Books for Beginning and Beginning Again
Four books for getting started or getting back to basics.
If you are just starting out, the number of how-to-write books out there can be overwhelming. What is important to know before I start? How do I string together these characters into something someone else wants to read? How much description is too much description?
These books are designed for just those questions. They will walk you through the basics of plot, character, POV, dialogue and what your next steps should be once you’ve got a story on paper. They are intended to get you started, and should be enough to get you through a rough draft (or two).
Once you’ve got your hands on one I suggest reading it through once to absorb the general ideas. I highly suggest keeping a notebook nearby to write down new ideas and changes you want to make to your story as they occur to you while reading (lest they escape). Once you’ve done that, re-read the book at a slower pace and, here’s the real challenge—do the exercises.
Yes, you must actually do the writing exercises to get the benefit from them. Writing is mostly learned by doing, and making mistakes and writing terrible things is part of learning. Go into each exercise expecting the work never to see the light of day and surprise yourself with how good they turn out in the end.
List criteria: Books on this list cover the basics of writing a novel (plot, character, pov, setting, scenes, dialouge, etc.) and include exercises to teach their techniques.
Wonderbook - Jeff Vandermeer
Lavishly illustrated and full of delightful surprises, this book still packs in all the essentials of plot, character, and setting needed to get started. While the visual imagery can feel chaotic, there is plenty of structure to how the concepts are introduced and build upon eachother. This book is engaging, with a great deal of humor and out-of-the-box ways of introducing concepts. A great choice for younger writers and those who learn best from visuals.
Never Say You Can't Survive - Charlie Jane Anders
Also a top pick from my gentle writing advice list, Never Say You Can't Survive is packed with excellent advice for creating during challenging times. All the bases are covered but from a position that assumes you already know the bare-bottom-basics and are ready to dig deeper into how plot, POV, and characters get built into fiction. Good choice for writers looking to write to stay sane, tell their unique story, and use their words to fight back against the gathering darkness.
Techniques of the Selling Writer - Dwight V. Swain
One of the writing books I wish someone would have given me as a new writer. A pulp-era author breaks down how to write compelling scenes and punchy dialogue. His section on action-reaction units is one of the things that stepped my writing up to the next level. If you're up for some old-school advice, or are writing thriller or genre fiction, this is the book for you.
Steering the Craft - Ursula K. Le Guin
Le Guin’s Steering the Craft is a classic for a reason. She’s that rare breed who is both master storyteller and master teacher, covering the basics, yes, but in a way that will bring nuance to even seasoned writer’s understanding. With exercises in each chapter that stretch your skills and a helpful glossary of terms at the end which defines jargon terms. This book is also especially helpful if you are working in a group because the exercises include notes for how to discuss the works you’ve written in critique circles, but is equally useful for those working on their own. Good for those intent on building a solid foundation and anyone who wants to get back to basics.
