Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
2 Kid-Lit Fantasy Books that Will Make You Want to Watch Movies
Recently I read two kid-lit fantasy books that made me want to watch movies. I have to qualify this statement a little bit. It’s not that these books were so awesomely written that you would want to watch a movie that was made from them. I only mean that one of them...
2 Adult Reads That Will Break Your Heart
Another Brooklyn is a brand new release from Jacqueline Woodson, who is best known for her middle grade novels Brown Girl Dreaming, Feathers, and Locomotion, all of which have been award-winning books. She's also written many others that are recognized in the kid-lit...
2 Award Winning YA Books that Will Rock Your World
I read Bone Gap, by Laura Ruby, several months ago, but, for some reason, I wasn’t quite ready to talk about it. I think it’s because this book takes a lot of digesting. It’s got so many layers that you need some time with it once you finish it. Bone Gap is the story...
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.