Write Your Heart Out

We're days into November, have you started writing that novel yet? It's November, which for those of you who don't know is not just about turkey, but is also National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

"It is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing," according to NaNoWriMo.org. "On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30."

So, in honor of November and National Novel Writing Month, I figured I would tell you about some of the writing books that have helped me out with writing. I even listed the book that is responsible for NaNoWriMo in the first place, No Plot? No Problem along with some of my favorite writers (Stephen King and Elizabeth Berg) and including a local science fiction/horror author, Charles Allen Gramlich, who has headed a local writing group and written several books, short stories, poems and essays, along with non-fiction on various topics.

Some of these books give guidance on the craft of writing and exercises that can help you harness your thoughts. So if you have always wanted to write and don't know where to start or you need to set fire to that manuscript, (not literally...it just needs some editing, stay calm) this is a great start to that writing career you've had a recurring dream about since childhood. Some of the books inspire you to write with exercises, some give advice on the writer's life and how to write along side a job, and some are for entertainment purposes about the writing life and also give guidance along the way. Whether you have a plot or not, here is your required (recommended) reading list for writers of all kinds.

No Plot? No Problem

Writer With A Day Job

Write With Fire 

On Writing

Escaping Into the Open

Making A Literary Life

How to Become A Famous Writer Before You're Dead

Writing Down the Bones

Will Write for Food

A Broom of One's Own