I would add to this list Haruki Murakami's Novelist as a Vocation. I can summarize the book:
He woke up one day, quit everything he had going for him in his life, and decided to be a bestselling author despite never having written. It worked. His routine is : write for 8 hours. Go running. Do not disturb.
Thank you for this! I read Big Magic and didn’t hate it as badly as I feared I would—the idea of giving yourself permission hit me at a good time—but I find her persona really difficult to take.
So much of craft and advice seems like finding what works for where you are. It makes sense that I’m not where I was 25 years ago but I hadn’t verbalized it. So thanks!
Great article. I agree with you about the Francine Prose book. A slog. My favorite structure book is Anatomy of Story by John Truby. I used it as a text when I taught novel writing to college students.
That's been on my to-read list for a long time. Maybe a review of structure books is definitely in order. (Of course, this means I have to read them, hmmm)
I’m so happy to find someone who agree with. 😃 I see the inevitable lists of best writing books out there in the world and I always groan. I finally gave up on the Francine Prose book after decades. And the Save the Cat book makes me want to scream.
If all these books have so little to teach us, I kind of have to wonder about the value of reading all these blogs about writing, too. (Except this one, of course.) I learned how to write a novel by reading novels and writing them. Reading books on writing gave me this: a sense of being in a guild of sorts. A cohort. Maybe a false sense, but sometimes, I don’t know, you just need to feel like you aren’t the only one struggling. Same with blog posts. Happy writing today!
I’ve read a ton of writing craft books over the years and most were forgettable. The only one on your list I read was Bird by Bird which I read in the last year. It was entertaining though did nothing to teach me to write. The one book I found that was more helpful than the rest was Story Genius by Lisa Cron. It’s a great book that I’ve read more than once and I followed her blue print method for writing my latest book. I’d only recommend it for someone who has been writing for a while as a beginner might not be ready yet. I’m now at the point where I’ll read craft articles and just read a lot of books to see what other writers did well or badly and try to use that knowledge with my own writing. At some point it’s just time to write and get feedback. The other lesson I learned is that paying for professional feedback is far more valuable than having friends, even writer friends read your stuff.
Bird by Bird doesn't teach writing, true. It's more about the paralyzing perfectionism that keeps so many writers from actually writing. I suppose that's the underlying question: what do we expect from a book of writing craft? Help with the mechanics of writing, or with the process of art-making and all its associated baggage? Different books serve different needs.
I haven't read the Stephen King one, it was in my TBR pile, but now I might skip it.
Francine Prose's book is one I got in college, but only the examples seemed interesting. I like Save the Cat, and I have a copy of the Save the Cat Writes a Novel, but I keep it mostly for advice.
My fave craft books right now are The Emotion Thesaurus, A Writers Guide to Medicine, and other Thesaurus books like The Big Book of Filth and Roget's Thesaurus of Words for Writers. Alright, I don't know if you can technically call these craft books so much as writing resources.
Thanks again Sonal! I agree with you on the ones I’ve read, and will skip the two that are on my TBR pile and have been for years. I feel accomplished already, checking two titles off my list!
Love this list. I'm on my third attempt to get past the first bit of Prose's book, and while I am thirsting for someone to hold my hand and show me how to do all the minute things that writers do, I'm having trouble sticking with this book and now I feel relieved that I can let it go.
Hmmmmm….just the other day I was looking at some books on my shelf, some of which you have mentioned here, and I was wondering about the ‘why’ of them. I thought, time to purge, and then felt like maybe I had missed something in my reading of aforementioned books and should give them another whirl. Thanks Sonal, something I can cross off of my ‘should do’ list 😆. Out they go!
I've read about a third of these, and I think they were good for me at the time I read them (ie: especially Stephen King's book), but I would agree with your assessment of Big Magic. Something about it just didn't ring true and I think you've hit the nail on the head. I also don't want to get up any earlier, haha. But whaaaat on the audiobooks at 1.75 speed?? I thought my 1.25x was decent...I need to up the ante, because you are right: who has the time?
Was it in Big Magic where she talked about ideas floating past and you had to catch them or they went to someone else? I found that notion interesting (if a little, oh, daffy.) There is something to be said about the zeitgeist.
Big Magic but also a TED talk she did a while back. It's a fun notion, although yes, I have definitely found it a bit daffy. But I like idea of it anyway, because it takes the pressure off writers feeling like they must have amazing ideas... rather, the onus on the writer is only to show up and write. It's much easier to show up than it it's to be amazing on demand.
I would add to this list Haruki Murakami's Novelist as a Vocation. I can summarize the book:
He woke up one day, quit everything he had going for him in his life, and decided to be a bestselling author despite never having written. It worked. His routine is : write for 8 hours. Go running. Do not disturb.
Ta da.
Well, this explains everything; I've never been a runner. :) Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for this! I read Big Magic and didn’t hate it as badly as I feared I would—the idea of giving yourself permission hit me at a good time—but I find her persona really difficult to take.
So much of craft and advice seems like finding what works for where you are. It makes sense that I’m not where I was 25 years ago but I hadn’t verbalized it. So thanks!
Yeah, a lot of what she says is good stuff, but so much of how she comes through while saying it is a turn off for me.
But absolutely, so much is hearing what you need when you need it. And the rest, nevermind.
