But some of us like to approach our craft more methodically. Most of what I learn in books about writing are things I already know, but not consciously. And I've picked up tons of tips and techniques about the writing process that I otherwise never would have discovered.
For example, I tried writing several novels over the course of a few years. I researched, outlined, and promptly abandoned each project in search of a more exciting idea. What was killing my enthusiasm was the absence of mystery. Once I had a detailed outline and knew what was going to happen, the magic was gone and I lost interest in writing the rest of the book.
It was through reading a book on writing (No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty) that I learned about discovery writing (which is often called pantsing, as in writing by the seat of your pants). It seemed incredible to me that a writer could sit down and draft a novel with no notes, no outline, just a couple of characters. But nothing else had worked, so I gave it a try. And finally, I finished the first draft of an entire novel.
I don't think it's healthy to bury your nose in books and articles about writing and never come up for air. If you get too immersed in studying the craft and the industry, you'll get locked into the dream cycle: you'll talk and fantasize about becoming a writer and, in fact, you'll know everything there is to know about being a writer, but you won't actually be writing.
However, a few key resources on the craft are essential for any writer’s development. Be sure to acquire and read books on the craft for your own personal library.
The Eye of the Writer
One of the most important skills a writer can develop is the ability to read critically. Writers must learn to view what we read through writers' goggles.
It's easy to kick back and read an entertaining novel. If we're reading a good story, we'll be intrigued and captivated. Often, we relax so much when we're reading that we enter a state of leisure. But to read with a writer's eye means to read with special awareness, to read actively.
There are various things that a writer should be able to notice in a written work, things that the average, non-writing reader might overlook. A writer should be able to catch typos, obviously. But he or she should also be able to pick up on the subtler elements of a work.
I'm always intrigued, for example, by character names. I don't always pay close attention to them, but I often wonder how the author managed to choose such perfect monikers for the characters. Names fascinate me so deeply that I once wrote an entire essay analyzing the names of characters in the book Tuck Everlasting. My essay explained the deeper meanings that the names implied. My instructor said she'd never realized character names had deeper meanings. She was a professor of literature at the college I attended. I was a creative-writing major.
This highlights the fact that writers simply start to look at writing differently than readers do, even the most intelligent or well-read readers.
As a writer, you should be able to follow the flow of a story. A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Can you pinpoint the transitions between these three phases?
There's something about a good book that evokes an emotional response from readers. They become attached to the characters. Throughout history, people have referred to books and their characters as friends. Just think of how much people love Harry Potter. It’s almost as if he were a real person. That’s superb writing—getting the audience to feel so deeply for a character. When a writer reads, he or she should look for techniques that other authors have used to engage the reader's emotions.
One of the most important things you can read for is voice. This is one element of great writing that is impossible to teach or even learn. It happens with practice and experience. As you read, you’ll notice that each writer has a distinct voice, one that makes his or her work recognizable. If you read enough of an author’s work, you’ll probably be able to pick that author out of a quotation lineup (I had to take that test in college).
Chapter One: Reading
Start from the beginning
