I bought my first writing craft book the summer I graduated from high school. I’d been writing for years by then. I had notebooks filled with longhand writing and a Trapper Keeper stuffed with notes and stories and computer printouts. (Anybody remember daisy wheel and dot matrix printers?) I was so excited to be a writer. (Still am.) When this book caught my eye at the bookstore in the mall, I grabbed it.
Making Shapely Fiction by Jerome Stern
Making Shapely Fiction is a simple book. It feels more like a toolbox then actual lessons. It’s broken into four parts: The Shapes of Fiction, A Cautionary Interlude, From Accuracy to Zigzag: An Alphabet For Writers Of Fiction and Readables: Where To Learn From. The pages are filled with helpful little tidbits. Not a traditional how-to. You can flip through the pages and find something that interests you or read it straight through. Each shape cross-references a particular entry in the alphabet section and can take you on an adventure with your fiction.
I look back now, and I smile. I loved this little book. (Still do.) I felt like I belonged in this world of words. It all made sense to me. I return to its pages, every now and then, for inspiration and encouragement. And maybe for a bit of nostalgia.
The Readables section is a bit dated. This book was published in 1991. A lifetime ago. There’s still some good stuff there. I bet your local library could help you find some of the books. Or you can always find new ones by people you’ve read. Feed your muse, but remember to challenge yourself and stay curious.
I’m always interested in how others write. What’s your story? It doesn’t matter really. Just keep writing.
Maybe you took a course in college or earned an English degree. Maybe you’re self taught. There’s always something to learn. Styles and techniques you’ve never tried could lead to breakthroughs. It was only last year that I started experimenting with first person, present tense. (Fan fiction is an awesome place to practice!)
This book is a window to my past and a companion into my future. If you give it a whirl, I’d love to know what you think of it.
Do you have a favorite writing book? I’d love to know what it is, so I can read it! (Or chat about it.)
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