Thursday, October 23, 2008

on my shelf: a tribute: part one

What could be pleasanter than a little literature in the small hours? — P.G. Wodehouse

During the act of creation there is collaboration. We do not create alone. — Madeleine L’Engle

I am trying to be a very good person and not question my impulsive signing up for NaNoWriMo last week… But I stare at Part Three and realize how very much I do not know yet!

I have lots thought out, and so many elements have grown and deepened since writing the first draft. That much is encouraging. But the huge black holes in the plot, the light-sucking, howling ignorance that I feel when cracking open my outline… that’s not so good.

So I’m reaching again and again to my writing bookshelf, to flip through the books that I adore so much, searching for a bit of courage.

There are so many great writing books out there, and I’ve barely scratched the surface. But for now, here are the ten I keep nearest, for comfort and direction and inspiration…

1. Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott (fellow writers are either rolling their eyes because everyone talks about this one, or else they’re nodding in unison: yes, we know, and we feel the same way about first drafts as Anne does…) The nuts and bolts of writing, the writer’s mindset, and writing anecdotes… it’s all here.

2. Writing the Breakout Novel and
3. Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, both by Donald Maass. Oh my goodness, Donald Maass is a genius. I’m not a huge fan of workbooks: they remind me of fourth grade busywork. But while Maass’s original book was superb, I’ve been able to apply his principles in myriad ways using the workbook—it’s ultra-practical, and has taken my draft far beyond what my own insight and abilities could ever do.

4. Page after Page, and
5. Chapter after Chapter, Heather Sellers. Page after Page was part of a going-away present when I finished my internship at Zondervan. I devoured the book and loved Sellers’ advice. And then Chapter came out, and I found it about ten times more helpful and applicable. Some chapters are underlined in at least five different colors—I read it over and over and can quote passages from memory… it’s that good.

Posted by Jenn Langefeld on 10/23 at 06:45 PM
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

<< Back to main