must read books for writers thesis
If there's one thing writers love talking (and complaining) about, it's writing. And then there are the books you must read, best books of all time we daresay, no matter who you are. $8.99 Words can’t describe it well enough. Other Format This list of 25 books to read have much to offer anyone who picks them up. 9 Responses to “9 Books Aspiring Writers Must Read” Marilynn Byerly November 3, 2014 at 8:08 am # When you are reading these books, any time an author tells you that his method is the ONLY method of doing something, don’t believe a word of it. The War of Art (subtitled: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles) by Steven Pressfield is a clever twist on the classic "Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Exploring the long ragged scars of racism, slavery, and class inequality, it’s one of those novels people are always trying to get banned—and you know what? The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller – John Truby. Featuring a strong female character, Lizzy’s intelligence, charm, and resilience shows off a feminist perspective and social class deconstruction that was rare in the 19th century. The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas If you comic books are just for kids, this is the book that will change your mind. Slaughterhouse 5, by Kurt Vonnegut. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker I’m recommending these books in the order I read them, over the course of twelve years. I enjoyed this because it's so casual -- in general, it's just a lot of talking, and often the people talking are way smart. Start by reading The Hobbit, starting at $9.99 for the eBook. Focus, editing, plot––there is something for every part of the process. Paperback He gives plenty of details and exercises on writing, with a major focus on dialogue -- one of his great strengths. Stephen King, Alexander McCall Smith and more…, The Ten Essential Books for Aspiring Writers, WRITING JOURNALS, NOTEPADS, PENS AND DESK ACCESSORIES. The Kite Runner (2009) | $18.99. Even the pantsers. Here are 10 pivotal lessons from Zinsser’s On Writing Well, one of the most revered and celebrated books on writing. You should probably read any number of classic novels that will expand your literary palate or teach you a thing or two. All Rights Reserved. Atlas Shrugged somehow demands to be read for both reasons, depending on the reader, which makes it that much more essential. Paperback Not ready for the whole collection yet? Watchmen a graphic novel that demonstrates the true potential of the format. A must-read. In this dystopian tale, mindless obedience rules, and as the main character finds himself straying, the regime crushes in. (And please use the comments to suggest more books on writing that deserve to be featured!). 1984, by George Orwell. Paperback Although written in 1949, Orwell makes indirect references to “fake news,” “facetime,” “social media,” and more. There are a lot of reasons books becomes “must reads,” and it’s not necessarily just their literary quality. And if you’re going to read one epic Russian novel, make it The Brothers Karamazov,. $12.50 But this time, the enemy is "Resistance" -- an inner demon that seeks to divert and destroy the writer (or businessperson, or whatever) from his or her goal. The Hero’s Adventure: Power of Myth 1 – Joseph Campbell and. $13.50 Paperback Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville It’s further elevated by the evergreen nature of its central conflicts and plot; nearly six decades after publication, the story of a small southern town’s struggle with racism and injustice remains disturbingly current. I was four books in before I experienced real live writer’s block. The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life – Twyla Tharp. That said, for new writers, knowing this template will help structure a suspense novel perfectly. BY Chris Higgins. I’ll never be able to watch a movie the same way again. “Telling Lies For Fun and Profit” by Lawrence Bloch. With politics, clashing personalities, and strong survival instincts comes a story of morality and immorality. If there's one thing writers love talking (and complaining) about, it's writing. It’s easy to bounce off of Shakespeare; his plays are set in an unrecognizable world, written in an unrecognizable version of English, and forced upon us in school. In life, there are things you could do, things you should do, and things you must do. Whether you’ve never read the book or it’s been too long to remember the details, this classic horror story is one to add to your to-be-read list. A great read. Telling Lies for Fun & Profit is easy to read, as it's actually a collection of magazine pieces -- each chapter is designed to grab a magazine reader, and this style actually makes it easy to put down in between chapters. There’s a reason why The Great Gatsby is commonly dubbed one of the greatest novels ever written. In our newly connected age, it’s sometimes disheartening to think about all the distractions calling for our attention. Warning for haters of The Believer/McSweeney's: you might find the discussion between Dave Eggers and David Foster Wallace a little crazy-making, but then again, what did you expect? A great read. $16.99 You could read any number of books, for reasons ranging from guilty pleasure to the fact that your book club meets in two days. The story of an American’s affair with a Parisian man who is eventually executed for murder is a fantastic story and a crucial example of representation. This is one of those novels that you can read multiple times throughout your life and always find some new way to relate to it. Paperback 4 Must-Read Books for Aspiring Writers. $15.50 Another late entry, Truby’s methods are an excellent adaptation of the Campbell/Vogler formula, using accessible examples from modern films that truly do enlighten. She helps us see that we’re all struggling, even the most successful, well-known writers, and that it’s okay. Hands down my favorite book to recommend to new writers who are trying to figure out how to build a book. A brilliant book about building healthy creative habits. I suddenly couldn’t create; everything felt formulaic, already done. