What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time your read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?
Oooo…..Somewhat dangerous territory. Everyone has their own favorite: Storytelling for Pantsers, Writing into the Dark, Chicago Manual of Style, Take Off Your Pants…
Out of all of the ones I’ve read. I would have to say my personal favorite is Robert’s Rules Of Writing: 101 Unconventional Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know
It’s been since updated to 111 Rules, but whatever. I don’t want to read the 111 version, because 101 was just awesome, and I’ll be heartbroken if 111 doesn’t at least live up to the previous version. Each Rule comes with an explanation that is both fun and makes a point:
Rule 31 – Reduce Clutter
Rule 94 – Keep Your Prose Clean
Rule 88 – Pass The Scalpel.
It’s been a while since I read it, and I really should again. Each rule makes good points, I never once wanted to throw it across the room, and it made me smile throughout while thinking “Yeah, okay, maybe I should consider ‘Take the Prozac.’”
And there’s my all time personal favorite Rule:
Rule 102 – Break The Rules.
Check out the Insecure Writer’s Support Group to see more writers dish about their concerns, their solutions to various problems, or how that experiment with the medieval recipe “Cat As It is Meant To Be Served” went (It’s a Spanish recipe, I’ve done enough research to know that if you would like to try, but aren’t so cagey on the cat part, you can substitute rabbit, because they taste similar. Also, don’t bury it in the ground. And you’ll want to use Spanish Garlic that was available at the time/location of the writing: “A llium sativum ophioscorodon” – you can buy seeds online).
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