Best Craft Books for Writers

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carl
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Best Craft Books for Writers Jul 7, 2018 21:18:47 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this

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Post by carl on Jul 7, 2018 21:18:47 GMT

I'm always on the hunt for books about writing - craft books. I own several but I feel I need more, so I put it to everybody, what craft books helped you become a better writer?

I'll name my favorites (so far) to start, in no particular order.

1. Story Engineering, by Larry Brooks : This book is very specific regarding structures that work, structures that sell.

2. Plot & Structure, by James Scott Bell : More specifics on the beats that make an idea a real story that folks will want to buy and read.

3. Write, Publish, Repeat, by Sean Platt & Johnny B. Truant (that his real name) : This is ALL about making it as an Indie author, with a primary focus on the business end of things. I just got this one and so far it's been very eye-opening.

4. Characters & Viewpoint, by Orson Scott Card : Card's taken a lot of heat for his comments on marriage, but that's all quite irrelevant to the talent this man possesses. Few authors have sucked me into a story through characters as much as Card has, and so he knows what he's writing about here. Very educational tome.

That's my top 4. What else should I add to my collection?

Last Edit: Jul 7, 2018 21:24:54 GMT by carl

K'Sennia Visitor
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Best Craft Books for Writers Jul 8, 2018 2:14:24 GMT

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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Jul 8, 2018 2:14:24 GMT

Great question!

Let's see. I've read and collected a ton of writing books, so these are just the top ones that I remember.

Steven King's "On Writing" is really good. It's half craft book, half biography, but it's one that every author should read at least once.
2,000 to 10,000 by Rachel Aaron is really good. It's more about developing a pre-writing/outlining system to help you write faster than straight craft.
Anything by K.M. Weiland is excellent.
45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynne Schmidt was really good.
Eats, Shoots, and Leaves is a fun grammar book that I enjoy.
I also like Write, Publish, Repeat and Bells's characters book.

While Faith Manages I'll be in the car.

possiblyderanged
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Best Craft Books for Writers Jul 8, 2018 13:26:31 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this

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Post by possiblyderanged on Jul 8, 2018 13:26:31 GMT

I don't really look for craft books anymore, but I have enjoyed and learned from all of James Scott Bell's books. Most of my reading on the subject came many years ago, when I read any and every book I could find. I'm an old lady now.

My main focus now is just to put in the time getting the words down. I think I have the basics pretty much figured out, but being consistent and writing more than I don't is the key for me.

everydayheroine New Member Posts: 5	Best Craft Books for Writers Jul 9, 2018 0:07:44 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by everydayheroine on Jul 9, 2018 0:07:44 GMT I own an insane number of craft books, but the one I constantly reach for is Libbie Hawker's Take off Your Pants. I also recently picked up David Farland's Million Dollar Outlines.

dave New Member Posts: 9	Best Craft Books for Writers Jul 10, 2018 0:06:02 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by dave on Jul 10, 2018 0:06:02 GMT Storycrafting, by Paul Darcy Boles. Fiction is Folks, by Robert Newton Peck.

jokerman New Member Posts: 3	Best Craft Books for Writers Jul 12, 2018 5:24:36 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jokerman on Jul 12, 2018 5:24:36 GMT Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain Writing the Novel from Plot to Print by Lawrence Block
	tonydwritespulp.wordpress.com

maowmaow
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Best Craft Books for Writers Jul 14, 2018 1:54:55 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this

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Post by maowmaow on Jul 14, 2018 1:54:55 GMT

Story Engineering by Larry Brooks (plot structures that sell, story craft)

Take Off Your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker (outlining, story craft)

2k to 10k by Rachel Aaron (outlining, plotting, increasing your word count)

Save the Cat! and Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies by Blake Snyder (story craft, plotting, outlining, story structure) -- This is ostensibly for screenwriters, but I learned pacing from these books better than from anywhere else. Because if screenwriting is about anything, it's about story arcs that HAVE to have good pacing.

Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels by Gwen Hayes (what the subtitle says)

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