Writing books and books for writing.

 

Do you ever wonder if there is one or two books out there that will help you write better or become a better writer? A book that will resonate with you and help you out of your writers block or slump?

Honestly, like self-help books, I think there is a little help and then you've got to pick yourself up and work. The best way to become a writer IS TO WRITE.

That being said...I do have a few favorite books about writing and for writing.

Writing Irresistible Kidlit by Mary Kole

Writing for young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) audiences isn't just "kid's stuff" anymore--it's kidlit! The YA and MG book markets are healthier and more robust than ever, and that means the competition is fiercer, too. In Writing Irresistible Kidlit, literary agent Mary Kole shares her expertise on writing novels for young adult and middle grade readers and teaches you how to:

Recognize the differences between middle grade and young adult audiences and how it impacts your writing.
Tailor your manuscript's tone, length, and content to your readership.
Avoid common mistakes and cliches that are prevalent in YA and MG fiction, in respect to characters, story ideas, plot structure and more.
Develop themes and ideas in your novel that will strike emotional chords.
Mary Kole's candid commentary and insightful observations, as well as a collection of book excerpts and personal insights from bestselling authors and editors who specialize in the children's book market, are invaluable tools for your kidlit career.

If you want the skills, techniques, and know-how you need to craft memorable stories for teens and tweens, Writing Irresistible Kidlit can give them to you

Outlining Your Novel by K.M. Weiland

Writers often look upon outlines with fear and trembling. But when properly understood and correctly wielded, the outline is one of the most powerful weapons in a writer’s arsenal. Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success will:

Help you choose the right type of outline for you
Guide you in brainstorming plot ideas
Aid you in discovering your characters
Show you how to structure your scenes
Explain how to format your finished outline
Instruct you in how to use your outline
Reveal the benefits:
Ensures cohesion and balance
Prevents dead-end ideas
Provides foreshadowing
Offers assurance and motivation
Dispel misconceptions:
Requires formal formatting
Limits creativity
Robs the joy of discovery
Takes too much time
Even if you're certain outlining isn't for you, the book offers all kinds of important tips on plot, structure, and character.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King

Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. Here at last is a book by two professional editors to teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.

In this completely revised and updated second edition, Renni Browne and Dave King teach you, the writer, how to apply the editing techniques they have developed to your own work. Chapters on dialogue, exposition, point of view, interior monologue, and other techniques take you through the same processes an expert editor would go through to perfect your manuscript. Each point is illustrated with examples, many drawn from the hundreds of books Browne and King have edited.

The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

One of the biggest problem areas for writers is conveying emotion to the reader in a unique, compelling way. When showing our characters’ feelings, we often grab onto the first idea that comes to mind, and our characters end up smiling, shrugging, nodding, and frowning far too much.

Need some inspiration to get you beyond the basics? Inside The Emotion Thesaurus, you’ll find:

•75 emotion entries that list body language, thoughts, and visceral responses for each
•A breakdown of the biggest emotion-related writing problems and how to overcome them
•Body language and action cues that address both acute and suppressed forms of emotion
•Suggestions for each emotion that cover a range of intensity, from mild to extreme
•75 description tips on emotion, dialogue, characters, and setting

Editors, authors and teachers agree that The Emotion Thesaurus, in its easy-to-navigate list format, is a convenient and helpful brainstorming resource for any writing project. Discover the tool that will inspire you to create stronger, fresher character expressions and engage readers from your first page to your last.

Other winners:

Save the Cat! Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody

Whether you’re writing your first novel or your seventeenth, Save the Cat! breaks down plot in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step method so you can write stories that resonate!

Romancing the Beat: Story Structure For Romance Novels by Gwen Hayes

Writing a well-structured romance isn’t the same as writing any other genre—something the popular novel and screenwriting guides don’t address.

There you have it! A few book ideas for you! Do you have any writing books you'd recommend?

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