Friday, November 6, 2009

Dream Resources for Writers

Perhaps you noticed yesterday, cunningly concealed within Latayne's post (you had to follow the link to her presentation video, and then follow the link to the handout) , an excellent resource list for writers. I was particularly happy to find it, because just the night before, I'd had coffee with a hopeful author struggling with his first novel.

Get yourself to a writers conference, I'd told him, and then wondered where I could find a list of conferences he could refer to.

A writers group would be a great idea, I'd said, and then wondered where he could find information about finding or starting one of his own.

"But how do I format the manuscript?" he asked. Visit Novel Matters, I answered. Then made a mental note to make sure all this information could be found on our site.

And what did I find the very next morning, but Latayne's list. Easy Peasy. All I had to do was insert all her handout goodness into our resource list.

So I did. Today I think I'll beef it up even more, by adding to her excellent list of books some of the titles we mention again and again on Novel Matters. Like Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury - the best, in my opinion, on how to write. Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle - the best, again in my opinion, about why to write.

Then, of course:
  • On Writing by Stephen King
  • Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
  • Write Away by Elizabeth George
  • Write Tight by William Brohaugh
  • From Where You Dream by Robert Olen Butler
To these, I'm going to add one we may not have mentioned: The Writers Book of Hope, by Ralph Keyes. Every writer needs a boost from time to time if he's to spit in the face of despair. It helps to know the setbacks and frustrations he faces are common and expected.

When we ladies at Novel Matters began our blog, we had plans for the resource list. We wanted to find the really cool stuff, the stuff you couldn't find anyplace else. We have some fantastic links on our list, but we need ideas. That's where you come in, all you writers out there. Let us know, please, what sorts of resources you would you like to find. What would really help you? Tell us, and we will do our best to make your dream list.

Because we love you so much.

Mwah!

3 comments:

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

I followed that link, found the handout, and am definitely checking out those resources! This is priceless! Thank you!

A few weeks ago, y'all recommended Jessica Morrell's "Between the Lines" to me. I'm just now going through it. It's so amazing that I'm taking my time. The book makes me want to write and I know it's helping me in the editing process I'm now in! So, thank you so much! I featured the book on my blog last week and a lot of readers said they'd never heard of it before and were excited to go out and buy it.

Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Ah, yes, Kristen, Between the Lines is excellent. As are all the books Katy listed. Though I've never taken a single college course in English or writing I've received a great education on writing over the years -- all through the pages of books like Jessica Morrell's and Write Tight and Write Away ...

We hope our resource list becomes a virtual library one can go to select a title from to enrich their own physical library.

And what fun when you discover that another writer friend is reading the exact same book you're reading, at the exact same time. It happens, hey Bonnie? ; )

Kathleen Popa said...

Kristen, the very best writing books are the ones that make you want to write!