If you want to learn more about being a writer, or about the craft of writing, there are numerous resources out there for you to reference. There are books, there are websites, and there are blog posts like this one. There are books that will tell you how to write a specific genre and books that will tell you how to write for certain audiences. There are books that will tell you how to edit, revise, submit, and self-publish your own work.
My point, I believe, in listing all of these writing resources, is that you could easily read yourself silly and never get any writing done. I think I’ve written about my opinions regarding certain writing resources before on this blog. Generally, I think writing books that model themselves after self-help books are of no use. You can spend days reading those books, highlighting pertinent passages, and taking notes. But all of that time is time you could have spent writing.
Another good point is that writing books tend to present the craft of writing as very cut-and-dry. As Jael McHenry says, in her article on Writer Unboxed, “So many of these books are about formula: if only you follow the framework, they say, you’ll have a book that’s not only universally loved by critics, but also embraced by readers everywhere. One word: HA. Frameworks are all well and good, but creative work can never be paint-by-numbers.”
I echo Jael McHenry: Ha! Writing cannot be done according to a formula or framework. And she’s right, many of those books present writing in that way. Personally I think that’s a flawed representation and following it will not help you become a better writer. In her post, McHenry also says that those who produce writing books exist to sell those writing books. So the books may not have your best interest at heart, honestly.
Instead of reading about writing, I would suggesting reading to write. The difference is in the materials — rather than reading about the craft and about how you “should” practice it, read the works of the greats. Read what you enjoy the most. Read what you think writing should be. Seeing what other authors have done before you is far more beneficial than reading about a formula, framework, or step-by-step for writing.
What do you think? Do you disagree with me completely? How do you feel about books about writing? Share in the comments!
– Jet Fuel Blog Edtior, Mary Egan
