Writing Books Worth Reading

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Anchor)

Julie's comments: Anne Lamott talks about writing with such honesty and emotion that at times I am in awe of her candor. She humorously strips away any idea of glamour you might have thought existed in the craft of writing and leaves you glad that "it ain't pretty," because she also makes it less intimidating. She offers great visual metaphors for dealing with the struggles we face as writers.

Cindy's comments: I re-read this at least once a year. For me, its key message is to trust the process of writing, just sit and do it. I'm comforted to read Lamott's tales of writerly woe, which seem remarkably like my own. If she can survive being a writer, anyone can.

Fiction Writer's Brainstormer Fiction Writer's Brainstormer by James V. Smith, Jr. (Writers Digest Books)

Judy's comments: The value of this book is in the brain-picking exercises. They are great for when you have a premise or the backbone of a plot and need to fine-tune nitty-gritty details, or work out problems in action or character development. The author doesn't allow you to stop at the first answer that pops into your mind. He forces you to delve into the ridiculous, where often a unique solution is waiting-even for the most serious of plots. From page 2 on, you'll need to have a pencil handy.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published by Sheree Bykovsky & Jennifer Basye Sander (Alpha Books)

Judy: Even if you've written multiple books manuscripts, pick up this guide to discover publishing ins and outs you might have missed.  This reader-friendly (yet not insulting) guide provides a thorough overview (can there be such a thing?) and honest insights into the world of publishing.

If you don't have any books under your belt, read this guide first. It's a quick read that's loaded with real and useful information to help you put those manuscripts in print.

Hint, Hint: Sheree Bykovsky, the author, is also a New York-based agent. What agent wouldn't want to hear how much you benefited from her book? (Be sure to read the guide before you submit anything to her.)

Fiction Writer's Workshop Fiction Writer's Workshop by Josip Novakovich (Story Press)

Julie: This book is to writers what piano scales are to pianists. Sometimes you don't feel like doing them but they are essential to limber you up and keep you in shape. Each chapter first provides Novakovich's insight into the basic elements of fiction then supplies several exercises to help you hone that skill. He suggests spending an hour a day on the exercises, so in two months time you'll have finished the book and acquired the writing habit. If you've been slacking, it's time to rise to the challenge!

Cindy: Truly a workshop in a book, this text offers a comprehensive and clear approach to developing prose techniques and an eye for good writing. I particularly appreciate Novakovich's attitudes toward writing style: He eschews hard rules and favors more flexible guidelines and techniques, often showing multiple approaches to a writing situation. The exercises are terrific and often challenging, excellent in helping you develop diverse writing styles.

Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner (Riverhead Books)

Cindy: A no-nonsense overview of publishing and the writer's place in it. I find the second half of the book most valuable: Lerner mingles anecdotes of her work as an editor with explanations of the steps in acquiring and publishing books. Along the way, she de-romanticizes publication and at the same time offers encouragement to new writers. This is an essential dose of reality for anyone who thinks he'll become rich and famous through writing.

Marshall Plan for Novel Writing The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing: A 16-Step Program Guaranteed to Take You from Idea to Completed Manuscript by Evan Marshall (Writers Digest Books)

Julie: It's weird how structure can be freeing. I was five chapters into writing my novel when I felt completely overwhelmed. There were too many options, too many directions I could take. I needed structure, guidelines - even if I chose to break a couple. Then I read this book. Now I sit down to work, pull out a section sheet where I've plotted what needs to happen next, and I start writing. I recommend The Marshall Plan Workbook, which includes template sheets for section plotting, character development and planning surprises.

On Writing On Writing by Stephen King (Pocket Books)

Judy: This was the first Stephen King book I read. (I know, I know, I missed out on decades of nail-biting fun.) I picked it up because I heard him interviewed by Terri Gross on NPR. I became fascinated by the story of his accident and the subsequent death (months later) of the driver who hit him. I derived so much more than just King's life story from the pages of On Writing .  From his experiences, I found motivation and inspiration. I pick this book up and re-read it each time I hit a lull in my writing life. I've read it several times and listened to it on CD as often.  To hear it read in his own voice is compelling and quite powerful.  Don't skip this one.

