Darlings, did you catch Dee's post last week about setting goals in your writing? Thanks Dee, great stuff. So, where to start with your writing?
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| Photo credit: www.amazon.com |
This month I'm going to show you some terrific writing reference books that have helped us at Breathless in the Bush - or that I simply loved to read. Though I'm a reader first, I love and adore reading books about writing. The two go hand in hand, don't they? One of them might just provide the spark to kickstart your writing. So go, you...!
One of the first books I read was the beautiful (but sadly out of print) To Writers With Love by Mary Wibberley, who wrote a lot of gentle Mills & Boon in the 1970s and 80s. Like Dee's post last week, this is an inspirational book to get you going and to think and plan, but mostly to enjoy your romance writing. If you can find it in a used version I'm sure you'll love it.
What about more modern (and available!) How-To's? The fabulous Valerie Parv AM has written a superb book everyone needs to read: The Art Of Romance Writing. Go to the top of the queue to attend a course by her or to hear her speak (thank me later). Valerie, for all the love you've given romance writers - and readers - all over the world, we salute you. |
| Photo Credit: http://www.valerieparv.com/artof.html
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Bear with me... I want to let people know about three more incredibly helpful books. The first is a special favourite, The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler. Even if you're not a writer you'll be fascinated by the way Vogler works out structure and analyses mythology's influence on books and movies. It mesmerised me the first time I read it, and it hasn't lost any of that allure. Makes writing seem almost easy. ...Almost!
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| Picture Credit: www.thewritersjourney.com |
I really enjoyed The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines by Tami Cowden. If you're struggling with your hero or heroine, and can't work out 'who' you want them to be, this book is your answer. Terrific in-depth stuff that will have your pen itching to hit the page. Or your fingers dance along the keyboard...
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| Picture Credit: www.amazon.com |
I could go on and on - honestly, once you start about writing books, the list is absolutely endless - but the last one I want to mention is the amazing GMC by Debra Dixon. Every scene in your book should have a goal, a motivation, and a conflict. Sound too hard? Not the way Debra describes it. Read it and your writing will take on a new verve and interest.
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| Picture Credit: www.amazon.com |
...And I haven't even mentioned The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, or Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, or Vanessa Grant's Writing Romance, or reference books such as What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool, or.. or....
Every writer I know has their absolute favourite How-To's. What are yours? Do share with us: let us know what motivational or reference book has helped your writing journey - and it just might help someone else as well.
STOP PRESS! Valerie Parv is giving away a copy of her book The Art Of Romance Writing to one lucky commenter. So post those comments now!
Till next time my lovelies,
Miranda xx
I love to love: Jane Austen! Just re-read Northanger Abbey and loved it all over again.
I love to laugh: at funny cat videos on the internet. Yes, I'm a tragic...
I love to learn: what people are reading. Seriously. Please share.
Thanks you, Miranda. I love studying the craft (even after 90 books) almost as much as I do writing. I still buy how-to books and am pleased if I learn just one new thing. Another huge favourite of mine - and huge is the right word - is Robert McKee's Story.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read that one, Valerie, but it's on my 'list'; it comes highly recommended. Thanks so much for stopping by, such a pleasure to have you pop in. For those who love Valerie's books, she's combined her twin loves of romance + science fiction in her new book BIRTHRIGHT: Beacon 1, coming out this very week! http://www.amazon.com/Birthright-Beacon-1-Valerie-Parv-ebook/dp/B01AU0N7BI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457314333&sr=1-1&keywords=valerie+parv
DeleteSqueeee!! A new Valerie Parv! I'm off to pre-order it now!
Deleteright behind you, Dee!
DeleteHi Miranda! I have many of these books and, like you, have found them invaluable. Another one I really like is Donald Maass' 'Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook'. It's full of great writing tips and excellent exercises. I used it recently to flesh out the Antagonist in my wip and it was a huge help.
ReplyDeleteFantastic, Marilyn. Any book that helps an author is totally worth it. And judging by the wonderful THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE you've managed to nail it!
DeleteHi, Miranda!
ReplyDeleteFunny...just this week I introduced my 12 year old to Chris Vogler's The Writers Journey! He's been learning about myths. As an assignment, he's to write his own myth. He was struggling with his heroine. (Yes, HE was writing a myth with a female protagonist!) I showed him my copy of The Writer's Journey and we went through the various stages of the journey together. He listened; with a 12 year old that's a success in itself but he also learned enough from it to write a 600 word myth that kept my interest (and hopefully his teachers). It also helped remind me of a few things that I've since gone back and applied to my wip! I love that book, followed closely by Deb Dixon's GMC and Valerie Parv's The Art of Writing Romance!!
