For Writers

If one listed occupations that can create severe psychosis in individuals where, previously, no abnormalities existed, those professions would be:

a)      Publishing
b)      Acting
c)      Fashion Modeling

Probably not in that order but, hey, I say Publishing makes the Top 3.

Ever since I starting writing fiction seriously (way back in the summer of 2000), I’ve been fortunate to come across an abundance of phenomenal references and resources. Here are several of the books and websites I’ve personally found most helpful, user-friendly and inspirational for aspiring novelists:

Books:

(And, yes, I do own copies of all of these. You wouldn’t believe the time and money I spend in bookstores.)

STORY--Robert McKee

THE COURAGE TO WRITE--Ralph Keyes

ESCAPING INTO THE OPEN--Elizabeth Berg

TECHNIQUES OF THE SELLING WRITER--Dwight Swain

MAKING A LITERARY LIFE--Carolyn See

SCREENPLAY--Syd Field

BIRD BY BIRD--Anne Lamott

ON WRITING--Stephen King

WRITING FICTION--Janet Burroway

CREATING ROMANTIC CHARACTERS--Leigh Michaels

WRITING THE ROMANTIC COMEDY--Billy Mernit

SELF-EDITIONG FOR FICTION WRITERS--Renni Browne & Dave King

TOXIC FEEDBACK--Joni B. Cole

LESSONS FROM A LIFETIME OF WRITING--David Morrell

THE JOY OF WRITING SEX--Elizabeth Benedict

ON BECOMING A NOVELIST--John Gardner

FICTION FIRST AID--Raymond Obstfeld

WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES--Clarissa Pinkola Estes

EMOTIONAL STRUCTURE--Peter Dunne

WRITER’S GUIDE TO CHARACTER TRAITS--Linda N. Edelstein

FROM WHERE YOU DREAM--Robert Olen Butler

Websites:

(These are my absolute favorites. If you aren’t yet familiar with them, you will come to love visiting these sites. I just know it.)

Alicia Rasley’s The Writers’ Corner is fabulous site with an impressive array of writing articles on craft-related subjects. It’s at www.sff.net/people/alicia/archive.htm

Jennifer Weiner’s hysterically funny advice to anyone who wants to become a novelist, found at www.jenniferweiner.com/forwriters.htm

Michael Hauge’s wonderful articles on novel/screenplay structure, found at www.screenplaymastery.com/articles.htm

Jennifer Crusie’s set of humorously written essays on the craft/life/business of writing, found at www.jennycrusie.com/essays.php

RWA National, which is a truly supportive and informative organization for genre writers, particularly those working on romance and women’s fiction, found at www.rwanational.org