Three Books All Aspiring Writers Should Read

I’ve been working on my first novel, Murder Pseudonymous, for the better part of five years now. I might never finish it. Every couple of months I get inspired to write and then, after pounding out a chapter or two, I lose focus. Either my real job gets in the way, or worse, I get writer’s block. Whenever that happens I hit Barnes and Noble for inspiration and pick out a book about the craft of writing.

I can’t tell you how many books I’ve read by successful authors (“successful” means they make their living writing books) dishing advice to wanna-be novelists, me included. Here are my favorite three. If you’re a writer, or want to be a writer, they are well worth your time.

On Writing by Stephen King

Although King is best known as the master of horror, On Writing is perhaps the best memoir about being a professional writer that I’ve ever read. The book is an even mix of autobiographical insight and solid advice on writing. He suggests aspiring writers develop a routine that makes writing habitual and urges them to approach rewrites with a critical eye for superfluous language. Maybe his greatest lesson is how he approaches writing second drafts, which was inspired by a note he got early on in his career from an editor who passed on one of his many failed manuscripts.

Jotted below the machine-generated signature of the editor was this note: “Not bad, but PUFFY. You need to revise for length. Formula: 2nd Draft = 1st Draft – 10%. Good luck.”

King’s takeaway: Look for words that slow your writing’s pace and cut them. Adverbs are usually a good place to start. For example, in the sentence, ‘I ran swiftly,’ the adverb swiftly adds no value. How else is a person supposed to run? If you want to convey speed, use a different word for run, like sprint. ‘I sprinted’ is a better description and uses fewer words.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Lamott’s book is filled with great stories and practical advice from her years teaching writing workshops. The best writing, she says, comes out of being honest with yourself and with your audience.

The very first thing I tell my new students on the first day of a workshop is that good writing is about telling the truth …

Without the willingness to expose your true self to your readers, writing will always be a struggle. But the title of the memoir alludes to her most valuable lesson. It exemplifies the tenacity a real writer needs to posses. Years ago, when her exasperated 10-year-old brother was struggling to write a report on birds that was due the next day, she recalls,

My father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”

This fatherly advice could apply to almost any seemingly overwhelming task, not just writing. But they are words that resonated with Lamott who later applied them to her own writing career. Any aspiring novelist can relate, too. Writing a novel is one of the most daunting tasks I can think of, but Lamott would say just take it bird by bird, and eventually you will have a finished manuscript.

Lamott’s takeaway: Bird by bird, word by word, page by page, chapter by chapter. Writing a book, or anything, is not so overwhelming if you take it in small chunks.

The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman

If you’re one of the dedicated few who someday manages to finish a full-length manuscript, The First Five Pages is for you. Noah Lukeman, a former literary agent, has “passed” on thousands of manuscripts during his career, and he details the kinds of mistakes writers make that land them in the reject pile. Lukeman, like hundreds of other agents, usually makes up his mind after reading just the first five pages of a manuscript, and if he sees any of these telltale signs of sloppy writing, he automatically passes.

Lukeman covers common writing mistakes and offers solutions. He covers hooks, pacing, overuse of adjectives and adverbs, characterization, dialogue, and even mistakes many people make in the submission process itself.

Writing is, of course, an art. Lukeman’s tips are definitely helpful, but they are certainly no guarantee of success. It still boils down to hard work and practice, just like any other art.

It can take years for a pianist to develop dual hand and multiple finger coordination. Why do writers assume they can just “write” with no training whatsoever, and then expect, on their first attempt to, to be published internationally? What makes them think that they’re so much inherently greater, need so much less training than any other artists?

Lukeman’s takeaway: Write every day, and be your own harshest critic. Practice. It is the only way you’ll get better.

So, what do all writers have in common? They write, of course.

The common theme in every book on the subject is “you can’t call yourself a writer, unless you write.” Make it a habit. Write a little every day. Even if it’s junk, write something. That’s what real writers do. They don’t wait around for inspiration. Trust me, I know. Not because I consider myself a real writer, but because I’ve spent five years waiting for inspiration and, because of that, I might never finish my book. Don’t fall into the same trap.

My questions for you

What inspires your writing? What great advice do you have to give? What books have you read that are worth a look?

About the author

Jim Cosco -

Jim Cosco founded Tippingpoint Labs in 2002 in an effort to pursue the creation and distribution of high-quality content for the purposes of marketing and advertising. Jim’s experience as an executive producer, producer, director, and writer for television programming ranging from local public affairs and national news to reality television, enables him to create compelling stories designed to trigger powerful, emotional responses from his audience. No matter the medium, Jim’s passion for story-telling remains the common thread in all of his projects and is always the founding principle in driving his team to deliver high-quality, relevant content at every turn.

Jim relies heavily on his journalistic routes to create transparent, honest, and open content that helps build trust and nurtures meaningful brand relationships over the long term.

Since the early nineties Jim has devised and executed projects for clients like MTV, Fox News Channel, ABC, Putnam Investments, and Tufts University.  He has directed television shows and independent features, written screenplays and television treatments, and created content for marketing campaigns and product launches.