What Books To Read at Each Stage of Writing Your Novel
Have you ever wondered what books to read while writing your novel? In this article, Ph.D. and NaNo writer Ursula Saqui offers books to read at every stage of your novel.
With all the craft books available, you might ask yourself, “Should I save a cat, outline using the snowflake method, or take advice from Stephen King?”
The question is also what book to read when. For example, read about subplots when you start writing, and you might get so overwhelmed that you stop altogether. Or, if you draft your story without knowing genre expectations, you’ll have to make significant revisions later.
The following are a few of my favorite books and where they best fit into the writing process.
Before you start writing
The books you read before writing should deconstruct common myths (e.g., suffering is necessary for good writing) that could distract you while also getting you into an optimistic (yet realistic) mindset about the work ahead.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is the answer to gut-punching questions like “Who am I to be writing this?” that arise in the gap between having an idea and getting it onto paper. Gilbert offers advice on serious topics such as courage, permission, and persistence while playing the role of your adventurous friend tugging at your sleeve, saying, “Let’s go. It will be fun.” You will finish this book with a plan to handle fear, rejections, and slumps.
