Category Archives: Writing

Six Writing Books that Deliver a Triple Whammy

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I’ve written about when to step back from devouring how-to-write books like you’re cramming for a big exam. Now I’d like to mention six books on writing that have kept me moving forward through the years. Many books on craft have been invaluable resources, but I’m not listing them here, because they’re already on most writers’ lists.

The following books woke my spirit when I first read them years ago, along with Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. They inspired me at a deep level and set me back on course whenever I was derailed. These are just a few:

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s one of the first I read that was a triple whammy of self-help guide, spiritual practice and specific tasks. She suggested writing three stream-of-consciousness pages every morning. As a result, I’ve been doing morning pages for twenty years. I feel unmoored if I haven’t done them before starting my day.

One Continuous Mistake by Gail Sher. Sher said, “Staying focused on who you are (with all your faults) requires maturity, perseverance and tremendous self-compassion. Act like and treat yourself as though your mind were joyful, kind and big—as though it were radiant, unlimitedly friendly and large. In reality, your true nature is such and if you treat yourself this way, you just may rise to the occasion.” It’s so easy to let negative thoughts creep in, and Sher reminds us to be our own champions.

If You Want to Write, A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland. In her preface Ueland said, “Be Bold, be Free, be Truthful.” Simple words that can take a lifetime to achieve.

The Passionate, Accurate Story, Making your Heart’s Truth into Literature by Carol Bly. Her advice discusses writing in a moral, political and emotional context.  

The Spooky Art by Norman Mailer. Best advice on what to read when you’re in the middle of writing a novel. Mailer said, “It’s disturbing to read a novelist with a good style when you’re in the middle of putting your work together. It’s much like taking your car apart and having all the pieces on the floor just as somebody rides by in a Ferrari.” I understood exactly what he was talking about even though I’ve never taken a car apart.

Writing Alone and with Others by Pat Schneider. Schneider started Amherst Writers & Artists writing workshops thirty years ago on the principal that teaching craft can be practiced without damage to the creative spirit, a writer is someone who writes, and every writer has a unique voice. I’ve written about my wonderful experience of attending an AWA writer’s group in this blog.

I’d love to hear what books on writing have inspired you on your writing journey.

How Writing with Others Made Me a Better Person

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I didn’t think a writer’s group was for me. Solitude was what brought out my creative ideas. I certainly didn’t expect a writing group to help me grow as a human being.

I feel differently now.

Some days scrolling through the how-to advice on my laptop is like walking through a forest while being bombarded by squadrons of gnats. There’s no getting away from the swarm of emails, articles and blogs on craft and marketing advice about building a platform, how to use social media to improve your brand, productivity, and so on.

Granted, no one is holding a gun to my head to make me read those articles. I put the pressure on myself. I want to be a better writer (learn not to use clichés) and I want to learn more about how to reach readers. But through my writing group, I’m able to step back and find perspective.

My Amherst Writers and Artists group is an oasis of calm in a multitasking world. It’s an island where there’s no right or wrong way. We write, we read, we listen, we talk. We don’t judge. We respond to someone’s first bloom of creativity by deep listening. We often ask the writer to read the piece again, or to repeat lines. We take our time. We tell the writer what touched us, what phrase, tone, word or idea caught our imaginations. We always offer positive feedback. It’s not a critique group. What we’ve written are rough first drafts of possible poems, beginnings of short stories or new scenes for a novel or memoir. Sometimes it’s humorous, sometimes heartbreakingly sad, and always written from deep truth.

How has listening affected my life outside the writing group?

Like most of the tech-crazed people I know, I am often guilty of locking my eyes on my cell phone or staring at an overhead television at a restaurant with spouse or friends, or losing the thread of a conversation because my mind is on what I have to do next or what I’m going to say.

My writing group has reminded me to fully listen to what others are saying and to take the time to respond thoughtfully to their words. It’s not a dashed off email, or a tweet or an Instagram or Facebook post or even a blog. It’s an intimate connection. I’ve learned that it’s a gift when someone really listens to me, and I love returning that gift. It’s making me a better person and a better writer.

Is there a Fairy Blogmother?

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This past week three blog posts made a big impact on me. It amazes me how often the right blog pops up to help me with whatever I’m grappling with at the moment. I believe there’s magic afoot.

