writing wednesdays: on writing books

If you're a writer, I suspect you have a dedicated shelf or three or more for books on writing and publishing and the creative life. I mean, really, aren't we all looking for the secret ingredient that will make this writing gig easier?

There are far too many amazing books out there for a comprehensive list, so I'll just talk about a few of my favorites:

Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin.
​This book is a game changer! My copy has  sentences underlined, exclamation marks next to entire passages, and tons of flagged pages. Tiffany's approach is straight forward and, dare I say it, intuitive (groan, I know!). And, as an author herself, she understands the writer's mind.

This book is so much more than a "how-to edit" book though. Tiffany's strategies have not only helped with editing, but also with the brainstorming process on new projects. 

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The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass.
​I've loved all of Don's books (and his workshops; seriously folks, if you're lucky enough to attend a workshop with him, do it!!!!), but this particular book spoke to me the most. As a reader, I gravitate most to books that leave me raw and inspired from the emotional journey. 

I find myself going back to the Emotional Mastery Checklist in the back of the book on every manuscript to make sure I'm pushing myself to dig deeper. 

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On Writing by Stephen King.
​This is just one of those books that every writer needs to own and read and reread when you're doubting why you ever thought writing a book was a good idea. 

I'm not a fan of horror, to be honest, but I am a fan of anyone who is this brilliant at telling a story. This book is inspiring and empowering and an absolute delight to read (and reread).

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Rotten Reviews & Rejections edited by Bill Henderson & Andre Bernard.
As writers, we deal with rejection and harsh or just plain weird reviews all the time. It's part of the business that you can't escape. Though we never wish rejection or crap reviews for another writer, there's a comfort in knowing you're not alone. And sometimes, you need the reminder that even the best of the best received their fair share.

This isn't a how-to or even an inspirational book on writing. But it's a good reminder that we're in good company and that keeping a sense of humor is essential. 

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