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Twelve of the Best: My Favorite Books on Writing
1. Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies - Leslie Wainger - ISBN 0764525549.
This might be published under the "For Dummies" banner but it's written by one of the smartest editors in the business. Nuff said!
2. Writing Romantic Fiction - Daphne Clair and Robyn Donald - ISBN 0713648872
By 2 multi-published authors who are not only great writers but fabulous teachers. (If you're "down under," check out their courses at the Kara School of Writing.)
3. The Art of Romance Writing - Valerie Parv - ISBN 1863734244
The first how-to on romance writing I purchased. I used as a guide to writing my first book. Recently revised and highly recommended.
4. Kate Walker's 12-Point Guide to Writing Romance - Kate Walker - ISBN 184285044X
A beaut little book, not only for beginners but for all writers. Focuses on the most important elements of romantic fiction.
5. The Story Within Writing Series - Alicia Rasley
This is a set of booklets covering topics such as characterisation, conflict, motivation, dialogue - great stuff by a master teacher. Click here for more.
6. The Dreaded Synopsis - Elizabeth Sinclair - ISBN 1892718251
Not only about synopsis writing, but a lesson in plotting and structuring a short category romance novel.
7. Scene and Structure - Jack Bickham - ISBN 0898799066
Easy-to-follow guide on basic structure of a novel and especially on writing scenes. Turned on many light-bulbs for me.
8. Goal, Motivation and Conflict - Debra Dixon - ISBN 0-9654371-0-8
The sub title -- "The Building Blocks of Good Fiction" - says it all, pretty much! Essential reading.
9. Making A Good Script Great - Linda Seger - ISBN 0573699216
Not only for screenwriters, not only about scripts. This one taught me A LOT about structure and pacing.
10. Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg - ISBN 0877733759
The sub-title of this book is "Freeing the Writer Within." Inspirational and inspired.
11. Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott - ISBN 0385480016
Sub-titled "some instructions on writing and life." Unique, funny, motivational.
12. Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women - edited by Jayne Ann Krentz - ISBN 0812214110
A series of essays by romance writers and editors on the appeal of the romance to modern women. Thoughtful and thought-provoking.
