Recommended Reading for Writers

Hello everyone and happy Father’s Day!

Due to additional job responsibilities, summer plans, and writing deadlines, I will be posting two times per month for the rest of the summer.

The more I write, the more I discover how truly essential reading is to developing one’s craft. There are two books which I believe every writer seeking publication should read and a reading strategy which, in my opinion, all writers should employ.

Book Recommendations

The first book is The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing: How to Write, Work, & Thrive on Your Own Terms by Zachary Petit. In his book, Petit offers advice on how to break into the freelance market, build a platform, write a professional query letter, conduct interviews, and more. Although his book’s target audience is freelance writers, much of his advice is valuable for those who do not wish to become a freelancer. In addition to being informative, Petit’s voice is very conversational and often humorous, causing the book to read more like a novella than a “how to” book. I highly recommend The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing to anyone who wants to write professionally.

Another valuable resource is the Writer’s Market Deluxe Edition 2017 (aka the writer’s Bible). It contains:

• Writing Related Advice (i.e. how to write a good query letter, how to build a platform, etc.)
• Lists of:
  • Literary Agents
  • Book Publishers
  • Consumer Magazines
  • Trade Journals
  • Contests and Awards

Other books which are similar in content, but geared towards specific genres are Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market 2017, Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market 2017, Poet’s Market 2017, and Guide to Literary Agents 2017.

Reading Strategy

Read in your genre. If you want to write poetry, read poetry. If your passion is science fiction, read all the science fiction you can get your hands on. Do you want to write short stories? Read short stories, especially ones printed in the publications you plan on querying.

The young adult novel I am currently editing, The Four Crystals, is an allegorical fantasy. Obvious books to read for this genre are The Chronicles of Narnia, Eragon, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

I hope you find these book recommendations and the reading strategy helpful.

Happy writing!

Katie

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What if…?

Hello everyone and a special congratulations to teachers and students everywhere for concluding another school year!

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers

My family loves to play games. One which often results in lots of laughter whenever we play it is Imagine iff….

Writing Challenge

Your challenge for the next two weeks is to use the six Imagine iff… cards below to write a short story.

Instructions: There are three steps to this writing challenge. Steps 1 and 2 should be completed before reading Step 3. Together, Steps 1 and 2 should take between 5 and 15 minutes to complete.

Supplies for Steps 1 and 2: You will need a piece of paper and a writing implement.

Write down your answers as you read the questions. Do NOT read Step 3 until after you have completed Steps 1 and 2.

Step 1: Choose a person you know well or about whom you have strong opinions. He/She can be a friend, family member, or well-known person (contemporary or historical figure).

Step 2: Answer the following questions (from Imagine iff… cards) for the person selected. Write down your answers.

Question 1: Imagine iff… _____ were giving a big speech tomorrow. How would he/she attempt to calm his/her nerves?

1. 1. Picture everyone in the audience in underwear
   2. Meditate
   3. Nerves? What nerves?
   4. Focus on only one person in the audience
   5. Never look up and read straight from note cards
   6. Cram all night and sleep through the speech

Question 2: Imagine iff… _____ were a tool. Which would he/she be?

1. Monkey Wrench
2. Shovel
3. Vice
4. Leaf Blower
5. Orbital Sander
6. Chainsaw

Question 3: Imagine iff… _____ were a section in a newspaper. Which would he/she be?

1. Opinion
2. Coupons
3. Picture Page
4. Stock Quotes
5. Dear Abby
6. Travel & Leisure

Question 4: Imagine iff… _____ were a ball. Which would he/she be?

1. Magic 8-Ball
2. Beach Ball
3. Wrecking Ball
4. Ball Bearing
5. Medicine Ball
6. New Year’s Ball

Question 5: Imagine iff… _____ were a type of painting. Which one would he/she be?

1. Self Portrait
2. Abstract
3. Paint by Numbers
4. Watercolor
5. Face Paint
6. Landscape

Question 6: Imagine iff… _____ were something found in a closet. Which would he/she be?

1. Bowling Pin
2. Toys
3. Dust Pan/Broom
4. Umbrella
5. Mouse Trap
6. A Mess

Step 3: Write a short story. Question 1 is your conflict – your protagonist has to give an important speech tomorrow. The items from Questions 2-6 have to appear in your story. You may use the person you selected as your protagonist or create a new protagonist.

Happy writing!

Katie