Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
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,...
A Wonderful Adult Tale of Love, Imagination, and Sacrifice
Once again, here I am raving about Fredrik Backman. I have become a superfan of his, after reading A Man Called Ove, and, now, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. This book. How do I even begin? Funny, charming, heartbreaking, hopeful, sweet are just a...
A Charming Graphic Novel About Loving Yourself
My boys absolutely love graphic novels. So when I discovered Raina Telgemeier and her wonderful graphic novels, I knew I needed to introduce my boys to her. Every single time we go to the library, they now come home with at least one Telgemeier book, even though...
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.