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Resources for Writers!

A unique aspect of writers craft is that everyone gives such different advice. And there is so much of it. This is for a few reasons. The first is quite obvious. Every human being is different. Therefore, no writer approaches the blank page the same way. The process for one author may be very different than your own because we are all simply wired differently. While this is freeing for the writer to acknowledge, it’s also the reason why there is an overwhelming amount of contradictory advice to dig through. This abundance is also due to the fact that there is no right way to write. Again, we are all different. The way we process information will likely not be the same as your friend, let alone Stephen King.

That being said, despite what your creative writing professor may claim, there is a science to storytelling. There is a right way to develop a compelling story. There is a method to the madness. But the process for getting there will be different for each of us. Unfortunately, this is something that no one ever taught me (and I have a degree in Creative Writing). It wasn’t until last summer that I encountered this idea through authors and writers I discovered on the internet who were committed to sharing their writing process with others. Since then, I have been consumed by the need to keep learning more and to share my discoveries with other writers. Because, seriously, the advice I’ve learned has completely transformed the way I approach writing my own novels.


As I said, there is an absurd amount of information about writing. Some advice is good. Some are terrible. Some will work for me. Some will work for you too. But some will not. The process of receiving writing advice is trying what works for others and learning what things do and don’t work for you. The amount of advice that is out there can be overwhelming, but I hope to ease this by providing you with a place to start. So, I’ve compiled a list of resources about writers craft that I have found helpful in my own creative journey



Let's get into it!



Save The Cat! Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody

1. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

The first resource on this list is the first of many writers craft books that I hope to read in my lifetime. Right now, this is a book that so many writers online have been raving about, and for good reason!


For those unfamiliar, Save the Cat! is a book originally created for screenwriters by Blake Snyder and it theorizes that every captivating story throughout time has the same fifteen essential plot beats. Jessica Brody takes this theory and applies it to the process of writing a novel. She breaks down the individual beat, explaining what it is and why it is effective in your story while providing examples from a wide variety of novels where these plot points were used effectively. Brody also identifies ten universal story genres to help writers understand what makes their type of story work.


I started reading his book sometime in the summer and I’m still slowly making my way through it. One of the reasons for my delay is because I have been pausing to apply Brody’s suggested methods to my own novel. And it has been so helpful. Not only has this book taught me how to outline my novel, but it also transformed the way I think as I’m developing the bones of my story. As I’m writing, I’m no longer concerned with what comes next. Instead, I’m constantly asking myself how these plot points fit into these essential beats, why this is necessary to my story, and what effect it has upon the reader. These deeper questions have really helped enrich my storytelling technique. It’s also transformed the way I watch movies, to the great dismay of my family and close friends, as I can now always identify the direction the story is going in due to the deeper understanding of plot structure that Save the Cat! has instilled in me.




2. Brandon Sanderson’s Lecture Series

Another resource I have found super helpful in my creative writing journey (and that I simply cannot stop raving about) is Brandon Sanderson’s 2016 Creative Writing Lecture Series at BYU. And his 2020 series. And his podcast. And his books. Basically, Brandon Sanderson is amazing and I’ve learned more about writers craft from him than I did in a three-year program at university.

Brandon Sanderson is an award-winning American epic fantasy and science fiction author. He is best known for his Mistborn trilogy and The Way of Kings, which is the first novel in The Stormlight Archive series. Sanderson also teaches creative writing at Bringham Young University in Utah. The lecture series' that I have mentioned are a collection of video recordings from his course at BYU that are available on YouTube. Sanderson also has a podcast titled Writing Excuses, which features other authors like Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and others. This podcast discusses many of the topics that his BYU lecture series cover, such as creating compelling characters, plotting your story, the business of publishing, and more.


So far, I have watched Sanderson’s 2016 lecture series, listened to a couple episodes of his podcast, began reading the Mistborn trilogy (which is phenomenal FYI), and started his 2020 lecture series. Honestly, at this point, I would recommend anything by him because I truly feel like he has given me such good advice about writing and publishing that I believe every writer needs to hear.


Something I really appreciate about Sanderson is that he emphasizes that every writer is different. He teaches his class what works for him and encourages them to try his methods, as well as other techniques that he recommends from other authors in his circle. Sanderson also makes a note of something that writers often do not talk about, which is that you do not have to be a professional writer. Your art does not need to be your career. It is allowed to be a hobby. Sanderson likes to use the analogy of someone who enjoys playing basketball. No one ever asks someone who plays basketball in their free time if they are going to pursue a career in the NBA. But, for some reason, this assumption is present in the writing community. He emphasizes that as a writer you get to decide what is successful for you. Perhaps that does mean pursuing a career as a novelist. Maybe it means writing books for your friends or future children to enjoy. Maybe you write simply because you love to. Sanderson insists that all of these reasons still make you a writer. I found this aspect of his philosophy very encouraging and I continue to find his resources to be really helpful and inspiring.


