What's the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Nov 18 2024
Calling all writers back to my weekly writing corner on Fable! Last week we discussed whether or not we would be participating in the challenge of writing a full novel during the month of November. Today I’d love to share our favorite craft books and writing advice.I’ve grown to really love some craft books as I’ve tried new genres and made new goals to challenge myself as a writer. Some of these books I return to frequently whenever I start a new project. This year, I’m working on multiple books at once because of publishing deadlines that seem to get shorter and shorter as the holiday season approaches. It’s been great to lean on the wise words of other seasoned writers to keep myself motivated even when writing feels nearly impossible.So today, I’m sharing that knowledge (and hopefully you all can do the same)! Please share some of your favorite craft books and writing advice in the comments!“The Anatomy of Story” by John TrubyI found this book a couple years ago around when I came up with the idea for my debut novel, “This Ravenous Fate”. Since then, I’ve used the advice in this book to begin the plotting and outlining process with each of my novels. Truby offers a valuable approach for building effective, multifaceted narratives with compelling characters that can move an audience. His 22 steps are fundamental and applicable for all writers beyond just novelists.“Write Your Novel From the Middle” by James Scott BellThis book is another one that I return to whenever I start a new project. Bell proposes beginning to write your novel from the middle, a technique that can appeal to both those who need to outline before drafting and those who prefer to dive in without a plan. The middle moment, otherwise known as Bell’s “Mirror Moment,” is where Bell believes a writer will find their story’s heart and heat.“Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody“Save the Cat!” is a lot of writers’ favorite craft book for a reason. This book is the first in a story-structure series and it begins with revealing the 15 essential plot points necessary for any successful novel. The comprehensive story-structure guide applies the traditional screenwriting methodology for creating captivating narratives to novel writing, from opening image to finale, in various genres.While I love these craft books, some of my favorite advice has actually come from people in my life. One incredible author reminded me that when I’m writing, my goal is not to perfect the story I’ve built in my head but rather to complete the vision I have for this story. That makes the drafting and revision process much less daunting and more fulfilling when I think of it as working toward something to complete. It’s important to remember that perfection is not a realistic, or achievable goal. Instead, just focus on telling the story you want to tell and making sure it feels right to you before anything else.What's the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
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