Welcome back to Bookstr’s Three to Read, a weekly series highlighting three carefully selected books you won’t want to miss! This week’s theme spotlights craft books to help you find — or rediscover — the joy in writing. Let’s face it — every author eventually succumbs to writer’s block, no matter how experienced they may be. Craft books can help you navigate this difficult terrain so you can finally stop staring at a blinking cursor and finish your next best-selling novel. Keep reading to learn more about our top picks to help you get “unstuck” in your writing!
HOT PICK
Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters by Mary Kole
SYNOPSIS:
Mary Kole’s comprehensive writing companion guides readers to envision and create compelling characters for more effective storytelling. She encourages writers to explore their protagonists’ feelings, thoughts, and inner struggles to bring them to life. With an emphasis on interiority, this book will teach you how to inspire readers to connect with and care deeply about your characters.
WHY:
Even the most action-packed thrillers require complex, well-rounded characters to create a page-turner. Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters helps writers develop dynamic protagonists readers will adore. We love that you can also purchase an accompanying workbook, which makes the brainstorming process even more organized and engaging. Pair this selection with a strong cup of coffee, and get ready to create characters that grab your readers’ interest from the very first page!
COFFEE SHOP READ
The Conscious Style Guide: A Flexible Approach to Language That Includes, Respects, and Empowers by Karen Yin
SYNOPSIS:
If you’ve ever wanted to explore potentially challenging, nuanced topics while upholding inclusive, empowering language, this is the craft book for you! The Conscious Style Guide offers a roadmap for unbiased writing, with equity always being top-of-mind. Readers will learn how to utilize conscientious wording, identify exclusionary language, increase accessibility of digital materials, and more. This selection provides clear, practical advice to help you embrace flexibility in your writing from a place of greater critical thinking and self-awareness.
WHY:
The Conscious Style Guide transcends a simple discussion of literary concepts like creating a “hook” and narrative structure. This resource is a deep dive into how authors can approach writing with the curiosity and wisdom required to understand the impact of their words on their audience. Karen Yin has gifted authors a toolkit detailing practical next steps for evaluating their work. Never positing explicit rules, she invites readers to think critically about their own potential biases and how they utilize language to make informed decisions about their writing. This is a masterpiece in the craft book genre and deserves a spot on every writer’s shelf!
DARK HORSE
On the Art of the Craft: A Guidebook to Collaborative Storytelling by Girls Write Now
SYNOPSIS:
Up next is a uniquely inspiring selection that definitely deserves to be on your radar. On the Art of the Craft: A Guidebook to Collaborative Storytelling is written and edited by the members of Girls Write Now. This nonprofit connects aspiring young writers and literary leaders from across the nation with a mission to share diverse, underrepresented voices. They recognize that not every storyteller has an opportunity for formal training, so they provide a safe space to support young authors with one-on-one mentoring and workshops. This writing companion is a literary odyssey, drawing upon the organization’s curriculum while highlighting the authors’ life experiences. Inside, you will find a treasure trove of advice with writing prompts, tips, and tricks about the publishing process.
WHY:
What’s not to love about a craft guide that celebrates the multitude of strong, empowered voices of Girls Write Now? This remarkable anthology weaves a tapestry of impactful essays to help aspiring authors discover the joy of collaborative storytelling. You will benefit from the insights and prompts throughout this book while also supporting an organization that makes a true difference in the lives of young writers.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read. Let us know on our socials which book you’re picking up first, and don’t forget to join us next week for more suggestions for your TBR. Happy reading (and writing)!
In the mood for a few powerful essays instead of craft books? Check out another fantastic Three to Read article: Touching and Prolific Essay Collections From Brilliant Female Writers!
Browse even more books, handpicked by the Bookstr team, on our Three to Read bookshelf on Bookshop!
