5 best books on writing for beginners and beyond – Nicola Martin

Whether you’re just starting out in creative writing or looking to perfect your writing craft, there are a plethora of reference books available.

Here are five that I find invaluable:

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers – Renni Browne and Dave King

When I first flipped through Desktop Publishing for Fiction Writers, I wasn’t impressed. a chapter in show do not say it? please, are you also going to tell me not to use adverbs?

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then I read the chapter on show don’t tell and realized that I had never fully understood show don’t tell before. every desktop publishing chapter for fiction writers is like this.

renni browne and dave king explain the basics of writing in a clear, comprehensive, yet concise way.

Do you have a problem with the point of view? check this book. dialogue a bit iffy? check out this book.

I consult this book at least once a month. I also recommend it to other writers more than any other writing book.

The Story Grid – Shawn Coyne

While desktop publishing for fiction writers is all about the nuts and bolts of writing, the story grid brings you 26,000 feet up. Shawn Coyne’s book is all about panoramic storytelling from a helicopter perspective.

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It’s also the solution to the hardest question you’ll ever have as a writer, “why don’t people find my fiction compelling?”

(trust me, I’ve been there).

shawn coyne details narrative arcs and genre rhythms, giving writers a framework to start editing (really editing, not polishing) their novel.

I’m not kidding when I say the story grid method was the only way I got past the final rewrite of my first thriller, Dead Ringer.

On Writing – Stephen King

Have you noticed how many creative writing books are by writers you’ve never heard of?

This is why I rate Stephen King’s writing. love it or hate it, you can’t argue with its success.

Some of King’s advice I agree with, some I don’t (King is much more of a braggart than I’ll ever be), but there’s a lot to go into.

Perhaps most encouraging is the account of King’s journey to publication and success. it is a reminder of how much of this life is perseverance.

Writing Down the Bones – Natalie Goldberg

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writing the bones is the book i go back to when i need a shot of inspiration. creative writing books can be dry. “do this. don’t do this.”

natalie goldberg, on the other hand, is your effervescent fairy godmother. With chapter titles like “Writing Isn’t a McDonald’s Burger,” writing the bones is about learning to love the creative process.

goldberg’s philosophy is that writing is a kind of meditation and “free writing” sessions, where you write and write and write without stopping, can unleash your creativity.

This isn’t normally my style of writing, but it’s a good way to fight writer’s block or force start a new project when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

2k to 10k: How to write faster, write better, and write more of what you love – Rachel Aaron

If writing the bones is a fairy tale, 2k to 10k is just the facts, ma’am. it is also the craft book that best describes my writing style. If I ever find myself reeling, it’s usually because I’ve strayed from the Rachel Aaron Triangle.

Aaron’s story is pretty incredible: As a new mom with limited time to write and looming deadlines, she had to find a way to write a lot, fast. I doubt I’ll ever crack 10,000 words a day like aaron did, but by using his strategies, I’ve easily started increasing my daily word count by 500 words or more.

What are those strategies? write during your most creative hours; plan your stories with a detailed outline; figure out what you’re going to write ahead of time (it’s best to daydream when you’re standing in line at the bank, not at your desk; plot holes are best unraveled in note form, not when you’re in the middle of a scene); and pack up your novel full of stuff you can’t wait to write.

what craft books do you go back to again and again? let me know your recommendations in the comments.

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