It goes without saying that most writers are avid readers (and if they aren't,
they ought to be), so it's only natural that we might turn to the written word for advice on how to approach the craft, especially in the beginning when we're still feeling our way around in the darkness. And as it turns out, there are quite a few books on the market aimed toward budding writers in need of a little guidance. Unfortunately though, books on writing are like books on any other subject or genre—some of them are fantastic, and some of them just plain suck. At times, it can be tough to tell which is which. So, I thought I'd share my thoughts on some of the
good books on writing that I've stumbled upon in my groping quest for knowledge, along with a small quote from each work.
I'd like to nail up a few disclaimers before we proceed, though. For one, this list is intentionally short, and that's largely because I'm still devouring the occasional writing tome and have yet to nail down a true "must read" list. I will most likely return to this topic another time or two with more recommendations in future entries. Also, it's worth noting that the craft of writing itself has many subjective elements, and as such your mileage may vary with some of these books. I got something positive from every book on this list, but your experience may differ depending on your approach.
"I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room."
~ Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing
In my opinion, this invaluable collection of essays by the legendary Ray Bradbury is essential reading not just for writers, but for any fan of this late literary juggernaut's work. Over the course of each essay, Bradbury conveys his love for the craft as only he can, weaving colorful anecdotes from life and learned practice with some of the most powerful words of wisdom I've ever encountered.
Pick this up and not only will you learn a thing or ten, but you'll get a very good idea of what made one of the most influential literary minds of the last century tick. I find myself turning to this book in moments of doubt, and it almost always does the trick, whether I need an energizing shot in the arm or a nice meditative moment of zen.
"Some of this book—perhaps too much—has been about how I learned to do it. Much of it has been about how you can do it better. The rest of it—and perhaps the best of it—is a permission slip: you can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will."
~ Stephen King, On Writing
Stephen King is a polarizing figure in the literary world. His enormous success obviously speaks for itself, but there are plenty of people who just don't "get" his stuff, and that's understandable considering how damn weird some of it is. But whether you're a fan of his work or not, you would most likely be doing yourself a favor if you picked up
On Writing, his memoir of the craft.
Part autobiography, part guide book, this is one of the first books on writing I ever read, and to this day it's been one of the most helpful and inspirational, despite the fact that King and I don't see eye to eye on everything. For instance, he advocates the "discovery" or "seat of your pants" approach to writing, which
isn't always for me. Even so, much of his advice has stuck with me to this day, and at the very least it's an intriguing glimpse at the way one of the most popular novelists of all time does what he does.
"If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?" chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death."
~ Steven Pressfield, The War of Art
The War of Art will always have a special place in my heart as the book that brought me out of the longest writing drought I've ever experienced. For two long years, I lived a lie, ignoring the blank page and stubbornly trying to believe that it was too late for me, my ship had sailed. Then, on the advice of a
stand-up comedian, I picked this book up and gave it a read. It was like having my own personal muse slap me across the face and shake me by the shoulders.
Within, Pressfield outlines the concept of Resistance, that relentless, malevolent temptation to move in the wrong direction. Whether you're a writer, a painter, or just an average joe looking to improve yourself in some way, at some time in your life you've probably heard that little voice that wants you to fail. It wants you to spend as much of your time doing anything but what you should be doing. That's Resistance, and this book helps you to recognize the various forms it will take to seduce you away from your calling, and teaches you how to shut it up for good.
"The ultimate message of this book, though, is not that you should strive for publication, but that you should become devoted to the craft of writing, for its own sake."
~ Noah Lukeman, The First Five Pages
Noah Lukeman has been a successful literary agent for years, and in
The First Five Pages he gives writers a glimpse at the long list of telltale signs that agents look for while weeding the amateurs out of the slush pile. The title refers to the fact that most agents can tell a manuscript is worthy of a rejection letter within the first five pages of reading it. Lukeman not only lets you in on the mindset of an agent and the good and bad things they look for, but he offers tips on how to keep that agent (and your readers) glued until the end.
I haven't done any work on a novel in almost a year, but the things I learned in this book have crossed over into my work on short fiction as well, since most of the editors I'm sending my work to are looking for the same glaring flaws that
The First Five Pages helps you stay on top of.
"
We have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us—the labyrinth is fully known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path."
~ Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Okay, I'm kind of cheating on this one.
The Hero With a Thousand Faces is not, strictly speaking, a book on writing (though it has
inspired one or two). Instead, Joseph Campbell explores mythic structure, specifically the "journey" of the hero archetype as seen in popular world mythology throughout history. He breaks down the patterns and trends that have appeared in some of the oldest stories that human beings have ever told each other.
Since the publication of Campbell's work, some of the most popular and successful works of fiction have been built around the
monomyth he describes, from
Star Wars to
Harry Potter. If you're unsure what kind of structure to incorporate into your story, you could do a lot worse than taking your protagonist down the path of the Hero's Journey. This book will help.
So there you have it. Have you read any of the books on this list? Feel free to let me know what you thought of them, positive or negative. Also, if you have any suggestions for great books that might be worthy of my
next list of books on writing that don't suck, please let me know. I love reading about the craft.
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