Here are some things I’ve learned and some books I’d recommend:
Join a writer and/or critique group. Whether online or in person, this has been one of the most important things in developing me as a writer.
Join national writing organizations and go to writing conferences. Great choices include the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. There are many others depending on your genre. But join something, network and learn.
Read Read Read!!!!! Nothing more telling than a writer who doesn’t read. Read things in your genre and outside of your genre. It’s important to be a well rounded writer.
Study the Craft of Writing. These are a few among many craft books on my shelves:
- The First Five Pages – Noah Lukeman (one of the first writing books you should read)
- Self-Editing for Fiction Writers – Rennie Browne and Dave King (another “first” book)
- Telling the Tale – Angela Benson
- Goal, Motivation and Conflict – Deb Dixon (Must be purchased from the author at http://www.debradixon.com/gmc.html )
- Writing the Breakout Novel – Donald Maas (a must read)
- Stein on Writing – Sol Stein
- Any and all of the Writer’s Digest series (I highly recommend Scene and Structure, Description, and Point of View)
Rhonda McKnight 