In my office, I have two shelves of books about writing. One holds books I've read and consider keepers. The other contains books I haven't read yet. (Guess which one is crammed full?) The subject matters range from inspiration to technique to writing exercises.
I've already talked here and here about Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way but some of my other favorites are On Writing by Stephen King (big surprise, I know) and Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass (which, obviously, I haven't done yet.) I've also got books by Natalie Goldberg and Heather Sellers and Maeve Binchy, to name a few more.
I know, I know - I should spend more time writing than reading about writing but I think having a handful of go-to books is kind of like having your own little private cheering/inspiring/consoling section. So, how about you? What are your favorite books about writing? (Maybe I have some of them on my to-be-read shelf.) What about those books keeps them on your shelf? And what about other writing resources or writing magazines - any favorites there?
I love books but hate to move them and I've moved many times. I'm loving the e-book concept. I have culled my favorite reads down to a manageable pile. Of those I search to find what they are doing that captures me.
ReplyDeleteSally, the organizational part of me likes the idea of a Kindle/iPad kind of thing - clean, uncluttered, etc. But the book lover in me loves seeing all the book spines and being able to pick up a book and revisit favorite characters and stories or to meet new ones.
ReplyDeleteI do love Julia Cameron's work - particularly The Sound of Paper. And Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI'd also suggest Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott, and The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. I love writing, but I also love reading about writing!
Hi, Katie! I'm going to make a note of that Julia Cameron book and also the one by Twyla Tharp. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI use Spilling Ink with my jr. highers, and it's GREAT. Stein on Writing and Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing are two other good ones.
ReplyDeleteThose are all going on my list, Milo. My bookshelves do not thank you but I do! :)
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...most of my faves have been listed. But I do love Eats, Shoots and Leaves. Which is technically more grammar than writing, per se. But you know, you can't write without commas, right? :-)
ReplyDeleteCathy, I think I have that on my to-be-read shelf. Me and commas have a sort of love/hate relationship. :)
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