The year is winding down but I put together a booklist for authors and the people who love them. These would make great gifts to a fellow writer. You can also let friends and family members know that one of these books would be a much appreciated gift. If push comes to shove, buy them as a present for yourself. I did not include either a dictionary or a thesaurus here because you should have both already. If not, add those to the list!
The Writer’s Market by Robert Lee Brewer
This book, which is updated yearly, needs to be on the desk of every freelance writer and author. In fact I would go so far as to say that this book is perhaps the single most important book most writers will own next to the above mentioned dictionary and thesaurus. Because it’s updated yearly, you will want a new one each year. It’s never even close to being the same book twice. The layout of this massive book is in two major components and then divided in sub-headings. The first section focuses on articles and the second on markets.
The articles are different each year and typically fall into the three categories of professional basics, the craft of writing and professional development. These articles are written by some of the best writers, authors and publishers in the business and the advice given in them is worth more than the cost of the book.
The second major section is on writing markets and is further broken down by types and publishers. You can search for markets via your favorite niche or by title. Once you have located your favorite magazine, for example, you can look over the entry and find out what they are looking for and how much they pay. While the information was current as of publication, you should double check the information by visiting the listed website to make sure nothing has changed.
If the above doesn’t sell you on this great book then consider this: In the very beginning of the book, before you get to even the first article, you will find the latest tips, hints and samples for writing query letters, book proposals and crafting pitches. It’s all there along with a bit of current tax advice. If you are going to buy one book for your writing career then this should be the book.
Damn! Why Didn’t I Write That? By Marc McCutcheon
This interesting book is a great resource for the non-fiction author. Seriously, how many times have you looked at a book and wondered why on earth you didn’t write it first? It happens to us all and this book helps you move beyond that and opens you up to the amazing non-fiction market that is out there just waiting for you to tap into it. This book is designed for traditional publication but is easily tailored for digital publication is you choose that route.
This book is set up with chapters on what sells, how to determine the potential of your idea and even sections on writing a book proposal, query letters and promotion. What makes this book stand out is the way it breaks down the basic elements of non-fiction book writing into manageable bites that not only inform but also inspire you to write your own book.
Character-Naming Sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon
I study names and naming trends along with the cultural trends that go with them. I’ve always done this and it’s a quirk that pays off greatly in writing fiction. I own several baby-naming books that I use to help select character names when writing fiction but The Character Naming Sourcebook is the best of the bunch. This book in particular makes it really easy to find the perfect name based on the setting of the story, the background of the character and even the personality of the character.
The book is set up with alphabetical lists based on country of origin. This is a great way to figure out what to name the characters of your new book that is set in the countryside of Finland, for example. Alternately, if you have the perfect name, you can simply look it up in the index and see where the name originates. There are also sections on naming characters and an especially handy section for choosing names based on genre.
20 Master Plots (And How to Build Them) by Ronald B. Tobias
This is an outstanding book that is both a guide for veteran authors and a must-have for new ones. Because most writers are also avid readers, this book is a lot of fun to read just for entertainment purposes.
The book is set up with sections discussing plot formation and then moves into a chapter based on each of the Master Plots. Many people don’t realize that there are 20 Master Plots in fiction writing and every book falls into one. Reading through it you will quickly begin to call to mind favorite books when you spot their Master Plot. What makes this book a necessity is that it deconstructs every one of these Master Plots in order to teach you how to create each one for use in your own work. This is really helpful if you find yourself stuck and can’t figure out what to do about it. The deconstruction of the plots can often help you map out a strategy.
The Fiction Writer’s Workshop by Josip Novakovich
This book needs to sit on your desk next to the one above. The Fiction Writer’s Workshop has two components in that it’s both a writing course with assignments and a reference manual. This is a fairly small book but it packs a lot of information between the covers.
The book is set up with chapters for the various elements of your novel. Everything from Setting, the invention of characters, plots and writing dialogue is included in this book. Each of these chapters deconstructs and explains every detail of the topic. For example, the section on crafting a setting goes into detail on using setting as the antagonist, how to create a setting but not overdo it and even discusses whether or not to use real places or invent new ones.
The second component of the book, one that is outstanding for new writers, is the exercise section at the end of each chapter. The exercises help you to put into practical use everything discussed in the chapter. Interestingly, if you start at the beginning and follow the exercises by the time you have finished reading the book you have almost written a book of your own!