Thereby Hangs a Tale: Just Read It

In my Bookbag

The Chicago Manual of Style: When my critique partners pooled their money and bought me this book, I became suspicious, were trying to tell me something? I admit, grammar and me (or is it I?) have never had a close relationship. However, with this book, we are forging a new and happy future together.

Stein on Writing by Sol Stein: If I had to choose only one craft book to take to my desert island, this would be it. The tone is part paternal, part grumpy New York uncle. He covers fiction and non-fiction, plotting, characterization, explains how to use the actors studio method for cranking the drama and use crucibles to nail plots. Plus editing, point of view and dialogue. Sol, you can keep me company on the island any day!

Flip Dictionary by Barbara Ann Kipfer, Phd: More than a Dictionary, more than a dictionary to meeeeeee - to be sung in manner of the Bee Gees. I don't know why she calls this a dictionary. It isn't. But It's the best thesaurus I know. Need 100 different options for "red"? Always wondered the word for a "loop-shaped handle"? It's an ansa! Who knew?

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass: Filled with examples, Maass is all about making the leap from good to great. He shows how to sweeten the plot with layers (and explains the difference between plot layers and sub-plots), advices how to create tension and lots more. Although focused on the novel, techniques easily transcend all genres and story lengths.

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass: This is the workshop Maass teaches, in a book. And without the necessary travel or bothersome other people! I'm not an exercise person, but everytime I tackle one in this book it opens up new paths in my novel.

The Roaches Have No King by Daniel Evan Weiss: Do you like cockroaches? Me neither! But Weiss manages to take a maligned insect and turn it into a sympathetic protagonist. The story: a bunch of cockroaches are happily living in a NYC apartment with Ira and his messy girlfriend, The Gypsy. When Ira and The Gypsy breakup and he gets a new clean-freak girlfriend the roaches must work together to break them up and bring back the crumb strewing Gypsy. Hilarious!

How I Paid For College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater by Marc Acito: At one point, when I read this, I was laughing so hard I couldn't see the page. Set in 80s high school (remember when pony tails on the side of our heads were popular?) New Jersey, our hero Ed Zanni struggles with his sexual identity, getting into Julliard and a new evil stepmother.

This Other Eden by Ben Elton: The world is ending (unless you buy your personal biosphere!) and there's a eco-war going on between the biosphere makers and the greenies. Nathan Hoddy doesn't care, like any focused writer—he just wants to sell his script. Here's an introduction to the other characters: Plastic Tolstoy, in charge of marketing the end of the world (and bioshpheres); Jurgen Thor, Scandinavian love-god and head greenie; Judy Schwartz, male FBI agent; Max Maximus, former child star and Rosalie Connolly, an Irish eco-babe-terrorist. This is my favorite book by British comedian Elton.

Once, I lived in a country most people didn’t speak English. Being an American, of course I encouraged everyone I met to learn English—it would’ve made my life so much easier! But I made little headway. Possibly because they didn’t understand what I was asking. So, I tried to learn their language. This took a long time as I soon discovered I was not Johnny-be-gifted at languages and that learning a new language is very hard work. Therefore I spent most of my day communicating in simple (and often incorrect) foreign phrases or in very basic English. At night, in my lonely lodgings, I craved complicated language (and donuts, who doesn’t crave donuts?). When another American blew through town he bequeathed me two books. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. And One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I read them silently and out loud for their breathtaking imagery and expertly woven syntax. Strangely, neither was written by an American. Go figure.