Thanks Miranda, and Dee, I hope you enjoy Beacon Birthright. It's first in a 5-book series with Momentum/Pan Macmillan who have decided, to my joy, to bring the whole series out by end June. Yay!
DeleteWow! That's quick succession. I love that--I don't have to wait months and months for the next one! You're a legend Ms. Parv! Thank you and thanks Momentum/Pan Mac!
DeleteI get so frustrated when I have to wait months (if not YEARS!)for the rest of a series to come out. Congratulations Valerie!
DeleteSo agree about the Writer's Journey being fab!
DeleteDee, that's amazing about your son. And shows the power of The Writer's Journey. Hope he gets an A+ !
DeleteValerie, how fantastic about your new series - like Marilyn, I simply CANNOT WAIT years and years for a series to unfold. Fingers crossed for huge success (although that will be certain, I'm sure...).
Miranda, great list. My fave writing books are Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Neither are specifically romance but they're useful whatever you're writing.
ReplyDeleteI so agree about Bird by Bird, Anna. One of the quirkiest writing books but fun to read, and full of useful thoughts.
DeleteThey are two high on my list as well, Anna and Valerie. In fact, on my shelf...! So many books - what fun!
DeleteThank you for your inspiring and informative post Miranda.
ReplyDeleteI've learnt so much from Valerie Parv's book, "The Art of Romance Writing". I found the chapters about characterisation, viewpoint and dialogue particularly helpful.
One book I'm learning a lot from at the moment is "Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies" by Leslie J Wainger.
Yes, that's a terrific book, Sharon. When Leslie visited an RWA conference here quite some years ago, we were all so impressed with her encyclopaedic knowledge about romance and the writing industry. SO glad she wrote it down for us all to enjoy!
DeleteThank you, Sharon. I'm delighted you got so much out of my book. Leslie Wainger is terrific, too. She was my editor for a time at Harlequin and lovely to work with. Dynamite on a shopping trip, too, but that's another story :-)
DeleteTerrific post, Miranda. For me the most helpful were (and still are) Valerie's book and Vanessa Grant's and Donald Maass' books. Another set I like is KM Weiland's Structuring you Novel and Structuring Your Novel Workbook.
ReplyDeleteMany of the books out there all have the same information but I found it's the way an author explains things and as you're reading it all clicks in place. That's why the books I mention are my faves.
Fantastic, Enisa! I don't know the Weiland books. (Happily goes off to research...) And I agree, whatever you find clicks, use...!
DeleteFab post, Miranda. Always fascinating to learn what other author's favourite craft books are. I have many of these too.
ReplyDeleteBut can I give a shout out to Alexandra Sokoloff's SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS? Out of all the craft books I have - and I have a few (although not as many as Valerie!) this is the one I return to the most. I also really like IMMEDIATE FICTION by Jerry Cleaver.
And here's a bit of an out-there recommendation, in the introduction of David and Leigh Eddings's fantasy THE RIVAN CODEX are some really cool paragraphs on how they write.
I'm really going to have to buy BIRD BY BIRD...
Oh Cathryn, great tips, thankyou! The year Alexandra came to the RWA conference (in Brisbane?) was magic. She had so many ideas they were pouring out of her. Brilliant. Jerry Cleaver is also an old fave. But now I can see I'm going to have to get a copy of The Rivan Codex, just to read the intro! Fantastic, thanks!
DeleteDon't want to drive you all nuts, but two lovely books for your shelf - an oldie but goodie for pubs and unpubbed alike - Writing the Novel from Plot to Print, Lawrence Block; and if you're a Doctor Who fan, track down Doctor Who The Writer's Tale by Russell T Davies and Benjamin Cook. Doorstep sized but rivetting behind the scenes info, script samples and more by their best (IMO) writer.
ReplyDeleteSo, so good to have these other two titles. Thanks, Valerie!
DeleteAnd if Miranda will forgive me for a wee gloat, if you're on Facebook or Twitter, I've just put up the cover reveals for Beacon Birthright and Beacon Starfound. Momentum Pan MacMillan have done a stunning job, not that I'm biased or anything
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely forgiven, Valerie! In fact, super excited for you! Go look, everyone!
DeleteBOOK GIVEAWAY NEWS! we haven't forgotten, beautiful people. As the lovely commenters here were either from our blog, or established romance writers themselves, we have given Valerie Parv's book to a commenter on the blog from 14.03.16... (today). Thanks for stopping by, everyone, and lucky Tris will have a great time with her Art Of Romance Writing, I'm sure!
ReplyDelete