Happy Weekend, WG2E-Land!
Here at The WG2E, we spend the majority of our time talking about the Business End of Indie Epublishing along with Ebook Marketing and Promotions and the Technological Elements of Epublishing.
BUT…
You’ve heard all of us here on The WG2E Team mention a bunch that for any of this other stuff to work, you’ve got to have written great books.
To that end, I thought it might be helpful if we also began to share “how” we write great books!
Many of you have written me privately to ask about my actual process of writing a book.
First and foremost, I keep that process fluid. In other words, to keep my writing fresh, out-of-the-box and a whole lotta fun to work on, I am constantly mashing-up various tricks of the trade. What I do is take a plethora of fabulous techniques I’ve studied over the years and make ‘em my own.
In that regard then, I’ll take a little bit of X Approach and mix in some Y and Z, and make it all work for me and my muses. I don’t stay glued to any one approach in its entirety.
Here’s a list of the A-mazing Authors and Writing Teachers I’ve learned sooo much from (and I’ve broken them down into categories so you’ll have an easier time knowing who I rely on for what part of the writing process):
Writing Voice -
Les Edgerton‘s Finding Your Voice
Point of View -
Alicia Rasley‘s The Power of Point of View
Plotting -
Karen Docter‘s The W Plot…The Other White Meat for Plotters
Pacing and Self-Editing -
Story Analysis -
Deb Dixon‘s GMC (Goal, Motivation and Conflict)
Muse Therapy -
Yep, the “therapist” uses her own “therapy”…LOL! 
Especially, my Muse Therapy Trips – I just took one this week to a local art festival. And, of course the Bitchy Signs too!
Story Development -
Bob Mayer‘s The Novel Writer’s Toolkit (plus all over his other non-fiction books and classes too)
This list should get you started. And no matter where you are in the Epublishing Journey, you’ll pick up some fabulous tools of the trade from these wonderful Go-To Resources and Peeps!
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: What and/or Who are Your Fave Go-To Writing Craft Resources?
The Best of The WG2E Wishes — D. D. Scott
***Note: I’ve bought all of these wonderful teachers’ books, taken their classes (online and/or in-person), and live by their class packets (most all of which you can get online).
Writing needs to be polished all the time. Engineers read technical manuals as well as doctors and even gardeners learn their professions from the masters of their respective professions. Writers too should learn form the masters and not feel embarrassed to change and tweak their writing into perfection.
Thank you DD for the article and the Links.
U betchya, Alex!
And like all professions, writing is one where you can always learn something new and/or take something old and give it a new twist!
Your site just keeps getting better.
Great resources. I’ve already checked out some, and wow!–I’m hooked on (lol) Les Edgerton’s books and style. Thanks for all you do and share. Your real world inspiration and practical guidance are helping this budding writer on her way. And I appreciate how you share your platform with others who are willing to share their insight as well. Keep up the excellent work!
I’m thrilled you’re finding what you need here at The WG2E, Sharie!!!
Les is just A-mazing, both as a “voice” coach and as one heckuva great guy! I had sooo many aha moments when I read his book and then again when I’ve attended his workshops.
We sooo glad you’re here, sharing your own journey with us!
Great post:) – I have used almost all of the writing techniques you listed-they are super:) Happy weekend:)
Happy Weekend right backatchya, Lois!
Cheers to all of the above mentors I listed! They are da bomb, right?!
Another great post! I’ve just picked up Bob Mayer’s books and love them so far!!
This site is my “go-to” spot whenever I may have a question. I know that if the answer’s not here, there are at least signs that point me the right direction. Thank you so much, DD for putting together such a wonderful resource!
You are sooo very welcome, Jennifer!
Nothin’ beats Writers Helping Writers Reach Readers!!!
I’m tickled to hear you’re luuuvvvin’ it here in WG2E-Land!!!
Great list, D.D.! I’ve bookmarked them all. I’m already a fan of Dixon and Lawson. Always great to find a new teacher. I keep files, both online and paper, of articles on certain craft issues. My favorite writing books are those by James Scott Bell.
Dixon and Lawson do indeed rock, Alicia! And they’re just as fabulous in person as they are in their instructional materials and books!
I’m a HUGE fan of Lawson’s EDITS System packet and often use her highlighter method when doing my own self-editing. She has you use different colors to highlight different things, like emotions and viscerals versus action versus dialogue versus points of view so you can “see” the pacing of what you’ve written. It’s just a brilliant way to learn to get that perfect balance for your voice and writing style.
And there isn’t a character I create that I don’t give that Deb Dixon GMC starter package to, which helps me identify What my Characters Wants (Goal), Why they want it (Motivation), and the big ol’ But This Person or Situation is Stopping Them (Conflict).
I’ve met James Scott Bell and heard him speak, and he’s another gem!!! Thanks for adding him to our list!!!
Fabulous collection! THANK YOU!!
Sure thing, Pj!!!
Thanks, D.D. Several of my favorites there, and a few new blogs/books for me to check out. I’m a freelance editor specializing in thrillers and other crime fiction. May I humbly suggest my e-booklet, Writing a Killer Thriller, only $0.99 on Amazon or PDF from my website. It’s the first in a series of craft-of-fiction e-booklets I’m writing. Ten 5-star reviews already!
I just recently discovered your excellent blog here when Ruth Harris contacted me about participating in her Q&A with editors about the process of editing. So glad I found you guys!
