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.
References:
- *Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder (Plot & Storyline issues)
- *On Writing by Stephen King (Writing)
- *Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
- *The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Ackerman / Puglisi
- *Writing Active Setting and Hooks by Mary Buckham (Setting, Hooks)
- *GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
- *The Definitive Book of Body Language by Barbara and Allan Pease
- English Simplified by Blanche Ellsworth (Grammar)
- Creating Fiction edited by Julie Checkoway
- A Dangerous Profession by Frederick Busch
- Fluent Writing: How to Teach the Art of Pacing by Denis Leograndis (Pacing issues)
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White (Style)
- Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass
- Writer’s Toolkit by Bob Mayer
- Story: Substance, Structure, and Style and the Principles of Screen Writing by Robert McKee (useful information for novelists)
- Screenplay by Sid Field (useful information for novelists)
- The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
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
- Active Settings by Mary Buckham (now available in print and ebook)
Writing Software
- Microsoft Word and OneNote (this is what I use)
- Scribner
- The Write Way
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
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