I promised some suggestions of books to read if you’re an author or you would like to write. I’m going to give two this week and two next week. These two are for authors who haven’t read anything relating to writing. And I know that sounds weird, but I know of many who have self-published or handed me their manuscripts to read and when I ask, they haven’t read anything to do with writing.
Don’t misunderstand. I’m not suggesting these books as if I’m a super successful author that knows everything. I’m still learning like everyone. I read a newer book on writing last month and learned a couple new things. It takes practice to get to great writing. But we must practice writing well to get to great writing, and these books, in my opinion, pointed me in the right direction.
On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.
Stephen King gets a bad rap among some authors, and I’m not totally sure why. I don’t always like how he brings a story to resolution (IT being the primary example of this), but most of the Dark Tower series is borderline genius, and Drawing of the Three is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I read everything he wrote up until a decade ago and still read a few of his new ones. Under the Dome and 11/22/63 are both great reads, however bad the TV shows were or will be.
On Writing is not a “how to write” book. It is a “how to be a writer” book. If you know anything about reality, then identity is the foundation of everything. And King literally gives his story on what living as an author has meant to him and his perspective on the craft. It is a writing “classic” now, and I’ve read it a couple times. Never disappoints. And by the way, you don’t have to have read anything he’s written to appreciate the book. It will inspire you.
Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card.
Orson Scott Card is another of my favorite writers, mainly his Ender books. Anything in that world he created is a great book. Ender’s Game is a bonafide classic.
Unlike On Writing, this is a “how to write” book. And it covers two of the major parts of writing a novel that beginning authors struggle with – building a great character that is a real person and writing from a consistent and specific point of view within a scene.
Most published books I read (and again, from last weeks post, I read a ton) are told from third person limited or first person point of view. Most first manuscripts I read from authors are in a random type of third person omniscient. Characters and Viewpoint helps with some of the nuts and bolts to help keep voice, character, and perspective consistent in ways that draw readers in.
That’s it for this week. I’ll share two more next week.
Peace.