U Go, Girl, with your Writing a Killer Thriller booklet! Of course it’s fine to give it a shout-out here! I’m hopping over now to check it out!!!
And we’re sooo glad you’ve joined our WG2E-Land Community!
Just bought it and can’t wait to read it!!!
So encouraging to hear of your writing journey, D. D. – I feel I’ve just begun! But you’re absolutely right – a writer has to develop skills or it shows and the books will fizzle! No Like Fizzle! Thanks for the list of resources. Hope to read them before I’m too senile to apply the skills.
~Nancy Jill Thames
“Queen of Afternoon Tea”
We’re never too old to learn something new, Nancy! LOL! U Go, Girl!!! You’re gonna luuuvvv all the books and class packets I’ve shared!!!
Brilliant resources there, DD, thanks so much for sharing! I also use Robert McKee’s Story which is for script writing but works just as well for books
U betchya, Sibel!
Oooo…and thanks bunches for bringing up using Script Writing Books for fiction! I’ve got a whole slew of those I use too…duh, I should have included those.
Let’s see, definitely McKee’s Story as well as Hauge and Vogler’s The Hero’s Journey and Alexandra Sokoloff’s Screenwriting Tricks for Authors.
Hi, D.D. this is a great list. One book I would like to add…one of my favorites when I started out is Self-Editing For Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King (How to Edit Yourself into Print).
http://www.amazon.com/Self-Editing-Fiction-Writers-Yourself-Print/dp/0062720465
Happy Saturday!
Been there done that one too, Theresa! And it’s also fantastic!
Thanks for the shout-out, my friend!!!
An excellent resource for fiction writers that I pass along to all my clients is REVISION & SELF-EDITING, by James Scott Bell. Very comprehensive and well-written!
Adding this one to my TBR List right now, Jodie!!! Thank U!!!
Jodie, after seeing you here on WG2E I bought and read your book, Writing a Killer Thriller, and I loved it. Lots of great reminders/tips to read as I work on finishing my third thriller. Thanks!
This is a great list. I’ve already read Bob and Jen’s Shelfless epublishing book. Might have to go back to it again at some point. I haven’t got any books that I refer to all the time when writing, but I do make notes of what my editor comments to me esp about grammar and repetitive words so I try to avoid them in future mss. Shall have to look up Bob’s Novel Toolkit.
Luuuvvv Bob and Jen’s Shelfless Book, Julie!
And yes, do give their craft books a try too! Bob is excellent as a writing craft teacher too! He approaches it from his military training, and the parallels he draws are wonderful and really work!!!
I love this list, D.D. Some really good books on there.
One problem I used to have is that I tended to read EVERY dang writing book out there, and then I became so muddled and paralyzed with making a misstep that I couldn’t write. I now realize that there’s a time for learning (and letting it all sink in), and a time to let it percolate for a while. Then, after your brain has cooked in its juices for a while (LOL), it’s time to sit down and write. You’d be amazed at what the subconscious remembers from all your reading. But trying to sit down and write after reading gazillions of writing books was dang near impossible for me. I had to let it cook for a while after.
Excellent point, Riley!
I learned the same thing! What I began to do early-on was read a different book with each manuscript I wrote, trying to incorporate some of the new techniques I’d learned.
As time has gone by, I’ve now been able to put together my own mash-up of what’s worked for me throughout the years into one D. D. Scott process, if you will.
That’s an excellent way to do it, D.D. Better than how I did it, by trying to read them all at once and having my brain melt – LOL!
Holly Lisle’s Professional Plot Outline Mini-Course (99 cents on Amazon) is very helpful. Don Maas always inspires me … “Writing the Breakout Novel” is a must-have for structure and character development. And for promotion and marketing, DD Scott’s ‘Ten Years and 24 Hours…”
xx, Lauren
Thanks bunches for the sweet shout-out, Lauren! I’m over the moon to hear my 10 Years and 24 Hours is your go-to promo and marketing resource!
I enjoyed Maas’ Breakout Novel too! In fact, I used it a bunch when I wrote Bootscootin’ Blahniks. He is really strong on great character studies! I’ll have to check out Holly Lisle’s too!
Lauren, I’ve also used Holly Lisle’s plot outline course and her Seven Day Revision course. It takes me longer than seven days, but it has worked well for me on two revisions now.
I also used the Deep Editing techniques on my last manuscript and I think it helped me visually see where I needed to add and subtract a few things. Deep editing has also helped me see that adjectives and sentence fragments aren’t all bad. Sometimes they are there for a reason. I learned so much from the Deep Editing lectures.
For those of you who write humor, here’s one of my faves for that too:
http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Edition/dp/1582973571/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1344117903&sr=8-5&keywords=writing+humor
Another good book for revision is Manuscript Makeover, by Elizabeth Lyon. Lots of check lists and valuable information. Love her take on riff-writing.
Barb
Thanks bunches, Barbara! I’m a huge check list fan!!! What’s riff-writing? I’m going to have to check this out…
Riff-writing is when you take a word, an image, an idea and “run with it.” Just write all around the idea or word and see how much you can come up with that might be relevant. Then you let it set a bit before actually revising to see what you can use in your manuscript. It’s a way of free writing to add to and strengthen a section of a work.
Barb
Luuuvvv it, Barbara! I’ve never seen it called that before…very cool! Riff-writing it is then! I’m definitely going to try that…it sounds like brainstorming, and yes, free writing/association to me.