Books that influenced me as a writer:
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. I loved college. It opened my mind to aspects of life I never would have considered. One of those courses was in English Literature, where I selected to read this book. In my younger years, it was all about reading popular mystery and romance novels that were sweet when they got their man or woman. But The House of Mirth captivated me with a story that exemplified life’s complexities. I found myself rooting for Lily Bart, the main character, wanting to see her conquer the man-dominated world she lived in, but that would have compromised who she was, so the story did not end sweetly. And yes, I cried. Here started my admiration for fiction.
Technique in Fiction, Second Edition, written by Robie Macauley and George Lanning. Even though it was copyrighted in 1987, I believe its discussions are still relevant today. It thoroughly covers the major aspects of writing fiction without stripping authors of their creativity when they put these principles into practice.
Creating Character ARCS by K. M. Weiland. I felt like I was reading a cookbook for writing a story, and I struggled with the constraints. It focused heavily on a formulaic novel structure, which creates predictable arcs for readers. Predictability can give some readers satisfaction and a cozy feeling, which I understand, and it’s why writers may choose this structure. It also helps that many publishers prefer such books. In my opinion, predictability can turn boring. However, the book provides a foundation.
The Psychology Workbook for Writers by Darian Smith is a great place to start when building three-dimensional characters. It explains how to apply psychological theories to characters in plain terms. It explores how flaws, personal backgrounds, environmental factors, and relationship types influence characters’ personalities and behaviors. It also explains how embedding personal traits can create internal and external conflicts, sharpening a story’s edge.
The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri. What is a story without drama? Dramatic emotions create or come from conflict, which every story contains. The book focuses on playwriting. However, it offers great takeaways for novelists wanting to deepen the dramatic conflicts in their stories.
Other books on the art of writing where I have found value:
- Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
- The Art of Fiction by John Gardner
- Stephen King on Writing – I respect how he describes writing as telepathy.
