My Bookshelf:
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maas
Fire in Fiction by Donald Maas
Self-Editing for the Fiction Writer by Renni Browne and Dave King
Finding your Writer’s Voice by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall
Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins
Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain
Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell
Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell
My three favorites:
1. Goal, Motivation, and Conflict
2. Techniques for the Selling Writer
3. Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
Get Ready for a New Series:
On Wednesday, I will kick off my new series based on Donald Maas’ Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook. I will post on Mondays and Wednesdays. I’m hoping the exercises will prepare my brain for maximum absorption for Donald Maas’ early bird workshop in Denver on September 17th.
For nonwriters:
The series will have some fun nonwriting-related questions to ponder. You might learn a thing or two about yourself, which is always fun! Please don’t be shy about stopping by.
Questions to Ponder: For everybody – what does your bookshelf say about you? For writers – what craft book has helped you grow the most as a writer?
I have waaaay too many books on my writing bookshelves (I'm a hopeless collector of them), but I think the two that I'm referring to most often these days are "Take Joy" by Jane Yolen and "Word Work" by Bruce Rogers. "Bird by Bird" runs a close third. I like them not because they tell me how to write better but because they speak to my attitudes and frustrations, and they encourage me.
Carol Garvin
My bookshelf says I'm reading way more genre fiction than craft-of-writing books. Thanks for the list. I needed that.
For those of you who mentioned Bird by Bird – I ordered that from Amazon last week and should get it soon! I'm excited to read it!
I know I need to buy more craft books! I'll start with your faves. I have some of the ones you listed, but most of my shelf is fiction. I adore fiction.
I just finished reading 'you were born for this' (advanced copy) From the author of the prayer of Jabaz. It was PHENOMENAL!
Oh, I will have to go out to B&N and add some books to my bookshelf, it seems. Thank you for sharing these gems with us, Katie, and I look forward to your posts!
I'm definitely looking forward to your next posts!
I have:
The Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel (this was the first book I ever bought about the craft…because that's what I felt like, an IDIOT!)
Stephen King's, On Writing
Donald Maas, Writing the Breakout Novel
I will restrain myself from linking to my LibraryThing page (such a cool website for book nerds, really), and simply add the writing books I own that I don't see on your list:
Stephen King's On Writing
Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird
Carolyn See's Making a Literary Life
Strunk & White's Elements of Style
Walter Mosely's This Year You Write Your Novel (have only read excerpts so far)
Bring on more Donald Maass! I'm loving the refresher.
Hi, Katie! I nominated you for an award on my blog! Hope it makes you smile!
Hmm… my bookshelf says that I read a lot of fiction. And that I need to buy another one–it's completely filled!
I'm excited for your new series! Have a great day!
I've got a lot of craft books, but my favorites are Plot and Structure, and Goal, Motivations & Conflict.
Also love On Writing by Stephen King.
I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I love how he writes about dogs, but there is so much more underlying meaning. Says I read things with deeper meanings.
Craft book favs. Anne Lamott's, Bird by Bird, Stephen King's, On Writing, Elizabeth George's, Write Away, Elizabeth Berg's, Writing Into the Open (or something like that–let a friend borrow it so I couldn't check my bookshelf for the title).
GMC definitely helped me grow…i think it revolutionized both of our approaches to novels!
between you and eileen, i'm not going to have to buy maass' books! 🙂
I like "How to Write Killer Fiction: The Funhouse of Mystery & the Roller Coaster of Suspense" by Carolyn Wheat. 🙂
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Yeah um…my bookshelf is covered in Agatha Christie books (my husbands) and Harry Potter and Twilight. So um….that just means I'm a big dork doesn't it. Sigh… 🙂
Can't wait for your new series!!!
Uh-oh. My bookshelf may say that I'm not a good learner and I'm obsessive. LOL I collect books by favorite authors, even if I have no intention of ever reading them again. *cringe*
Also, the only craft book I have is, eep, can't remember the name. LOL But it's in my bedroom and two years later I'm still in chapter three. Yikes.
I always wondered what was on your bookshelf. Now I know. Thanks to your inspiration I have ordered my first ever writing craft book. Stephen King 'On Writing.'
I almost order the one you are working through. But I want to see what you think of it first. 🙂
PS- Wish I was going to Denver. I lived their for three years. LOVE that place :))