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4 Surprising Self-Help Books for Writers
And How to Use Them
Like many writers, I have read (and discarded) dozens of books on the writing craft. Over time, a treasured few have become old friends and trusted companions. These include books on writing screenplays, novels, and memoirs, because all three genres require a sound story structure. And while a book on screenwriting may help you visualize scenes in your novel, your favorite thriller can serve as a template for plotting your memoir (even memoirs require suspense though not necessarily the lurid kind.)
Below I’ve listed four of my favorite books on writing:
1. The Weekend Novelist, by Robert J. Ray (weekendnovelist.com).
The Weekend Novelist provides a framework for completing a novel in fifty-two weekends. Whether you are a weekend or weekday writer, this book will help you organize your time and direct your creative energies. The author’s diagram for plotting using Aristotle’s incline is especially useful.
Tip: Giving your conscious mind something to concrete to fiddle with, such as Aristotle’s incline, allows your unconscious to muse on the your story design.
2. Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee (mckeestory.com).
