Our Writer in Residence, Peter McAllister, shares his recommendations of the best books about creative writing…
“When starting my writing journey, I found it very difficult to know what advice to heed and from whom. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, a fixed idea of what’s expected of a writer. ‘You need to be at your desk every day,’ some said. Others offered the time-honoured, ‘just write what you know,’ and I was even told once to, ‘look for the lifeblood of the story… its stream will guide you.’ Though always given in good faith, advice often felt contradictory and the sheer volume of it was overwhelming.
A great writer and someone who has since become a close friend of mine offered the best advice: do whatever works for you. I knew she was right, straight away. There is no ‘one size fits all’. Whatever method keeps you producing work you’re proud of is right for you. It may be a completely different approach to what works for the next person, but writing is, for the most part, a solitary pursuit with no universal flow-chart to guaranteed success.
We can all benefit from some good quality pointers in the right direction, of course, so with the above caveat in mind, I offer for your consideration six craft books, written by leading authors, academics and critics. Chosen specifically for their vastly varied styles and suggested strategies, I hope one, two or perhaps even all six will prove useful for emerging writers. They each give different viewpoints on the craft of writing and, while some might serve simply to help you eliminate ways of working, others may offer something you take forward through the rest of your writing life. You may find yourself a favourite to reach for frequently or when in need of something particular it offers…”
Ailsa Cox – Writing Short Stories
“As Professor Emerita of short fiction at Edge Hill University and founder of the Edge Hill Prize, Ailsa Cox has made educating others and rewarding them for their successes her goal in life. And she’s very good at it.
A huge fan of short stories myself, this book has been invaluable to me for many years and is one I often flip through when looking for a writing prompt or an exercise to help develop a section of a piece I’m working on. This book isn’t just for short fiction writers; Cox encourages emerging writers to break habits, try new things, and generally explore their creativity.
Key aspects of creative writing are explained clearly and concisely, including character development, structure, dialogue, viewpoint, narrative voice and much more. Exercises throughout each chapter ensure you’re writing as you work through the book and form a bank of tools you can draw on for many years afterwards. This is a text to work through from cover to cover, should you wish, but one I feel works best to dip in and out of, as needed.”
(Not currently available from The Morrab Library.)
Jessica Brody – Save the Cat Writes a Novel
“For novelists who work best within a clearly defined framework, Jessica Brody’s best-seller is a must. Follow the steps in this book from cover to cover and you’ll plop out at the far end of it with a manuscript built on decades of research, having employed her one-size-fits-all drafting method.
The famed ‘Save the Cat’ methodology was originally a screenwriting strategy and here, Brody has successfully adapted it to novel-writing, so if you’re a filmic writer (ie. if you see your story as moving images in your head), you’ll likely connect with this book. Guiding writers through the fifteen plot points Brody says she has identified in almost every successful novel in history, she promises to help you compose successful novels that sell. There are many ‘cheat-sheets’ to be found online that claim to summarise her method (one written by Brody herself) but working through this book will bring benefits beyond just the production of your manuscript; you’ll learn how novels are constructed and begin almost subconsciously working that knowledge into all your writing from that point on.”
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.3)
James Wood – How Fiction Works
“Prepare to bore friends and family by spontaneously reading out loud from this book; you won’t be able to resist, it explores such fascinating insights into the world of fiction. James Wood covers ground here ranging from present day back to Homer’s writings of the eighth century BC, picking apart the very foundations of fiction, explaining how it works and how contemporary writers can harness it.
Wood was The Guardian’s Chief Literary Critic, a staff writer at The New Yorker and Professor of Literary Criticism at Harvard, so is expertly qualified to guide readers through this history of fiction. Of course, while interesting for all, this isn’t a book for non-fiction writers to rush out and buy.
Far from an instruction manual, this is more of a historical exploration that will have you reaching for the old favourites you thought you knew inside-out and re-reading them with a new understanding and appreciation. You’ll then be able to employ this knowledge in your writing, unlocking greater depths to your fiction.”
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.3)
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.06)
Anne Lamott – Bird by Bird
“A beautiful exploration of the love of authorship, Lamott uses her signature style of non-fiction to take readers on a journey of becoming a writer in this best-selling book. Very much a blend of novel and instruction manual, Lamott delves deep into her father’s brain cancer diagnosis, the birth of her son, marriage, death, domestic abuse and how this and more has all affected her writing.
For those struggling to find their way in the literary world, it may comfort you to learn that even greats such a Lamott have struggled intensely. Bird by Bird is relatable, heartbreaking, reassuring and exhilarating in equal measures. If you’re looking to wrap yourself up in an emotional read that will linger long after you put it down and simultaneously help you understand your own process, then this is a must-buy.”
John Yorke – Into the Woods
“A seasoned pro in the world of broadcast writing, Yorke is Managing Director of Company Pictures – the producers of Skins, Shameless, Wolf Hall etc. In terms of British Drama, they don’t come more experienced; Yorke (who also heads up Channel Four Drama and is Controller of BBC Drama Production) founded the BBC Writer’s Academy – a year-long programme that has produced a generation of successful television writers.
Into the Woods examines the concept of ‘story’ from all angles, revealing that there are identical elements in everything from fairy tales to blockbuster Hollywood movies. Using visual media as a starting point for most of his theorisation, he helps film and television writers see how easily they can draw on time-tested methods to improve their own writing, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. This isn’t just a book for screenwriters, far from it; Yorke offers insights that will benefit all who want to tell a story, whatever their form.”
(Available to borrow from The Morrab Library. It can be found in the Literature Room, upstairs, at the Dewey Number 808.3)
Jane Alison – Meander, Spiral, Explode
“For something a little bit… different, make sure to give Jane Alison’s award-winning craft book some much-deserved consideration. Breaking away from standard formulaic propositions, Meander, Spiral, Explode encourages writers to look for patterns in nature and use them to ‘feel’ their way through their stories, employing pure creative energy, rather than road-mapped guidance.
A fun read and insightful offering, Alison challenges the importance of the dramatic arc, rising tension, climaxes and denouements. She implores writers to leave these ‘outdated modes’ behind and instead ‘bring back experimentation’. For anyone who considers themselves a non-linear prose writer, this will be a huge help and a great pleasure to read.”