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February 26, 2018

A List of 45 Books About Writing


Books. We read them. We write them. We love them.
Even a writer who’s been at it for a while can always learn something new. Sometimes when my brain gets stale, or I find myself struggling with some aspect of a story, a short visit to my personal library will give me the boost I need. Refreshing oneself is part of the creative process.

I’ve listed the tomes on my bookshelf in alphabetical order for convenience, but almost all of these titles have been invaluable to me at some point in my career. Many are about techniques and style, while others address the business and promotion aspect of being an author. But don’t stop here--search your favorite bookseller for new releases about this craft we love and hate at the same time.

Toni Leland’s Bookshelf
American Slang - Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.
Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia
Between the Lines - Jessica Page Morrell
Book Marketing from A-Z - Francine Silverman
Conversations with American Writers - Charles Ruas
Dangerous Men & Adventurous Women: The Appeal of Romance - Jayne Ann Krentz, editor
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy - Hirsch, Kent & Trefil
Elements of Grammar - Margaret Shertzer
Elements of Style - Strunk & White
Emotion Amplifiers - Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
Feature & Magazine Writing - David E. Sumner & Holly G. Miller
Fiction Dictionary - Laurie Henry
Finding Your Voice - Les Edgerton
G M C: Goal, Motivation & Conflict - Debra Dixon
Grammatically Correct - Anne Stilman
How to Write Dazzling Dialogue - James Scott bell
How to Write Killer Fiction - Carolyn Wheat
Merriam-Webster’s Manual for Writers and Editors
New Encyclopedia of American Scandal - George Childs Kohn
No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript That Sells - Alice Orr
On Writing - Stephen King
Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus
Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
Plot & Structure - James Scott Bell
Self-Publishing Attack - James Scott Bell
Story Structure Architect - Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D.
Take the Mystery Out of Promoting Your Book - P.M. Terrell
Techniques of the Selling Writer - Dwight V. Swain
The Art of Character - David Corbett
The Career Novelist - Donald Maass
The Chicago Manual of Style
The Complete guide to Article Writing - Naveed Saleh
The First Five Pages - Noah Lukeman
The Forest for the Trees - Betsy Lerner
The Novel Writer’s Toolkit - Bob Mayer
Webster’s II New College Dictionary
Wham Bam Publishing: Strategic Marketing Plan - Janice & Joan Phelps
Write Your Novel From the Middle  - James Scott Bell
Writer’s Guide to Places - Don Prues & Jack Heffron
Writing Fiction for All You're Worth - James Scott Bell
Writing Mysteries - Sue Grafton, editor
Writing the Blockbuster Novel - Albert Zuckerman
Writing the Breakout Novel - Donald Maass

February 21, 2018

Inside a Writer's Mind

A peculiar thing happens to writers. Not immediately, you understand. But as we learn our craft and smooth the rough spots, the rhythms of writing start to become second nature. Then, suddenly, we find ourselves unable to read fiction or watch a movie without applying every tidbit we've gleaned from myriad how-to books, magazine articles, workshops, and conferences.
This may not seem like a big thing, but for me, the phenomenon comes close to obsessive. Imagine a family member's reaction when I groan about a story I'm reading: "Why did the author do that? It's not in character!" Or I turn and smile knowingly at my husband: "Did you see the way the screenwriter used foreshadowing?" or "Right there--that was the second turning point!" He just shakes his head.

But this new awareness is not a bad thing. The very fact that we as writers recognize the structure, symbolism, and end intent of another's work proves that we are growing--absorbing the sweat equity of those who have clawed their way to the top of the cliff and hoisted themselves over. A reward, if you will.

Every craft has its weirdness, and it takes a certain amount of "hermit-ness" to stay the course. But behind the drive to become published, a thought hovers in the back of every writer's mind as he or she reads a bestseller or watches a great movie--I can do this.


©2018 Toni Leland