Skip to main content

Writing Books...

I've read many writing books and can say that the vast majority of them would produce nothing more than a cookie-cutter book with little to no life. I have found only 3 that I feel are at all inspiring - Bird by Bird, On writing - both King's and Stein's. I loved all three of these books. I do like Self-editing for Fiction Writers as well, but for different reasons. I realized today that while many writing books are by agents or editors or publishing pro's. These three are actually by writers. Of all the experts to seek out in writing wouldn't you think we would turn to writers first? Oddly enough, I think we often turn to agents or editors and while their information is gold. It doesn't often speak to me in the manner that a writer can. I have read countless mentions of "show don't tell" but only after reading Sol Stein's description did the light bulb turn on. I've read editors speak about the value of tight writing. Okay, what in the heck does that really even mean? And then you open Stephen King's On Writing and suddenly it is all so clear. I'm sure I will read other books on writing and take bits and pieces from each, but for now I'm just going to write, revise, and write again until I feel I've learned as much as possible about the crazy craft known as writing.

M.B.

Comments

  1. Amanda C.September 1, 2010 at 3:04 PM

    Great post! I feel the same way you do! I think sometimes we become so obsessed with reading about HOW to write that we forget the importance of Just Writing. I haven't read Stein's book, but I have read On Writing, and I think Stephen King emphasizes that quite nicely. Just write. That's what we do. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Melissa WestSeptember 1, 2010 at 4:20 PM

    Exactly! Now if I can only find time to write I'll be all set! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lo HughesSeptember 2, 2010 at 5:59 AM

    Bird by Bird is definitely one of my favourites. When I start to panic that things in my story are getting out of control, I make myself do that '1-inch picture frame' technique she describes, and all is (usually) well again!

    I love your point that the 'best' books you've found have actually been written by writers. So true. While I'm now tempted to go out and get Stein and King's I'm going to resist the urge, and just keep writing! I'll cross my fingers that you blog about Stein's 'show don't tell' one day :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Melissa WestSeptember 2, 2010 at 12:06 PM

    Laura - I'll email you the details. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amanda C.September 3, 2010 at 11:03 AM

    Hey! I'm awarding you the Versatile Blogger and One Lovely Blog awards because I love reading your blog! (And not just because I agree with most of your posts!) :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Melissa WestSeptember 3, 2010 at 8:24 PM

    Amanda! You just made my day! That is too sweet of you. I'll link back to you in a post for sure!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

YA Scavenger Hunt: Fall 2013!

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team ! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours! Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are THREE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GOLD TEAM --but there is also a red team and a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books! If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full li...
79 comments
Read more

Pitch Wars 2017 Wishlist!

Hi! How are you? Excited? Nervous? Hating your MS? Loving your MS? Yep, I get it. Been there, have the wrinkles to prove it. But that's what retinoids are for, and besides-- Wait, let me back up and do this introduction thing properly. And, you know, by "properly" I mean Hart of Dixie style. So, you're probably wondering who I am and why I think I'm a rockstar, when I'm just a brand new little newbie mentor. Well, here's the thing--I'm not really one of those "I think I'm a rockstar" kind of people, so we won't be going there. Sorry. BUT I can tell you who I am. Here goes. OFFICIAL, PRETTY BIO: USA TODAY bestselling author Melissa West is the author of more than fifteen novels, each set in the South and ready to steal a reader’s heart with Southern charm, sweet tea, and a whole mess of gossip. Her novels have received high praise and recognition from RT Book Reviews , Seventeen Magazine , Fresh Fiction, and Harlequin Junk...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reporting in and need your opinion

So last Monday I proclaimed that I would have my WIP complete by today. Well, unfortunately that didn't happen, but I am VERY close--only 2-3 chapters left. Which is why I chose this photo for today. I can see the finish line, but I'm not there yet. Hopefully my Wednesday post will declare completion. And then revisions begin. I realized halfway through that I wanted to go a different direction in a pretty important subplot. I made notes throughout the first half and so now I have to correct those issues. Once those are complete that draft will be draft 2 (though technically draft 4 as I've revised a bit already). But I need opinions on something. I plan to revise wide and zoom in, likely ending with 6 drafts before I would consider the WIP polished. I will probably send the full to my CPs and betas once the draft 2 mentioned above is complete. Okay, now on to the question. I'm considering having a freelance editor read the final version prior to submission. Is that wis...
7 comments
Read more