Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
2 Pulitzer Prize Contenders You Won’t Want to Miss
I've been studying prize-winning books this year, taking them apart, learning what I can and letting their stories settle into me. Recently I finished two adult books written by Pulitzer Prize winners. The Known World, by Edward P. Jones, won the Pulitzer back in...
7 Early Readers that Will Entertain a 5-Year-Old
Every year my boys and I sit down and make a summer reading list for them, with both books of their choosing and books of my choosing. My 5-year-old is a great reader. He excelled in his first year of school this year, and I knew that he was ready to be challenged a...
2 MG Books That Will Make a Kid Feel Accomplished
I’ve been a little obsessed lately with the middle grade author Brian Selznick. He’s not actually just an author. He’s an author illustrator for middle grade, which isn’t a common combination when you start moving into books for older grades, unless we're talking...
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.