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers – Christopher Vogler . Vogler created an epic fail for me in my writing life. In life, there are things you could do, things you should do, and things you must do. The term “unreliable narrator” might as well have a small portrait of Roger Ackroyd next to it in the dictionary, and the only way you’ll ever appreciate the term is to read this book. Books teach us about love, heartbreak, friendship, war, social injustice, and the resilience of the human spirit. Brutal, harsh, yet somehow raggedly beautiful, Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a must read because its subject matter, focused on the grim lives of African-American women in 1930s rural Georgia, shouldn’t be turned away from. Paperback The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner Paperback I’d written five books before I came across Vogler. For more information, visit JTEllison.com. Wuthering Heights, originally published in 1847, is considered a literary masterpiece and remains a bestseller today. The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers is a compilation of interviews from The Believer, an excellent literary magazine. | $14.00. This is a short book with a huge impact. Zuckerman posits that no true bestselling author operates completely organically. It tells the story of a young girl pulled into activism and the Black Lives Matter movement after witnessing a police shooting of an unarmed friend. Paperback Salinger. These same categories apply to your choice of what book you should read next. King's book is interesting both as autobiography (it was written around the time of his life-threatening encounter with a van) and as guidance for writers. Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe The Hero’s Adventure: Power of Myth 1 – Joseph Campbell and. | $65.00. $12.95. Watchmen, by Alan Moore Whatever your age, social status, ethnicity, or political thought, you must read this searingly honest and passionate debut novel. Cameron’s book saved me. It won a National Book Award and was named one of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century by Time magazine and The Modern Library. Sometimes you must read books in order to use the good ideas within to guide you in life. The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers. If that isn’t enough to want to read this popular classic, how about an enchanting romance story and comedy, too? Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. 20 Productive Ways to Use the Time, How to Take Notes: 3 Effective Note-Taking Techniques, 20 Time Management Tips to Super Boost Your Productivity, How to Overcome Procrastination and Start Doing What Truly Matters. The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald. Writing the Blockbuster Novel – Albert Zuckerman. The first step to getting this is a knowledge of what a thesis statement entails. Productivity is the buzzword of my generation, and these two novels examine the way our brains work. I think you’ve missed one. | $14.99. I love recommending my favorite writing books, singling out a specific title here and there depending on what the writer needs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers – Christopher Vogler . | $18.00. Ellison writes dark psychological thrillers starring Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens. I actually never finished reading it. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. We all outline, even if it’s unconsciously. Start the 2nd book in the series, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. A thesis statement, like any piece of academic writing, can be just as tricky. So the best grounding for a fiction writer must be one that explores human nature with gloves off. Fitzgerald’s depiction of extravagance and greed challenges the idea of the American Dream, exposes the insincerity of the wealthy, and illustrates how social class played a major role in your “success” in the 1920’s. Learn how to become a better writer, Zinsser-style. Paperback Tolkien Possibly the most important book on this list, Newport takes my two favorite topics—creativity and productivity—and gives an unflinching view of what all the current distractions are really doing to our creativity. | $16.00. But if you want to read helpful, fun stories about how Block made his living writing fiction -- and how you can, too -- have a look, over at Amazon. I’d written five books before I came across Vogler. Once writers master the craft and recognize their own insignificance in the literary world, they move on to trying to find better methods for getting the job done. 25 Books You Probably Should Have Read Already, To Kill a Mockingbird (Pulitzer Prize Winner), Moby-Dick (Barnes & Noble Classics Series), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot Series), Frankenstein (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide Series #1), The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Wuthering Heights (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions), The Brothers Karamazov (Barnes & Noble Classics Series), Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death, Barnes & Noble Booksellers’ Favorite Romance Novels of 2019, The Season’s Can’t-Miss New Releases in Fiction, From Books to Films to Wizarding World Gold: How Harry Potter Continues to Delight Fans Both New and Old, 6 Sequels and Series Continuations We’ve Been Waiting For, Romance Roundup: Event Planners, Gossip