When I was young and stupid, I thought the only way to learn to write was to write.
Okay, so I still think that. To a certain extent. But I’ve become a little more self-aware, and now I know that I can use all the help I can get.
I’m a pretty bright girl. I know the difference between “lay” and “lie,” I know a little bit about a whole lot of things, and I think algebra and physics are fun. But I also know that I tend to think so far outside the box that you can’t spot that poor box on radar from where I am. I’m the girl who took three pages to do geometry problems because I just couldn’t go at the theorems the same way everyone else did. I still got the right answers–it just took me six times as much work as my classmates put in.
Knowing all that, I’ve recently decided that it couldn’t hurt to read a few books on writing. I think I’ve talked about some of them here: Orson Scott Card’s How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (excellent), Nancy Kress’ Beginnings, Middles, and Ends (also very good, Nancy Kress has a way of explaining that gets through this dense skull), Monica Woods’ Description. (Yep, another great one. I should re-read it, though, since sleeping with it under my pillow isn’t helping.)
The point (yes, there is one) is that all of those mentioned are Writers Digest books. So when someone posted a link on one of my writers forums to the Writers Digest Book Club, I had to give it a look.
Wow. Four books for $11.99 (and shipping, of course). Still, $20 nets me four writing books, and I don’t have to buy anything else. I have to stick with the club for nine months, and they’ll send me those annoying little “We’ll send you this book if you don’t tell us not to” things, but I can handle that. No finding a stamp to refuse–I can go to the website to tell ‘em no. Now THAT I can do.
I’m very excited about the books I’m getting. Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. So good I remember the title AND author. I got this one from the library a while back, and renewed it three times and read it twice before I reluctantly gave it back. Not only does the man make sense–it’s actually a fun read. (I wouldn’t call any writing book good if it were dull, no matter how much sense it made. But I wouldn’t call most of them “fun” either.)
I’m actually of the belief that I do pretty well on characters. But I’ve heard good things about A Writer’s Guide to Character Traits, and I just couldn’t resist getting it. Yes, this is my idea of a good time. 
Write Faster, Write Better Anyone who writes, I think, feels like they waste a lot of time staring at a blank paper or a blinking cursor. At least, every writer I’ve ever asked has. And God knows I’ve been whining a lot lately about my muses going in six directions at once and I don’t have time to chase after. So here’s my answer. I’m hoping this helps.
Hooked This one has been receiving some attention on one of the forums I haunt. The gentleman reading it has posted some quotes that make excellent sense to me, so I’m giving it a shot. Hey, it’s either $5 or free, depending how you look at it. Worth giving it a try.
I wanted to get Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference too, but I could only get four books in my introductory offer (only four? hmm, perhaps I’m the one netted, ne?) and I found this on the website of my local library. So I’ll order it later if it’s half as helpful as it looks.
I will, of course, praise or complain as I feel compelled, so if you care about my opinions (of course you do, or you wouldn’t have made it this far down the page, right?) watch this space.
Now I’m off to brunch with non-writing friends whom I love but will try to escape ASAP.
I really don’t know why they put up with me.
