Rachel’s Recommendations
Recommended Reads:
Brown Girl Dreaming: a Poetry Masterpiece for Middle Grade Readers
A memoir that recently captivated my heart was one written for the middle grade age. Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson, is a nonfiction memoir written in poetry, which I think is the best of both worlds. Woodson takes her readers through her birth and her...
Salman Rushdie and the Art of Realistic Fantasy
I’m really surprised that I’ve never read Salman Rushdie before, but I picked up his most recent book, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights because it was on the express shelf at my library. I actually picked it up by accident, because, for some reason, I...
Mary Oliver: The Poetry that Examines Life and Death
I discovered poet Mary Oliver last year around the time that her newest poetry book, Felicity, came out. I read poetry continuously, because I believe that poetry is the cornerstone for good writing; if you have a good grasp of poetry, you have a good grasp on...
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.