I love to learn and share knowledge. While attending conferences and workshops, reading books and blogs, and chatting with fellow authors, I have compiled a list of references that are extremely useful to any writer, no matter the genre. Feel free to suggest other references that have been most beneficial to you. I love a new reference book.
References:
- Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder (Plot & Storyline issues)
- GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
- On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft by Stephen King (This is about writing)
- Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
- The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
- The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Attributes by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
- The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Flaws by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
- The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
- Writing Active Hooks Book 1: Action, Emotion, Surprise and More by Mary Buckham
- Writing Active Hooks Book 2: Evocative Description, Character, Dialogue, Foreshadowing and Where to Use Hooks by Mary Buckham
- The Definitive Book of Body Language: The Hidden Meaning Behind People’s Gestures and Expressions by by Barbara and Allan Pease
- English Simplified by Blanche Ellsworth (Grammar)
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White (Style)
-
The Success Principles(TM) – 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer
Workshops
- *Deep Edits by Margie Lawson (online, in person, or buy the material and read it)
- Before you Hit Send – Angela James Executive Editor Carina Press (Editing Workshop)
- Break Into Fiction by Mary Buckham
- Using Software Tools to Track Your Writing by Author Jodi Ashland (free PDF 11MB)
Writing Software
- Microsoft Word and OneNote
- Scrivner (I love this tool for writing novels!)
- The Write Way
- Vellum (formatting beautiful e-books for MAC)
Associations
- Romance Writer’s of America (RWA)
- Local chapter of RWA in a city near you to meet local authors
- Example: Greater Seattle RWA, Eastside RWA
- Mystery Writer’s of America
The links above are affiliate links where I earn a small commission if you choose to purchase the book. They are for your convenience. I have personally read, use, and recommend these resources for authors. If you prefer, you can go to your favorite online retailer or book store to purchase the book. As a convenience, you can click on the links above to see what stores the books are available.
Please feel free to leave a reply