Great article. I agree with you about the Francine Prose book. A slog. My favorite structure book is Anatomy of Story by John Truby. I used it as a text when I taught novel writing to college students.
That's been on my to-read list for a long time. Maybe a review of structure books is definitely in order. (Of course, this means I have to read them, hmmm)
Have you read the Modern Library Writers Workshop. It’s my favorite. Like a wise uncle telling you it’s all going to be okay.
I have not but your description appeals to me
I don’t agree with everything but reading your voice just makes my snarky, contrarian soul happy 😂
Snarky and contrarian is my peanut butter and jam 😂
I’m so happy to find someone who agree with. 😃 I see the inevitable lists of best writing books out there in the world and I always groan. I finally gave up on the Francine Prose book after decades. And the Save the Cat book makes me want to scream.
Heh. No one wants to admit that so many of these books are solidly meh.
If all these books have so little to teach us, I kind of have to wonder about the value of reading all these blogs about writing, too. (Except this one, of course.) I learned how to write a novel by reading novels and writing them. Reading books on writing gave me this: a sense of being in a guild of sorts. A cohort. Maybe a false sense, but sometimes, I don’t know, you just need to feel like you aren’t the only one struggling. Same with blog posts. Happy writing today!
I appreciate being the exception. :)
I like the notion of reading to have the sense of being part of a guild, because it's true, we all need to know we're not alone in this.
I’ve read a ton of writing craft books over the years and most were forgettable. The only one on your list I read was Bird by Bird which I read in the last year. It was entertaining though did nothing to teach me to write. The one book I found that was more helpful than the rest was Story Genius by Lisa Cron. It’s a great book that I’ve read more than once and I followed her blue print method for writing my latest book. I’d only recommend it for someone who has been writing for a while as a beginner might not be ready yet. I’m now at the point where I’ll read craft articles and just read a lot of books to see what other writers did well or badly and try to use that knowledge with my own writing. At some point it’s just time to write and get feedback. The other lesson I learned is that paying for professional feedback is far more valuable than having friends, even writer friends read your stuff.
Thanks for a list of books I can skip.
Bird by Bird doesn't teach writing, true. It's more about the paralyzing perfectionism that keeps so many writers from actually writing. I suppose that's the underlying question: what do we expect from a book of writing craft? Help with the mechanics of writing, or with the process of art-making and all its associated baggage? Different books serve different needs.
Thanks for the comment!
Well stated!
I haven't read the Stephen King one, it was in my TBR pile, but now I might skip it.
Francine Prose's book is one I got in college, but only the examples seemed interesting. I like Save the Cat, and I have a copy of the Save the Cat Writes a Novel, but I keep it mostly for advice.
My fave craft books right now are The Emotion Thesaurus, A Writers Guide to Medicine, and other Thesaurus books like The Big Book of Filth and Roget's Thesaurus of Words for Writers. Alright, I don't know if you can technically call these craft books so much as writing resources.
Those are great references, though!
Thanks again Sonal! I agree with you on the ones I’ve read, and will skip the two that are on my TBR pile and have been for years. I feel accomplished already, checking two titles off my list!
Looking at you getting stuff done!
Love this list. I'm on my third attempt to get past the first bit of Prose's book, and while I am thirsting for someone to hold my hand and show me how to do all the minute things that writers do, I'm having trouble sticking with this book and now I feel relieved that I can let it go.
Oh yeah, skip it. Or read like, one example per chapter and skip the rest.
I agree with everything you’ve said here about these books! A relief to see it stated 🙂↔️
I mean, people can disagree with me, but personally I agree with me
I love this!!!
Thank you!
Hmmmmm….just the other day I was looking at some books on my shelf, some of which you have mentioned here, and I was wondering about the ‘why’ of them. I thought, time to purge, and then felt like maybe I had missed something in my reading of aforementioned books and should give them another whirl. Thanks Sonal, something I can cross off of my ‘should do’ list 😆. Out they go!
Heh. Life is too short for books we aren't reading
I've read about a third of these, and I think they were good for me at the time I read them (ie: especially Stephen King's book), but I would agree with your assessment of Big Magic. Something about it just didn't ring true and I think you've hit the nail on the head. I also don't want to get up any earlier, haha. But whaaaat on the audiobooks at 1.75 speed?? I thought my 1.25x was decent...I need to up the ante, because you are right: who has the time?
Was it in Big Magic where she talked about ideas floating past and you had to catch them or they went to someone else? I found that notion interesting (if a little, oh, daffy.) There is something to be said about the zeitgeist.
Big Magic but also a TED talk she did a while back. It's a fun notion, although yes, I have definitely found it a bit daffy. But I like idea of it anyway, because it takes the pressure off writers feeling like they must have amazing ideas... rather, the onus on the writer is only to show up and write. It's much easier to show up than it it's to be amazing on demand.
I know people who loooovved Big Magic so I'm glad I have tapped into the not-so-magical-for-me crowd.
The speed I listen to varies a lot depending on what I'm reading, and what I'm doing at the same time. Craft books are definitely a high speed read.
You're a good teacher, Jeffrey. And I'm sure there are times you've found yourself giving advice you need to hear yourself.
One of the best things about teaching, honestly.