If you're a writer (or dream of being one), you need this list! These books have shaped my journey, but Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott holds a special place in my heart.
This post is full of so many helpful things! Thank you. I loved On Writing by Stephen King. Now I can't wait to work my way through the rest of this list.
This is both a refreshing and a daunting list of books. I'm only familiar with Bird by Bird (which I've read) and On Writing (which I'm currently reading). Lots of intriguing sounding books to add to my [ever-expanding] TBR list - thank you ☺️
I also enjoy reading books that aren't necessarily about the craft of writing, but contain snippets of the author's beliefs that can be useful to think about. Martin Amis is one of my favourite writers and he'll go off on tangents occasionally sharing his writing beliefs, most of which you won't hear about anywhere else (his work of autofiction, Inside Story, is a great example). One thing he once said has always stuck with me: "plots only matter in thrillers." Easy for him to say with all his success, but for the rest of us, I think we probably need plots!
I also have an ever expanding TBR list, there are way too many great books to be read. I haven't read any of Martin Amis's books but now I'm interested in reading his work. I sometimes wish plots only mattered in thrillers... I think I focused too much on plot at one point in writing my debut novel and was completely stressed over it!
I’m planning on a post one of these days (among a hundred other ideas!) about Martin Amis’ approach to writing because it’s so different from much of the so-called conventional writing wisdom. (A lot of it also a bit pretentious, but he was very high on himself).
I’ve just bought Save the Cat! Will get to that after On Writing.
Another book I have waiting for me on my kindle is Thomas C Foster’s How to Write Like a Writer.
If you're a writer (or dream of being one), you need this list! These books have shaped my journey, but Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott holds a special place in my heart.
This post is full of so many helpful things! Thank you. I loved On Writing by Stephen King. Now I can't wait to work my way through the rest of this list.
This is both a refreshing and a daunting list of books. I'm only familiar with Bird by Bird (which I've read) and On Writing (which I'm currently reading). Lots of intriguing sounding books to add to my [ever-expanding] TBR list - thank you ☺️
I also enjoy reading books that aren't necessarily about the craft of writing, but contain snippets of the author's beliefs that can be useful to think about. Martin Amis is one of my favourite writers and he'll go off on tangents occasionally sharing his writing beliefs, most of which you won't hear about anywhere else (his work of autofiction, Inside Story, is a great example). One thing he once said has always stuck with me: "plots only matter in thrillers." Easy for him to say with all his success, but for the rest of us, I think we probably need plots!
I also have an ever expanding TBR list, there are way too many great books to be read. I haven't read any of Martin Amis's books but now I'm interested in reading his work. I sometimes wish plots only mattered in thrillers... I think I focused too much on plot at one point in writing my debut novel and was completely stressed over it!
I’m planning on a post one of these days (among a hundred other ideas!) about Martin Amis’ approach to writing because it’s so different from much of the so-called conventional writing wisdom. (A lot of it also a bit pretentious, but he was very high on himself).
I’ve just bought Save the Cat! Will get to that after On Writing.
Another book I have waiting for me on my kindle is Thomas C Foster’s How to Write Like a Writer.