Writer's Helpers: Books that can guide you in the right direction

I've written 8 picture books, 2 chapter books, and 3 novels. No, none of them are published because I never send any of them out. I always think they need more tweaking, more revisions. I'm getting over that now, and will be querying after this 3rd one is ready as per my mentor, not my insecure self-editor.

And since I have written so much, I have had help from a variety of sources. I've gone to school for writing @ Chatham University - I highly recommend their program. I have attended many conferences and writer's retreats. And I have bought books to help me better understand how to write for children.



Below is a list of the books I have in my office:

• A Writer's Guide to Fiction by Elizabeth Lyon
• Merriam-Webster's Thesaurus
• Anatomy of a Screenplay by Dan Decker
• SAVE THE CAT! by Blake Snyder
• 100 words every high school freshman should know 
• Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
• Webster's New Explorer Rhyming Dictionary
• Self-Editing Fiction for Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King
• Thirty Days Has September
• Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market
• Screen Plays by David S. Cohen
• bird by bird by Anne Lamott
• How to Write a Children's Book and Get it Published by Barbara Seuling
• The Art and Craft of Writing for Children, edited by William Zinsser
• PictureWriting by Anastasia Suen
• You Can Write Children's Books by Tracey E. Dils
• 90 Days to your Novel by Sarah Domet

I know I have a few more, but they are scattered throughout my house. Each one of these books has helped me better my craft, and help support the industry I love, and want to be a part of. 

Suggestion:

Go to your local small book store, and ask them to help you buy a specific book for your specific writing goals. 

Conferences are great, but expensive. Writer's retreats are wonderful, but take time and money too. You can however, purchase a book or twenty (like me), and learn a ton.

Good Luck!

And as always.

Write~On

Angie