Writing Resources

A craftsman is dependant upon the tools of his trade. Well, as a writer, you should also have a "tool" bag for your craft. If you haven't started a collection of helpful books on the subject of writing, here's a list of my favorites:

• Art and Soul: 156 Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit, by Pam Grout (2000), Andrews McNeel Publishers, ISBN 0740704826.
• Blow Us Away! Publishers' Secrets for Successful Manuscripts, by E. Keith Howick, Jr. (2009), WindRiver Publishing, ISBN 978-1-886249-39-4.
• Feature & Magazine Writing: Action, Angle and Anecdotes, by David E. Sumner and Holly G. Miller (2005), Blackwell Publishing, ISBN 0813805198.
• How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them, by Sol Stein (2002), St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 9780312267490.
• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King (2000), Scribner, ISBN 0684853523.
• Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies, by Sol Stein (2000), St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 9780312254216.
• The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers, by Betsy Lerner (2000), Riverhead Books, ISBN 1573228575.
• The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life, by Noah Lukeman (2002), St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 9780312309282.
• Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly, by Gail Carson Levine (2006), Collins, ISBN-10: 0060519606; ISBN-13: 978-0060519605.
• Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer, by Roy Peter Clark (2006), Little, Brown and Company, ISBN-10: 0316014982; ISBN-13: 978-0316014984.

A Christmas Carol Writing Prompt

I just saw 'A Christmas Carol' for the umpteenth time and realized that I never get tired of it! As I watched each Spirit appear to Scrooge, I started wondering how the story would be told through each of their eyes. So, an idea for a writing exercises materialized as well! Here it is:

Tell a portion of the story through each of the three spirits eyes: Past, Present and Future Christmases. Imagine how their distinct personalities would see Scrooge and what they would feel towards him: pity, compassion, disgust? Speak in first person so we really get into each spirit's mind.