Writing Excuses Podcast: https://writingexcuses.com/




3. The Creative Penn Podcast

Recently, I’ve discovered a few podcasts that have been really insightful and inspirational for me in my creative journey. The first that I’d like to talk about is The Creative Penn podcast by Joanna Penn.

Joanna Penn is an award-winning creative entrepreneur and author. She writes non-fiction books for authors and has published several bestselling thriller novels under the name J.F.Penn. Her podcast, The Creative Penn, includes inspiration and information on creativity, writing, publishing, marketing, and creative entrepreneurship, which she often discusses through interviews with other professional authors.


This podcast is incredibly informative. Mostly, I feel like it has taught me so much more about the business of writing and the changing trends in the publishing industry. Penn is a hybrid-author, meaning she has self-published and traditionally published content, and I believe that this brings an interesting perspective to her episodes. I feel like so many people look down at self-publishing. I know that my university professors certainly did. Several of them even insisted that this was not a valid form of publication. However, Joanna Penn has proven them all wrong, as have many of the indie-authors she interviews in her podcast. She is an incredibly successful author who has made a professional career through self-publication. This was really encouraging for me to hear as someone who has self-published a novel. Penn has inspired me to continue exploring this valid option of publication.


The Creative Penn Podcast: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/




4. Abbie Emmons | Make Your Story Matter

Abbie Emmons is another YouTube discovery I made over the summer. As I was struggling with outlining a new novel, I began browsing the resources that YouTube had to offer. Abbie’s channel was one of the first that popped up.

Abbie Emmons is a blogger who is passionate about helping writers make their stories matter by teaching them the art and psychology of storytelling. Her blog and YouTube channel deal with topics such as story structure, developing strong characters, the importance of outlines, and cultivating a balanced lifestyle to help improve your productivity and creativity.


Honestly, I believe that Abbie has mastered the craft of outlining a novel. Her process is very in-depth which, at first, I found overwhelming, but as I tried many of the techniques she suggested I discovered aspects of her method that really work for me! Abbie emphasizes the importance of making every aspect of your story matter. Each character. Every twist in the plot. It all needs to be important in some way. Now, when I write or outline, I find that I’m constantly asking myself why does this matter to my story? Why is this scene significant to the characters? Why should the reader care? This has carved new depths into my stories and, ultimately, has strengthened my skills as a writer.




5. 88 Cups of Tea Podcast

The final resource on this list is another podcast that I discovered last summer called 88 Cups of Tea, founded and hosted by Yin Chang.

Available on Apple & Spotify
88 Cups of Tea Podcast

This podcast seeks to provide guidance and inspiration for creative writers in their storytelling journey. It features many interviews with popular authors and explores a variety of topics that go beyond the structure of storytelling. They unpack conversations about overcoming rejection, lifestyle habits, and cultivating habits to nurture your creativity.


What I really love about this podcast is that it is primarily focused on inspiration. Most of the other resources I’ve mentioned hone in on the technical side of writing. While 88 Cups of Tea also does this, their discussions are always taken a step further to include conversations that connect creativity and life. They are heart-level focused. Many of my favourite conversations have been about finding inspiration in the ordinary aspects of our life and through other works of art. These episodes always left me with the burning desire to write. In fact, I believe this podcast played a key role in re-igniting my passion for storytelling. If you are looking for creative inspiration, I really recommend checking this podcast out!





Conclusion

This concludes this brief list of resources that I believe will help you in your creative writing journey. I really hope you find them to be as useful as I have. Honestly, I have learned so much from these authors and creators. I really hope you check out these resources. If you do, please feel free to reach out to me! I’d love to know your thoughts and if you have any recommendations for other resources that I should check out!



 



(Note to Reader: I hope you stick around for more posts from me as I embark on this journey of exploring my passion for art and faith through my writing to encourage others in their creative pursuits. Please know, Reader, that you are welcome here. No matter who you are. No matter your personal beliefs. I’d like to emphasize that everything in this post is based upon my own opinion, interpretation, and experience. I have qualifications, but I’d hardly call myself an expert. My hope is that in sharing my thoughts and story that you would find encouragement or inspiration through my words. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me! I’d love to connect with you!)



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