Julie: When I first decided to write a book, my sister-in-law gave me On Writing. I wasn't a reader of Steven King's novels, but I became a fan of Steven King, the writer. He empowered me by sharing how his own writing career came to be, as well as his insights on the craft of writing.

Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 that Sold and Why by Jeff Herman & Deborah Levine Herman (Wiley & Sons, Inc.)

Judy: I wore out the binding on this book, so much so that the pages were falling out. There are many books on how to write a book proposal, but this one spells it out in simple steps, then gives ten good examples of proposals that sold.  You can pick one that best fits your nonfiction idea and plug in your information accordingly. (It takes a little more elbow grease than that, but you get the picture.) The result is a clearly-presented, thorough proposal that can result in your signing a contract with an agent.  That's how it worked for me, no kidding. Less than six months after reading this book (among others), and applying its techniques to my and my co-author's well thought-out and seriously researched nonfiction idea, we signed a contract that eventually led to the sale to Warner Books of The Frantic Woman's Guide to Life .

Write Well & Sell: Changing Life's Simple Stories Into Sales Write Well & Sell: Changing Life's Simple Stories into Sales by Judith Burnett Schneider (Jam-Packed Press)

Judy: As the author of this book, I can say that it does something other books of its kind don't do. It takes you from the idea-gathering stage, through the writing, editing, and improving stages, all the way to the submission of a saleable personal story.  I've heard from readers (and students of mine) who have gone on to sell personal essays to Chicken Soup for the Soul markets, large magazines like More and Woman's Day , as well as local magazines and newspapers. It's a no-nonsense, get-down-to-it read. If you're interested in purchasing a copy, drop me a line.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg (Shambhala)

Cindy: This was the first writing book I read. I used to think it was useful only to beginning writers, but I've come to rely on it as one of my "break through writer's block" books. When I'm having trouble writing and getting words on paper, I read a section or two of this book at the start of my writing session, and it helps me begin. Natalie Goldberg is a poet, but her advice is applicable to all writing (and perhaps to all life). It's extremely soft and welcoming, yet it's also tough in its call to write daily, write anything, keep the hand moving.

Writing the Breakout Novel: Winning Advice from a Top Agent and His Bestselling Client Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass: Winning Advice from a Top Agent and His Bestselling Client (Writers Digest Books)

Judy: If you're looking for an excellent source to aid in heightening your fiction's marketing potential by creating BIG characters with BIG problems and unique solutions, this is the book.  No matter what kind of fiction you write, Maass's advice will serve to deepen your plot, enhance your character's motivations, and heighten the action.  If you ordinarily use a highlighting pen to mark important points, forget it.  The entire text will be fluorescent orange. Instead, type up those really unique bits and post them at your writing station. The author puts forth guidelines you won't want to forget.  Here's one about creating the cast of secondary characters:

The guiding principle of cast construction is contrast. What good are secondary characters who simply stroke your main character? .They are more useful still when they disagree or produce friction with your main character or, even better, add unforeseen complications to the main problem.  So toss out your protagonist's supportive best friend.  Make her resentful and jealous and in silent competition, instead.

I read Writing the Breakout Novel twice in a row-because I didn't want to miss anything.

Cindy: Like a jolt of caffeine in book form. This book gets me completely energized about writing, upping the stakes, cutting anything that isn't completely charged. If you have the chance to hear Maass speak, you'll find he's just as he comes across in the book: fast-talking, smart, and dryly funny. (And a bit arrogant, but given his success it's easy to see why.)

Writing for Children and Teenagers by Lee Wyndham (Writers Digest Books)

Judy: This book is a must for anyone looking to write for children. Wyndham summarizes the tricks of the trade and hard-fast rules in children's publishing-and lets you know which ones to stick to and which can be broken.  While this might sound rigid, the children's book market is a tough one to break into, so you'd be best off to follow the author's advice.  Many of the successful children's authors I know began their careers by cracking open this book.

If you're serious about writing books and articles for children, you must join The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.  For more info, visit www.scbwi.org