Stephen King and Jane Yolen are two authors that have accomplished a lot in their writing careers. They have also given back by writing about their craft.
Being a writer, it should come as no surprise that there are many books that have inspired me in my writing. It has been said that good writers are avid readers. Well, if you need some books to inspire you and help advance your writing, here are a couple that have helped me.
Stephen King – More Than a Horror Writer
I have to admit to being biased here. I’ve been reading Stephen King for over 20 years now. But there is no denying the fact that he has had a phenomenal writing career spanning nearly four decades. I was more than overjoyed when I heard that he was writing about the craft that he has mastered. The title is, most fittingly, On Writing.
Whether you love Stephen King, as I do, or think he is literary garbage, he has made a living most writers only dream about. So it only seems natural to follow the advice of the master. On Writing is a good mix of writing how-to and personal insight on King.
I have read reviews stating that the advice given is just re-hashed information. While there is nothing that is earth shattering, the advice is very sound and told in typical Stephen King fashion. Whether you are a fan of Stephen King books and/or movies, this is a book that will benefit writers.
Jane Yolen – Passing On The Joy
Writing can be a challenging hobby, especially if you try to get your work published. Dealing with rejection and disappointment can wear down the toughest writer. If you are feeling down about writing, Jane Yolen’s book, Take Joy, will help to lift your spirits.
Jane Yolen is an accomplished author in her own right. If you have a child under the age of 18, you very well might have one of her books. Yolen has written everything from board boards for the wee ones, to adult novels. Being in the business this long, you know has had her share of ups and downs.
Take Joy is a book filled with tidbits drawing from Yolen’s 40 plus years of writing. On her website she says that, “TAKE JOY is filled with 40 years of my insights, rants, jokes, and pleasure in the writing trade. Some of the essays began as speeches, some as articles, some as journal entries, some as moments of inspiration.”
Yolen is funny and witty, but most of all she is inspiring. It’s nice to see that even accomplished writers get frustrated. It’s also nice to see that the joy of writing is constant in the midst of everything that goes on.
Take Joy isn’t a nuts and bolts, how-to, writing book. It’s really more than that. It gives you much needed encouragement when times get tough. And you know those times will come.
Instructing and Inspiring
Learn about writing is more than just learning the rules and following closely. Writing is from the heart and many times that heart is broken. Learning how to write is important, but keeping despair away is just as crucial to a writer. Both of these books will do this, to one degree or another. Whether you want to tweak your writing or just want to know what an accomplished author thinks about what they do for a living, these books are worth a look.
