Back to School Reading List for Writers

Tip of the Day: Miss my Back to School Supply Shopping List for Writers? Read it again HERE.

A couple of weeks ago I blogged a list of cool supplies every writer should have and this week I'm going to go over some must-have books. Starting with,

ON WRITING by Stephen King

This is, I think, the first real writing book I read when I decided I might give writing a go. Sure I read writing basics over the years through schoolwork but this was the first book that hooked me. The first part is memoir and King talks about how he became a writer and the second part is valuable advice for writers. If you haven't read it yet, it's a must.

The next suggested writing book comes from Megg with BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott. This book talks about Anne's joys and struggles as she writes her book and will inspire you to do the same.

Deena suggests we take a look at Cheryl B. Klein's SECOND SIGHT.  This book is a great one to read before querying an agent or editor. Cheryl has been an editor in the Children's and YA market for over ten years and offers tons of advice from how to find the heart of your story to building better characters.

Kate says SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS by Renni Browne and Dave King is a must. It is full of tips (and checklists) for you to polish your work as much as possible before submitting for publication.

Emily likes WRITING AND SELLING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL by Hallie Ephron. It has tons of charts and genre specific suggestions that she finds super useful.















And here's an additional list of writing books our A2AGirls recommend:

See Jane Write: A Girl's Guide to Writing Chick Lit - Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs
Writing the Breakout Novel - Donald Mass
Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg
Take Joy - Jane Yolen
Manuscript Makeover - Elizabeth Lyon
The First Five Pages - Noah Lukeman
Gotham Writer's Workshop Writing Fiction
Steering the Craft - Le Guin
The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide - Becky Levine
The Elements of Style - Strunk & White
Plot and Structure - James Bell
Creating Character Emotions - Ann Hood
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy - Orson Card
The Comic Toolbox - John Vorhaus


Kristina, Miss Author in Action

Fright Fest

Tip of the Day:  Want a chance to win an e-ARC of my upcoming novel, Afterlife? Click here to enter!

"When you're working on a book do you ever become paralyzed by fear?"

A writing friend of mine PM'd me over Facebook a couple days ago looking for an answer to this question.

I'm not sure if she expected me to say: "No! Writing is all flowers and hearts! I flit from page to page with joyful abandon, sure my perfect prose will win the Pulitzer!" *cue sparkles and butterflies*

Here's my actual answer: "Afraid? TERRIFIED 24/7. I am scared <bleep>less every time I write, every time I edit, and every time I publish a book. I am convinced everyone will hate it. I think every phrase is awkward. I am sure people are laughing at me behind my back.

Is that what you mean? lol. I think that's how we creative types define normal."

I think everyone needs to hear this once in a while. All writers are insecure. If we waited to feel good about our writing before continuing a project then I'd bet the only books on the shelf would be from literary luminaries like Snooki (who may have an incredible book - I don't know, I haven't read it).

 (I'd also really like to go on record and say that she could be a lovely person in real life. I'm talking REAL life, not that "reality" junk that's shown on TV.)

I think that confidence in writing becomes an even bigger minefield in self-publishing. SELF-PUBLISHING IS CRAP! DON'T SELF-PUBLISH! MICROSCOPIC BUGS WILL EAT YOUR BRAIN WHILE YOU'RE SLEEPING IF YOU SELF-PUBLISH! Isn't that what Jodi Piccoult said? ;) lol

Just because I self-publish, it doesn't mean I'm vain. I'm seriously insecure. I self-publish because I love telling stories. Are they perfect? Doubtful. But if I don't tell stories then it's quite possible my brain will explode and, really, nobody needs to clean up that mess.

No one writes because they have complete confidence in themselves and their work. We write to exorcise the demons. We write to express ourselves. We write to give others a piece of our souls. Is there any greater gift?

Give fear the finger and keep writing. 
-Megg Jensen
(feel free to quote me)

Megg, Miss Enchanted ePubber

In Praise of the Ugly First Draft

Tip of the Day: Treat writing as a business, but don't forget to have fun with it too.

Coming Summer 2012

As you read this, my five-year-old son is in the hospital getting his tonsils removed. The date has been looming over me for weeks now. He'll be off of school for a week while he recovers, probably spending the bulk of his time snuggling with me or playing video games. Our ancient PS2 and old-timer Wii reside in the basement - my iMac is in our second-floor loft. Needless to say, I won't get any quality writing time in while he's home. Even when he's playing video games, I'll want to be close by. I'm definitely a helicopter mom when it comes to my kids' health.

I've been working very hard since January to write the first draft of Afterlife. As his surgery date got closer and closer, my panic over finishing this draft grew and grew and grew. I had it in my mind that I could easily print out the draft, edit by hand, and still get plenty of work done while he recovered.

In the last two weeks, I've written over 25,000 words. I'm close to finishing, but not totally done. I know, you're thinking that's a lot of words in a short amount of time. Totally true - but that doesn't mean they're great words.

My ratty, yellowed copy of Bird by Bird

My writing life changed in 2000 when I saw Anne Lamott speak at a writing conference. She introduced me to the concept of the Sh!++y First Draft.

The concept? Get the words out. They don't have to be pretty, but without that first draft there's nothing to edit.

"The first draft is the child's draft, where you let it all pour out and then let it romp all over the place, knowing that no one is going to see it and that you can shape it later. You just let this childlike part of you channel whatever voices and visions come through and onto the page." -Anne Lamott

Finally, I was free to write. Instead of agonizing over word choice, I give myself fully to the story during the first draft. Not only do I enjoy writing more, but I feel like I'm able to let the muse speak rather than forcing my characters into situations just for the sake of following an outline. Now I consider my first draft a really long, ugly summary. A severe round of editing comes next.

Instead of fretting over taking an entire week off of work, I'll be cuddling on the couch with my little man. He'll have his game remote in his hands; I'll have my first rough draft, a highlighter, a pen, note cards, sticky notes, Sleepers (for cross-referencing), and a thesaurus in my hands. It's a good thing I have eight arms. ;)

So, thank you, Anne Lamott. You spoke so lovingly about your son all those years ago. I was an unmarried girl, unsure of my future, but absorbing every beautiful nugget I could glean from you. Who knew that one day your advice would enable me to write while being the best mom I can be to my son? <3

Megg, Miss Enchanted ePubber