Kristen GwenI’ve been slogging along on this writing journey for quite a while now, and one of the things I love to read is craft books. I’ve heard teachers say that because you’re human you automatically know how to tell a good story. Well, then I don’t know what’s wrong with this human because I can’t seem to figure it out as easily as others. And I must not be alone since there are oodles of books on story structure and other writing topics. Some may say they don’t need craft books and they will figure it out on their own, and more power to them, but I will take any help I can get. So my writing tip for today is to read craft books.
Here is a list of my favorite craft books (none of the links are affiliate links. I just really love these books):
James Scott Bell
When I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out story structure, Mr. Bell stepped up and gave me a hand. His explanation was the one that finally made sense to me. My favorite book of his is Super Structure. He has a whole series of books to help writers, so don’t stop at Super Structure. Another great one is Write Your Novel from the Middle.
Write Your Novel from the Middle
Randy Ingermanson
Randy has a way of developing story ideas called the Snowflake Method and it’s what he’s most known for. He even has a program for building your story that is now incorporated into the Plottr software. Randy helped me to understand the delicate dance between plot and character and how they play off each other. He also has some great books that detail the snowflake method as well as scene writing that are short, sweet, and super helpful.
How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method
How to Write a Dynamic Scene Using the Snowflake Method
Michael Hauge
While Michael Hauge is a screenwriting consultant, his books and programs have helped bring even more clarity to how plot and character work together. His books on screenwriting have many applications to fiction writing, and his program “Add Hollywood Magic to Your Novels” masterclass is a fantastic overview of how to develop plot, character, theme, love story threads, and how to make your writing commercial. Many lightbulbs illuminated when I took his class at a conference, and in reading his book, Writing Screenplays that Sell. We novel writers can learn a lot from screenwriters, and that’s exactly what Mr. Hauge gives us in his books and programs.
K.M. Weiland
I am new to K.M. Weiland, but boy have I devoured her books. James Scott Bell gave me the bird’s eye view of structure, and the K.M. Weiland swooped down and gave me the nitty-gritty. She gets into so many details, it kind of made my head spin, but in a good way. She has a series of books on plot, character, theme, and outlining. She also has workbooks that go with most of them to help walk you through what she teaches in her books.
Many more craft books grace my shelves, but these are the ones that have helped me the most in developing my structure and characters. Do you have a favorite craft book? Leave a comment and let’s all pick up a few new ones to add to our toolkit. Happy writing!
Misha
Victoria Kimble
I use the Snowflake Method and love it. I’m currently reading a book by James Scott Bell, “Writing Unforgettable Characters.” So far, it’s super helpful. I’m a big believer in reading craft books. We should never stop striving to learn.
OH, I have his character book on my kindle. It’s only list, so good to hear it’s helpful. Yes! Never stop learning 🙂 Love it!
Helpful post! James Scott Bell is my favorite, but I’ve heard lots about the Snowflake method. I’m like you, craft books energize me because they clarify my fuzzy points in writing.