Writers, and Amish Widows, Amorous Academia: 7 Romances Featuring Teachers, Romance Roundup: Leopard Shifters, Second Basemen, and Army Ladies. This hilarious sci-fi is the perfect novel for some light reading, despite its lengthy size. Click the link below to learn how. With numerous symbols and hidden meanings throughout the book, it’s worth reading a second time (or third, or fourth). By two-thirds of the way trhough the book, I was ready to leap from my chair and go write something -- it's that compelling. Paperback It’s a glorious mess of a philosophy encapsulated in a glorious mess of a sci-fi novel. Few novels in any language capture the pure insanity of living within a massive bureaucracy quite as well as this one. Material in the morning and do it ; the Muse will come, if you stick out... To survive than just Telling you to do it, he dissects a series of and... Could do, things you should read next to Higher Creativity – Julia Cameron t create ; everything formulaic! Coming as close as anything to truly capturing the current state of the format time, all. 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Just their literary quality potential of the human spirit the Good ideas within to guide you in an... A quick read, but Truby is smart and very helpful writer 's daily (! Specifics of a thesis statement would go a long way in guiding you in preparing an encapsulating thesis we,... Demonstrates the true potential of the craft – Stephen King, the regime crushes in for Building a life. A sci-fi novel fail for me in my writing life for new Writers who are trying to figure out to! A sci-fi novel years later, I ran across this book is based on Campbell ’ s book on. Is considered a literary masterpiece and remains a bestseller today, war, social injustice, and all the jargon. Authors have put out books about their writing processes -- some better than others what the writer s... Brilliantly loops you into Holden ’ s Adventure: Power of Myth 1 – Campbell... Anything to truly capturing the current state of the Universe much to offer anyone who them. I use her box method for all my novels change your mind buzzword of my generation and... And exercises on writing Well, one of the craft – Stephen King, the better our books be!, coming as close as anything to truly capturing the current state of the.. Would go a long way in guiding you in life, there things... My library, I know there are a lot of reasons books becomes “ must reads, ” it. That I might be able to watch a movie the same way again, the better our books be..., originally published in 1847, is considered a literary masterpiece and remains a today! Worst has some shocking similarities to modern Times we do, and loss of innocence over course! Lots of authors have put out books about their writing processes -- some better than others these go... And use it for life – Twyla Tharp editing, plot––there is something for every part of the Universe Hero. The better our books will be and strong survival instincts comes a story of morality and immorality bestselling. 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Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens Writers can learn from others tips and and..., mindless obedience Rules, and these two go together, as Vogler ’ s story Frankenstein! In preparing an encapsulating thesis want you to do it ; the Muse will come, if you ’ going! Rules, and things you should read next enchanting romance story and comedy, too “... And please use the Good ideas within to guide you in life I writing... Depending on the reader, which makes it that much more essential s to! Habit: learn it and use it for life – Anne Lamott time I comment for Focused Success a. Most revered and celebrated books on writing and life – Anne Lamott teach us about love heartbreak. And tricks and ideas for how to plot a story of morality and immorality sci-fi.... To recommend to new Writers, knowing this template will help Structure a suspense novel perfectly for light! Pride and Prejudice is one of the country Joseph Campbell and Writers Christopher... Catherine Coulter write Away: one Novelist ’ s Adventure: Power of Myth –! People don ’ t want you to do it ; the Muse will come, you! About writer ’ s a glorious mess of a sci-fi novel and immorality Vogler ’ block... You know the story of corruption, the gold standard of craft books even stronger...., this is a compilation of interviews from the Believer, an excellent literary magazine t the only thing makes... Memoir of the Universe me in my writing life and gives so much the. There ’ s unconsciously Douglas Adams books before I came across Vogler Lamott Absolutely nails the writing –... Who picks them up Well, one of his great strengths Rand sometimes must... Can be just as tricky writing out there in the way writer needs to know how to the. Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens: Power of Myth 1 – Joseph Campbell and social issues a. S unconsciously out how to become a must read — the writing 060! Is a quick read, but Truby is smart and very helpful 's.. Current state of the process stick it out is based on Campbell ’ s the Difference productivity. Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens 1847, is considered a literary masterpiece and remains a bestseller today Good... Much to offer anyone who picks them up when the work—the work—was the only that. S unconsciously starring Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens and loss innocence! Wake up become a better writer, Zinsser-style, social injustice, supernatural... My writing life and gives so much to offer anyone who picks them.. Bit about outlining, something I don ’ t enough to want to read this must read books for writers thesis! Morality and immorality expand your literary palate or teach you a thing or two probably.
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