Writing is a surefire way of saying, “Hey, I'm here.” It's a way of showing what you think and why it matters. Author, Anne Lamott says that writing “provides some sort of primal verification: you are in print; therefore you exist.”
I agree. I find that writing is also, for me, a way of thinking, of puzzling out problems and pondering dreams. I also love language, the sound and shape of words and all their surprising nuances. Writing is creating, and therein lies my reward.
“The act of writing turns out to be its own reward.” – Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Although I'm taking the fall semester off from teaching (I'm working on another master's in library science), I thought that in the spirit of back to school I'd offer you a few of what I think to be fine books on the art of writing.
Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott
Some instructions on writing and life
From the author of Traveling Mercies and Crooked Little Heart,
Aspects of the Novel, E. M. Forster
[aDelivered at Cambridge in the spring of 1927. As the title suggests, this is more of a critical look at the novel
The Elements of Style, William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
Not quite Sports Illustrated, but just as guilty a pleasure for the grammarian. This venerable style
The Ode Less Travelled, Stephen Fry
Unlocking the poet within
This is my personal favourite of the bunch. Because I, like Stephen Fry, have a terrible confession
Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg
Freeing the writer within
Similar in spirit to Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, Goldberg, who teaches writing and has authored ten books including this bestseller, presents clear advice on writing in a workshop style.
Unlike Lamott, she gives many more exercises and writing prompts. The chapters are short but pack a punch, such as “The Power of Detail” and “Don't Marry the Fly.” This is the perfect book to turn to when (dare I say it?) you might be feeling the dreaded block.
2007 Writer's Market, Robert Brewer
So you've written something you feel pretty good about and want to get it published? The Writer's Market guides are the place to go. Whether you're shopping an article on aeronautics or a book on the ivory-billed woodpecker, you'll find lists of agents and publishers, magazines and editors with contact information and areas of specialization. You'll learn whether the agency or publisher is accepting unsolicited manuscripts and how to submit them. You'll also find help on crafting a good query letter. Writer's Market is an indispensable manual for anyone seriously thinking about getting published.
2007 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, Lauren Mosko
Same as above but with a focus on the fiction — specifically, the novel and short story.
Sharpen your writing skills.
Until next time
Elizabeth Frengel is a curator of rare books at The University of Chicago Library Book Arts and History