When you're a writer, one of the hardest things to do is ask for help. Unfortunately for writers, you cannot be a good one without help. But if you're like me, you feel much more comfortable seeking advice behind the pages of a book then in front of a person. So I've compiled a short list of books on writing, in order of where they belong in the creative process.
1. Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook by Ellen Potter and Anne Mazer
This book is for the newest of beginners. It says so on the book flap. It fully covers all the basics, from creating characters to developing voice. If you are just getting started with writing or want to brush up on the core elements, this is the book for you.
2. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
I revisit this book whenever I'm about to embark on a huge rewrite. Maass covers all the elements that make ellegent writing what it is, the rules that one forgets while they are caught up in the first draft. The book includes step by step workshops to make any manuscript the next hit novel.
3. Advice to Writers: A Compendium of Quotes, Anecdotes, and Writerly Wisdom from a Dazzling Array of Literary Lights by Jon Winokur
Unlike the previous two, this book offers less concrete advice and more relatable witty tidbits. It includes hundreds of quotes from famous authors that will invoke a giggle or a knowing sigh from every writer.
P.S. The self-publishing is definitely going ahead at this point. A photographer friend of mine is coming over on Friday to take a photo for the cover. Stay tuned for updates.
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