Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
A Wonderful MG Story About Friendship, Curses, and Bravery
I’ve been a big fan of Cassie Beasley’s middle grade books for a while, and it was with great anticipation and eager eyes that I picked up her latest release, Tumble and Blue. This was a sweet middle grade story about friendship, fate, and sacrifices and included the...
American Street: An Engaging Look at Detroit Street Life
I’d been hearing a lot of talk about Ibi Zoboi’s American Street, and I finally, after waiting for months, got it off the hold shelf in our library. All that talk was true: American Street is a truly spectacular book that will entrance you, bring you to tears, and...
A Beautiful Historical Novel in Verse About Feminism and Painting
As I’ve stated before, I’ve been working my way through novels in verse, and Joy McCullough’s Blood Water Paint was one I’d been eagerly anticipating for a while. It just released this year and is a phenomenal book based on the life of painter Artemisia Gentileschi,...
Writing resources
On Story
- Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, by Robert McKee
I know this is a screenwriting book, but it’s probably the most comprehensive book on storytelling. A great resource! Dense reading, but full of great information. - The Hero With a Thousand Faces, by Joseph Campbell
Another dense read, but Joseph Campbell is one of my favorite commentators on story and story structure. Every writer should read this one at least once. - The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell
This was actually a series of interviews Campbell did. It’s better to listen to the audio version or watch the DVD. He’s so passionate about story, and that’s contagious!
On Writing (general)
- Wired for Story, by Lisa Cron
Great book on the science of the brain and how to craft well-told stories that will appeal to the storytelling side of the brain. I got this book years ago but still pull it out every now and then to refresh my memory. - Steering the Craft, by Ursula Le Guin
This one’s not so much a technique kind of book as it is a book reminding writers of their obligation to their readers. Some of her ideas are a bit old-fashioned, but most of them are still valuable today. - The Fire in Fiction, by Donald Maass
Another great one on creating books that appeal to readers. Again, I always read these kinds with a grain of salt–because my goals are a bit different, but we all want readers, so I think we can always find value in the suggestions offered, even if we don’t become hardcore users of them.