and Plotting. Choose one or two and get started.
Here are my recommendations:
The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman
Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell
On Writing by Stephen King
Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Rennie Brown and Dave King
Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain
Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins
Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott
The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
Book Proposals That Sell by Terry Whalin
Writing For The Soul by Jerry Jenkins
Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes by Rayond Obstfeld
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
The Christian Writer's Market Guide by Sally Stuart
Writer's Market by Robert Brewer
Writing The Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
Writing The Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass
The Weekend Novelist by Robert J. Ray
Getting The Words Right by Theodore A. Rees Chesney
Magic Steps to Writing Success by Charles Sasser
Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.
On Writing Well by William K. Zinsser
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James N. Frey
How to Write a Damn Good Mystery by James N. Frey
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction by Ron Benrey
Writing the Christian Romance by Gayle Gaymer Martin
Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell
Hanging Out with Writers
Craft can also be learned through reading great books and dissecting them for what works, attending writing conferences, local writing groups, being in a critique group with other writers, haunting writerly blogs and websites, and taking classes.
Honing the craft of writing is a lifetime experience. The journey may take you down unexpected paths. Here's a nice list of writerly webs, blogs, and organizations to get you started.
Web Sites and Blogs Dedicated to Writing
Advanced Fiction Writing (Randy Ingermanson) — Craft and Marketing
Mary DeMuth — Novelist
So You Want to Be Published (Mary DeMuth) — Craft, Marketing, Industry News
Chip MacGregor — Advice from an Agent
Rachelle Gardner — An Agent’s Perspective
Sally Stuart — Christian Market Guide
Sally Stuart Marketplace — Blog of Ongoing Industry News
The Master’s Artist — Community of Writers Dedicated to the Art of Writing
My Book Therapy (Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck) — Craft and Editing
Forensics and Faith (Brandilyn Collins) — Craft, Industry News
The Writing Life (Terry Whalin) — Proposals and Marketing
The Seekers (Seekerville) — Contest Junkies
From Where I Sit (Michael Hyatt) — Industry News
Christian Authors Network (CAN) — Networking and Marketing
Novel Journey — Author Interviews
Fiction Fix It Shop (Meredith Efken) — Editing and Marketing
Angela Hunt — Novelist and Craft
Margie Lawson — Craft and Editing
Wrting Groups I Belong to or Recommend
ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers)
OWFI (Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Inc.)
PPW (Panhandle Professional Writers)
SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)
WIN (Writers of Inspirational Novels)—local ACFW affiliation
For a complete list of the blogs and websites of my writing friends, please visit my blog Carla’s Writing Cafe.