The first one was Chuck Sambuchino’s, Why “Keep Moving Forward” is my Best Advice for Writers Everywhere. I found it on Writer Unboxed, a favorite blog I follow that started as a collaboration and now includes a rich community of contributors. I had just sent my mystery to an editor to critique and was driving myself crazy waiting for feedback and agonizing over what ifs of the negative type.

Sambuchino’s advice: “In my opinion, the most frustrating thing about writing books is that so much is out of your control.  Keep moving forward. That is probably the best advice I can give you as you continue toward your writing goals, whatever they may be. I promise myself that while I may fail at a task at hand, whether it’s small or big — I will not fail because of a personal lack of effort. There are so many things I cannot control, but you can be damn sure that I will keep moving forward through bad news. I do it because it’s all I can do. Keep moving forward and I promise everything will be all right.”

Maybe I have no control over the editor’s opinion of my mystery but I could continue to work on a short story or read an inspiring blog like Writer Unboxed where I always find something that keeps me “moving forward.”

Sacramento Gold

A second blog/website I found this week felt like I’d struck a vein of gold. Kate’s Miscellany ~  For Valley Writers is a comprehensive listing in the Sacramento area of current events, educational and local publishing resources for writers, and lots more useful links for local writers and readers. It’s a blog that gives back.

Sometimes Questions are better than Answers

Another blog I follow is Ruminating Merlin. This blogger often asks thought-provoking questions. He’s an avid reader and I like his comments on what’s happening at Apple and Amazon, the Pulitzer board failing to name a fiction winner this year and how English teachers feel about teaching to testing standards rather than to enrich minds. All weighty subjects. He ponders what it means for him personally, and to society.

Step Away from the How-to-Write Book

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At the Left Coast Crime Conference, I had the good fortune to attend a self-editing workshop by a respected editor in the publishing industry. We had the option of sending in an advance chapter of our work for her to review and possibly use in the workshop. I’d submitted mine and she used it so she was familiar with my project. After the workshop, I asked if she would critique my novel. She agreed, and the process was set in motion.

However, once I crossed that threshold I panicked. The manuscript I’d worked on for two years was not ready. I galvanized into action. I attempted to re-read every how-to-write book in my vast arsenal and apply every word of advice to my novel. For example, I found a list of extraneous words to watch out for and in a frenzy rooted out all fifty listed. I eradicated so many connecting words I had to add them back in for the sentences to make sense.

I read a book on chapter arrangement and rearranged all my chapters. I read a book about point of view and almost changed my story to third person. And the voice was all wrong. Luckily, the voice of reason stopped me just in time.

I dug into those how-to-write books like my bookshelf was a tool box and tried to hammer, chisel, and knock down an already sound structure. What did I learn?

Sometimes you can try too hard.

 My manuscript was ready to go. That’s why I approached an editor to critique it. I already had it as good as I could get it. I was just afraid.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my how-to-write books. I enjoy reading them and learning from them. They teach and inspire and make me a better writer. They comfort me. They give me confidence. But the information has to be absorbed when the time is right, when I need it. Not when I tear through them like I’m pulling an all-nighter cramming for a final exam because I’m not prepared. I am prepared.

In fact, I might write a nonfiction book next:  Too Much Self-editing can be Self-defeating

Writing a Pitch is a Bi***

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I recently wrote about the upcoming Left Coast Crime conference in Sacramento. I’m participating in a workshop on story structure. The workshop leader, author Alexandra Sokoloff, asked us to send the premise of our mystery before Thursday.

Easy enough.

Write a one-sentence summary of a 300-page novel that hooks the reader. We’ve all seen them on book jackets, New York Times best-seller lists and movie blurbs.

I sought out some fresh examples and set out to write it. The form has many names: hook, logline, premise or pitch.  Some are no more than 15 words. Some don’t use character names. My writing group said they liked it better with the name of my protagonist.

It was hard.

Four days later, I finally had it down to two sentences and more than 45 words. Here’s the result of my effort.

Focused on Murder
A Spirit Lake Mystery

Britt Johansson is a star newspaper photographer whose reckless behavior nearly ended her career. She gets a chance to redeem herself when she’s working in Northern Minnesota and stumbles across an international crime ring that ultimately pits her and her brother against a deranged killer determined to destroy them.

If you like it, please hit the Like button. If you have suggestions, I’d love to hear them.