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Monday, August 2, 2010

Law & Order: Special Writing Unit


Here’s the scenario:

The writing police are at your door, and boy, do they look pissed.

A snitch tipped them off that you haven’t been putting in your regular writing hours. In fact, you haven’t looked at your WIP in days.

“I’ve been busy,” you whine.

The biggest of the cops surrounding you puts his hand on his Taser, and he’s just itching to use it. He hates excuses.

“But I have writer’s block,” you cry.

A German Shepherd from the K9 unit growls.

Fed up with your feeble explanations, the cops slap the handcuffs around your wrists. They’re hauling you off to do a stint in writer’s jail – just you and your WIP.

Before they toss you in the patrol car, a kindly officer takes pity on you.
“I’ll allow you one craft book for inspiration – but just ONE,” she says.

Me? I already know which book I’d pick, “Chapter After Chapter: Discover the Dedication and Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams” by Heather Sellers.

This book guides you through the how-to’s novel writing with the precision of a GPS navigator. Seller’s practical advice is mixed with encouragement that makes writing a novel very do-able.

Now it’s your turn. Remember, you can only pick one!

What’s your favorite writing book?

8 comments:

  1. Love this. Hilarious. As for favorite, it depends on the reason why it's my favorite. I'm pretty fond of Write With Fire, but that's because it's mine. Outside of that, On Writing Well by William Zinsser is my favorite.

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  2. I've got Sellers' Page After Page and it's pretty good. Haven't read Chapter yet, but I will.

    Only one? Noooooooo... Then it'll have to be Steven Pressfield's The War of Art. Gives me the kick in the butt I need. If I could bribe the officers to let me have another one it'll be The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It's been in my TBR pile for ages and I'd really like to get into it.

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  3. You make me smile, Phyllis. :)

    I'm not sure I could pick just one writing book. I'm so addicted to them. If I had to, I'd pick Sol Stein's Stein On Writing. At least today. Ask me again tomorrow and it would probably be something else.

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  4. Charles G. your book is on my shopping list!

    Liane, you will LOVE Chapter After Chapter. The War of Art is a good one!

    Farrah, it's been a while since I've read On Writing. I think I'll pull it off my bookshelf to read tonight.

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  5. Great post. I don't know if I can pick just one. Also I have I hard time finishing most. I'd say Stephen King's On Writing.

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  6. Great Post! I went through a bit of "to tired to pick up the pen" then I realized I am slacking on God's gift and he doesn't slack on my blessings. I got busy. But there are so many writing books I love the first that comes to mind is The Artists Way by Julia Cameron, it focuses on building the artists lifestyle as a whole.

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  7. Well, Phyllis, I believe they're knocking now. lol So, I've grabbed my copy of The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines. It's always within fingertips' reach because what my characters do -- or are about to do -- is what really moves my writing.

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  8. Cute post!

    I have so many writing books, I can't choose a favorite. Perhaps grammar and style books would at the top of my list. (I know: BORING!)

    I haven't finished Charles' Write With Fire yet (sorry, Charles), but it will be one I recommend to new writers because he has such a gift for clear, concise explanations and because the signal-to-noise ratio is so high.

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