Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
7 Amazing Summer Reads That Will Grip a 7-Year-Old
Last week I shared the summer reading list for my 9-year-old. This week I’d like to share the list I made for my 7-year-old, who goes into second grade this year. Again, I chose seven books for him, and he will be choosing eight of his own. I’m only going to share the...
2 Philosophical Memoirs That Will Make You Think
During my Sabbath week I finished two adult memoirs that I really loved. The first was The Argonauts, by Maggie Nelson. This book is a love story. It’s a meditation on what it means to be a family, what it means to be male and female. It’s a candid look at gender...
9 Books That Will Get Your 9-Year-Old Reading
This week I’ve got two more middle grade readers that I thought were great reads. The first is Kwame Alexander’s newest book called Booked. I was actually drawn into this book because of the cover, which has a soccer player on it. One of my boys really loves soccer,...
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.