Writing by the Book

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Do you have a favorite writing book? One that has made you the writer you are today? One that you could not live without?

I have read quite a few books on the subject of fiction writing when I decided to publish my first novel and, frankly, they didn’t really help me. In fact, not only did the books not help me but they confused me. First, the things the books said to do were mostly common sense. Things that a good writer should already know. Second, a lot of the way you write and how you process things is a personal choice.

There are, no doubt, people who take what these books say to heart and write exactly as they are instructed to do. If you need this sort of direction – go for it. In my opinion, however, no book is going to help you develop your own personal voice and style. The only thing that is going to help to write is to write. A lot. Start a blog, or a journal, just anything that has to do with writing. Pay attention to details and descriptions. These will prove to be highly important in the future. Anytime something pops into your head jot it down. Carry a pencil and paper with you where ever you go. You know nothing gets the creative juices flowing like a freshly sharpened pencil and a blank piece of paper. 

Go now, gentle reader, write and be productive.