I’ve written about some of these books here, but it felt like time to just toss up a list. As of today, and in no particular order, these are my top 5 books on the craft of writing. If you’ve got some other favorites, add them to the comments, where everybody can see!
- Donald Maass‘ Writing the Breakout Novel (and accompanying workbook)
- Les Edgerton’s Hooked
- John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story
- Alicia Rasley’s The Power of Point of View
- James Scott Bell’s Plot and Structure
I have to mention one other book, which I haven’t actually read yet, but which I have on order–after listening to Merrily Kutner explain the diagramming method for picture books that the author teaches. I’m pretty sure I’m going to seriously love Eve Heidi Bine-Stock’s How to Write a Children’s Picture Book, Volume I: Structure. I’m pretty sure I’m going to like Volumes II and III, too, but I’m going one at a time for now!
Becky Levine 