Should you read Stephen King’s On Writing?

Among the resources page of this website, I have a list of books that I highly recommend to writers to read. Some are craft books, focusing on certain aspects of crafting fiction. Some are just resource materials that can help bring some realism into our stories. Others are "How To" books, associated with non-writing related topics that writers still need to get their heads around.

On the main page for my recommended books list, I highlight that the list is far from exhaustive, inviting others to send me book suggestions for the list that I need to investigate further. However, I also mention that if I honestly don't believe that the book is suitable for writers of all levels, then the book will not make the list.

For the longest time, I was resistant to include one book in particular on the list. There were some who bounced up and down, saying that it's the best book ever about writing. (Okay, maybe they don't use those exact words, but they'll use something similar.) But in my opinion, it was a book that was often given too much credit and viewed out of context. I'm talking about, in particular, On Writing by Stephen King.

Spy Toys: Seeing in the Dark

When writing our stories, we need to understand all aspects of our characters to help bring them to life on the page. Sometimes, that all important characterization is not about the way a character thinks or acts, but rather the toys that they have at their disposal. Let's face it, James Bond wouldn't be the captivating creature he is without all the gadgets and specially designed toys given to him by Q. Maxwell Smart would be nothing without his shoe phone. Batman would be just some spoiled billionaire without the famous gadget belt. And Judge Dread... Well, Judge Dread is Judge Dread, and he can do whatever he wants, even if it's blow up half the city.

But what about the men and women who are the real counterparts to our favorite spy-like fictional characters? Sure, they have their guns, the knives, and whatever other weapons they can get their hands on, but some gadgets at their disposal feel like they come out of science fiction. I'm talking about the toys they use to help them see their targets.

Pictographic Deadly Skills

I'm always on the hunt for reference materials that I can use to help me understand either how characters think, or how to describe certain scenarios within my personal writing. Finding those books that help me to get the details right when blowing things up is a gold mine (pun intended).

As a thriller writer whose favorite characters to write are assassins, I was bouncing up and down in excitement when I encountered 100 Deadly Skills by Clint Emerson. And its companion, 100 Deadly Skills: Survival Edition, is just as awesome.

They are two books that have found their way onto the list of recommended books for writers from the Black Wolf Editor, and here's why.

A Thesaurus Series for Showy Writers

Many writers are familiar with the mantra of Show, Don’t Tell. Exactly what it means is a subject that is up for debate, and not what this post is about. Nope. This post is looking at a few resources for writers that are designed to help writers show their stories.

I am talking about the Thesaurus series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

Let me start by saying that I’m not getting anything out of promoting these books. They are on my list of recommended books for writers, because I honestly feel that they are brilliant resources that every writer serious about writing fiction should invest in. Let me explain why.

Scott Pack’s How to Perfect Your Submission

Followers of this blog will know that I don’t do book reviews — it’s something that I just don’t do. However, I’ve noticed that the list of recommended books is growing. Hence, I should probably at least explain why those books are on the list. Some are obvious, like the dictionaries and style guides. Some are…not so obvious.

So, let’s start with one of the first books I had put on that list. I’m talking about Scott Pack’s How to Perfect Your Submission.