Recommended Reading
Fiction Writing
Plot and Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) by James Scott Bell – a study of the critical foundation of a great story.
Revision And Self-Editing by James Scott Bell – Learn how to edit your own work without destroying it. The great novelist James Michner once said something to the effect, “I’m an okay writer, but I am a great re-writer.”
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Rennie Browne and Dave King – This is a tremendous resource and is an essential tool for all novelists.
Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson – if you are just getting started this is a great place to begin.
The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman – That first impression is everything in a novel. Lukeman gives invaluable advice for starting strong.
Marketing
Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah – Well written and insightful. Don’t try to go into the world of social media marketing until you’ve read this book.
Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform by Christina Katz – a wise exploration of the key to personal branding and helping to build a platform that is attractive to a publisher.
Guerrilla Marketing for Writers by Jay Levinson – an unbelievable treasure of basic knowledge combined with years of marketing wisdom. This is a great place to start.
The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Blogs, News Releases, Online Video, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly, 2nd Edition by David Meerman Scott – The old way of doing publicity and marketing is no longer effective. Learn from one of the new masters of this field.
General Industry and Craft
Art of War for Writers: Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics, and Exercises by James Scott Bell – One of my favorite books. You will find yourself returning to it again and again.
The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style: Updated and Expanded Edition by Robert Hudson – The book on the subject. Covers all the issues not normally found in style guides like The Chicago Manual of Style.
Writing for the Soul: Instruction and Advice from an Extraordinary Writing Life by Jerry Jenkins – One of the most successful authors in the Christian industry explores his beginnings and give numerous tips on how others can also become published.
The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner – profound insight into the creative process.