The Structure of a Story
Ross Hartmann
"How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters." This is the book that will never leave your desk. Everything from character to framing (the foundation) of your story. Knowing whether your story idea is a good one and how to look at your pacing. Do you have a muddy middle? He uses the analogy of building a house... to creating a solid story. Love this book!
Captive in the Dark
C.J. Roberts
The protagonist is himself a victim, but now becomes the “man controlling the strings,” kidnapping a girl that he trains to get close enough to the man who once victimized him so he can take revenge. A gripping story, but triggers everywhere. You’ll either hate the book, hate me or love it and love me, but you’ll feel something guaranteed! Go to Goodreads, first. You can’t say you weren’t warned.
Write Your Novel from the Middle
James Scott Bell
Love, love this book. Short and concise. No matter where you are in the book writing process, the beginning or further along during an edit, this book can assist you in writing your novel. Don’t write three books to figure out where you’ve gone wrong and beat your head against the wall. This book make’s things easier and lets you create something masterful. Pantster, plotter, mystery, romance or other genre writer, this book can make it all work. My favorite part of the book is the mirror moment—read it. Game changer!
R E A D I N G
Here are a handful of books that I particularly like, that have influenced me, and that I recommend. If you are looking for guidance as a writer, these books can provide it.
Here are some others that I recommend -- some are about writing, some are fiction -- and of course, some are specifically Romance. I think that all of them are worth your time.
The Poetry Home Repair Manual, Practical Advice for Beginning Poets
Ted Kooser
Writing
Writing poetry is easy. Writing good poetry is hard. This book, the only thing that’s ever helped me in the slightest. Maybe it will help you.
Writing Tools, 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
Roy Peter Clark
Writing
This is an essential book that gives you basic tools to apply to your writing, regardless of whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction.
Making a Literary Life, Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers
Carolyn See
Writing
This could be more of a self-help book than a book to better your writing. If you have a literary life already then you could skip this one but miss something that is entertaining and would make you laugh.
On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft
Stephen King
Writing
There’s a reason all writers have this book on their favorites list. It’s a memoir about King’s life. Could he possibly have lived a boring life? No, he has not.
The Endgame Trilogy
Sky Warren
Romance
There are three of them in the series. Be forewarned, the girl is auctioned off for her virginity. Yikes!
The Collector
John Fowles
Fiction
John Fowles is a literary giant, but this a dark one. His protagonist, a butterfly collector wins a lottery, buys an estate, abducts an art student and hides her there, believing she’ll fall in love with him, eventually. Disturbing read.