As a non-writer who is very curious about the process of writing, I read King's On Writing, and I think his chapter on editing was life changing for me professionally and personally. My job is design (i wish it was beach), and I think the chapter on editing really applies to creative work in general. I like how he talks about being edited and not using 100% of the edits, that ultimately it's still up to you as the artist to define what edits (or feedback in my case) is making the work better, and what isn't. I also take this to heart when I give (solicited) advice on art. I always end with that ultimately it IS their decision and they should go with what they think is right. IDK if that's helpful, but that's what i love the most about that book. Just cause I don't write doesn't mean a book on writing is useless! :D
That's the thing about any kind of creativity book...I think they can be applicable to so many different fields, even if you don't do the exact kind of work mentioned in the book! And I think On Writing, in particular, is just a great read for anyone.
I will say the most bizarre writing craft book I ever read was a book on writing sex scenes by Diana Gabaldon called I Give You My Body. She narrated the audiobook herself, and wow, that was an experience.
Thank you for this list! I have a bad habit of letting craft books sit on my shelf, I could feel Save The Cat judging me for months. I am about a year post The Artist's Way so this was a good nudge to pick up a new writing book.
omg the way I think of Natalie when I think of Taos! I think I often use writing books more to get me back into a mindset of being excited about writing and wanting to write, if that makes sense. And in that way I almost don't care about the advice itself -- although there are good things I've picked up from lots of books -- so much about whatever it sparks in me to think, "I can do this! I've got this! I can't wait to write!"
I have read many books about writing and other creative pursuits. I absolutely loved Jami Attenberg's 1000 Words. It includes wisdom from lots of different writers, and I really found some gems in there.
I loooove reading writing craft books, though I haven't in a while. My favorite time to read one is after I've written a first draft and before starting the second. Sometimes I get just the right piece of advice that will make me excited to go in and revamp a scene that's still not working. Beyond the basic structure books that I loved (Save the Cat, The Plot Whisperer), the book that has had the biggest impact on my writing is Donald Maas's The Emotional Craft of Fiction. Oof, that book has some fantastic advice on making a moment SING. My agent used to leave comments in my early books to "let a moment breathe," and I didn't really know what that meant, or how to do it. That book showed me how. Now my books breathe too much and are way too long, lol, but it's a good problem to have! I love Big Magic, but it's definitely woo woo. It feels like therapy for my writing brain--I've read it at least 4 times (often on the way up to a writing retreat). I think one of the less-sung books is Self Editing for Fiction Writers. I wish I'd read that earlier on--it has lots of practical lessons in it that I had to learn on the job, so to speak, and my manuscripts would have been so much cleaner out the gate if I'd read it earlier. Definitely better for beginning writers who are serious about publishing something one day.
Wow, two members of the Donald Maass fan club over here! I really need to read that one. And I will for sure check out Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. I may be seven books in but I kinda feel like I'm starting over, lol, so maybe it will be good for me!
As a non-writer who is very curious about the process of writing, I read King's On Writing, and I think his chapter on editing was life changing for me professionally and personally. My job is design (i wish it was beach), and I think the chapter on editing really applies to creative work in general. I like how he talks about being edited and not using 100% of the edits, that ultimately it's still up to you as the artist to define what edits (or feedback in my case) is making the work better, and what isn't. I also take this to heart when I give (solicited) advice on art. I always end with that ultimately it IS their decision and they should go with what they think is right. IDK if that's helpful, but that's what i love the most about that book. Just cause I don't write doesn't mean a book on writing is useless! :D
That's the thing about any kind of creativity book...I think they can be applicable to so many different fields, even if you don't do the exact kind of work mentioned in the book! And I think On Writing, in particular, is just a great read for anyone.
I will say the most bizarre writing craft book I ever read was a book on writing sex scenes by Diana Gabaldon called I Give You My Body. She narrated the audiobook herself, and wow, that was an experience.
The title alone...!
Thank you for this list! I have a bad habit of letting craft books sit on my shelf, I could feel Save The Cat judging me for months. I am about a year post The Artist's Way so this was a good nudge to pick up a new writing book.
omg the way I think of Natalie when I think of Taos! I think I often use writing books more to get me back into a mindset of being excited about writing and wanting to write, if that makes sense. And in that way I almost don't care about the advice itself -- although there are good things I've picked up from lots of books -- so much about whatever it sparks in me to think, "I can do this! I've got this! I can't wait to write!"
I have read many books about writing and other creative pursuits. I absolutely loved Jami Attenberg's 1000 Words. It includes wisdom from lots of different writers, and I really found some gems in there.
Ordered writing down the bones immediately!!
I loooove reading writing craft books, though I haven't in a while. My favorite time to read one is after I've written a first draft and before starting the second. Sometimes I get just the right piece of advice that will make me excited to go in and revamp a scene that's still not working. Beyond the basic structure books that I loved (Save the Cat, The Plot Whisperer), the book that has had the biggest impact on my writing is Donald Maas's The Emotional Craft of Fiction. Oof, that book has some fantastic advice on making a moment SING. My agent used to leave comments in my early books to "let a moment breathe," and I didn't really know what that meant, or how to do it. That book showed me how. Now my books breathe too much and are way too long, lol, but it's a good problem to have! I love Big Magic, but it's definitely woo woo. It feels like therapy for my writing brain--I've read it at least 4 times (often on the way up to a writing retreat). I think one of the less-sung books is Self Editing for Fiction Writers. I wish I'd read that earlier on--it has lots of practical lessons in it that I had to learn on the job, so to speak, and my manuscripts would have been so much cleaner out the gate if I'd read it earlier. Definitely better for beginning writers who are serious about publishing something one day.
Wow, two members of the Donald Maass fan club over here! I really need to read that one. And I will for sure check out Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. I may be seven books in but I kinda feel like I'm starting over, lol, so maybe it will be good for me!