Here is a list of books that I’ve found to be really helpful – just in case you feel the need to dash off a novel, but don’t know where to start! List is in no particular order. I’ll add to it as things occur to me. If you have a writing book you want to recommend please tell me about it in the comment section below this. 🙂
- Writing Romance by Vanessa Grant, for Self Counsel Press. Very practical book on structuring a romance novel for those who have no idea where to start. Her chapters on internal and external conflict are very good.
- Heroes and Heroines by Tami D. Cowden, for Lone Eagle. Good book for brainstorming character types and how they might interact with each other. This is a useful jumping off point for character development, if you’re stuck.
- Get that novel started by Donna Levin, for Writer’s Digest. Seriously good book on writing. Very practical. Well written. No matter what type of book you want to write – this will help you.
- Get that novel written by Donna Levin, for Writer’s Digest. The follow up book to the one above. Goes into things in more depth. Fab book.
- Editing your own writing by Michael Seidman, for Writer’s Digest. Practical advice on how to really see your own work. Invaluable when you get to that final draft stage.
- The Creative Writer’s Style Guide, by Christopher Leland, for Story Press. Grammar and punctuation for the fiction writer.
- Woe is I, by Patricia T. O’Conner for Riverhead books. This is the grammar guide for anyone. A real idiot’s guide that’s entertaining to read.
- Beginnings, Middles and Ends by Nancy Kress for Writer’s Digest. Great book for helping you to structure plot. This will help you understand the purpose of each section of your story.
- How to write a damn good novel 2, by James N. Frey for St Martin’s Press. This is a great book for helping you to dig into your story and write it well.
- Characters and Viewpoints by Orson Scot Card for Writer’s Digest. Useful for helping you to think through character motivation.
- Writing Mysteries by Margaret Lucke for Self Counsel Press. Great book for plotting. It doesn’t just deal with the crime genre but is useful for helping to build pacing and tension in your work.