Litopia Writers’ Reading List 2024
Peter Cox, founder of Litopia
I asked our members a simple question.
Which books have had the most profound impact on your development as a writer?
Here’s what they told me. A glorious cornucopia of more than forty definitive titles that ought to be on your reading list.
And note: if you buy them all (why not?) it will still be cheaper than taking one average-priced commercial writing course.
We’ve all enjoyed putting this list together, and we hope you get as much out of it as we have.
Peter Cox
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Our Summary
a series of essays and short stories on the nature of story
What I learned From It
It does a great job of explaining the nature of truth in story. there's a great section which notes that the factually correct war story is not the really true one,
MattScho
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3uA2rRH" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/40T0KuL" ]
The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman And Becca Puglisi
Our Summary
A great one to dip in and out of if you find yourself repeating yourself in terms of showing-not-telling emotions. Gives lots of examples.
What I learned From It
Ideas to avoid repetition and alternative ways to say the same things if emotional reactions are repeated through the story.
Claire G
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3RcCK2A" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/46tYtYm" ]
Point Of View by Sandra Gerth
Our Summary
A clear, informative guide to the different types of POV with tips on choosing the best POV for your own manuscript. Offers exercises focused either on your work in progress or on a published book.
What I learned From It
I saw how to mix some POV, how and why to avoid head-hopping and picked up tips on internal monologue.
Jeanette
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3GcXzol" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3sMdJSx" ]
Secrets Of Story by Matt Bird
Our Summary
An award-winning screenwriter’s view of journeyman writing. How to hone in on and hone your story.
What I learned From It
Imagine your reader being on a long plane ride. Then imagine you are their seat mate. Are you the engaging stranger who entertains them with your sparkling wit and fascinating adventures? Do they want to take your name and keep in touch thereafter? Or are you the boring Uncle from Derry Girls that makes them consider opening the plane door and shoving you out?
Pamela Jo
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3QUGwwp" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3GeiY0A" ]
Negotiating With The Dead by Margaret Atwood
Our Summary
A collection of essays by a renowned writer on aspects of writing theory and how she became a writer. Entertaining and informative especially if you are already an Atwood fan.
What I learned From It
This isn't a 'how to write' book - it is about 'writing' in a far more general sense. It gave me plenty of food for thought.
Liz Brown
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3uuCzXL" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/47p1R7T" ]
The Memoir Project – A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text For Writing & Life by Marion Roach-Smith
Our Summary
Rational and literary at the same time, this slim tome is an extremely helpful exploration of how to turn life into memoir -- without boring the pants off the reader.
What I learned From It
A memoir is an illustration of a truth, a single facet of a life rather than a life story. Just because something happened doesn't make it interesting. Narrow the focus, find your voice and write in scenes until you have a vomit draft. Then the real work begins.
Mel L
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3QUSpCa" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3Tc3kKT" ]
On Writing by Stephen King
Our Summary
Leave it to the literary rock star to compose a craft book that’s as entertaining as a good novel. “This is a short book because most books about writing are filled with bullshit,” King writes. What follows is a witty, practical, and sometimes poignant guide that is refreshingly devoid of the aforementioned BS. King relates his personal story of becoming a writer, then offers a “toolkit” of clear advice about everything from dialogue and descriptive passages to revisions and the head game. And there’s more: tips for beginning writers on submitting work for publication, a mark-up of one of King’s own manuscripts, and a reading list. You might not be awake at 3 a.m. turning these pages, but we promise On Writing will open your eyes to essential tricks of the trade.
What I learned From It
Just write a story readers will read.
James Charles
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3MVOW5m" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/46IadGV" ]
The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman And Becca Puglisi
Our Summary
Lists character traits to help you generate different types of characters and how these traits might manifest. Useful in conjunction with The Positive Trait Thesaurus.
What I learned From It
Helped me to write characters with more depth and think of a wider range of character types for my books.
Claire G
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/40TfObY" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3sLiNGQ" ]
Talking Books by James Carter
Our Summary
Various children's authors talk about craft and how they became professional authors.
What I learned From It
That it was possible to be a writer without being a god. It is a cherished book that sparked the possibility of being a writer for me.
Trey
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3usRJwx" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3QV0Q0i" ]
The Situation And The Story – The Art Of Personal Narrative by Vivian Gornick
Our Summary
Every work of literature has both a situation and a story, and modern memoir is all about the self that we become through life experience. She deftly illustrates this rather lofty theory with specific examples of how personal narrative is memorably crafted by different writers.
What I learned From It
Memoir is not about you or your life. It is about finding the truth and making sense of life experience to deliver a story that will resonate with readers. A hugely helpful read for anyone planning a memoir.
Mel L
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3QQi4w6" ]
The INFJ Writer by Lauren Sapala
Our Summary
Writing (and living) advice for people whose brains don't work well with logic, plotting etc. Another perspective! (The letters refer to Myers-Briggs type personality indicators, which aren't flawless, but broadly if you tend to be led more by feelings and intuitive reasoning, this might work for you).
What I Learned From It
I'd been getting super snarled up trying to follow advice that just didn't work for me in practice, even though I could see it made theoretical sense. This book gave me a bit of space to trust myself to learn my own process. I've still got a long way to go but I do a lot less bashing my head against a brick wall these days. Sharing it in case anyone else is in the same boat!
Josephine
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3sI74J9" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/40RToaZ" ]
It Was The Best Of Sentences, It Was The Worst Of Sentences by June Casagrande
Our Summary
Gets into the line level of sentences and what order you need to put words so you can help a reader follow what you put down on paper (or computer). From phrases, clauses, subordination, long v short sentences tense, tense, prepositional phrases, danglers and much more. Perfect for reacquainting yourself with the nuts and bolts of grammar.
What I learned From It
I learnt how to consider what order words need to be in, and how writing them out of order confuses the reader. Now every sentence I construct considers the reader first.
RK Wallis
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3Rcg02K" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3GaoP6S" ]
The Art Of Fiction by John Gardner
Our Summary
This is a self-proclaimed book of basics, but Gardner is clearly elitist; this work is aimed at writers aspiring to create art. It covers plot, character, sentence structure, poetic rhythm - all the mechanics of writing fiction - but he's less interested in dictating laws of good writing. "Every true work of art," Gardner claims, "must be judged primarily by its own laws." His primary interest is about how to create a vivid dream to absorb the reader to the end of the story.
What I learned From It
This book is disorganised, but full of important lessons. There is no story until there is a plot capable of expressing it. The primary requirement of a piece of fiction is verisimilitude - that the reader can believe these events happened, or could have happened, or might happen in a slightly different world. And verisimilitude requires vivid detail. Most importantly it taught me to focus less on the technical details of correct writing and more on making the writing vivid and absorbing.
Dan Payne
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3QQbXYC" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3R9OeE7" ]
Stein On Writing by Sol Stein
Our Summary
With examples from bestsellers as well as from students' drafts, Stein offers detailed sections on characterization, dialogue, pacing, flashbacks, trimming away flabby wording, the so-called "triage" method of revision, using the techniques of fiction to enliven nonfiction, and more.
What I learned From It
I got this in audio and it is like being called into the editors office and being told what goes, what stays. He talks about good writing, higher writing, yes. But always making it clear that you gotta get bums on seats,
Pamela Jo
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3QQ9A87" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3sELfu3" ]
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Our Summary
Despite being written 45 years ago, it feels like a modern work. It’s at once Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Speculative, and even Literary. Everything a writer needs to know about sparse and impactful prose can be found in these pages.
What I Learned From It
Pithy writing has power. Take a look at the first paragraph…
“I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm.”
We don’t know why Dana lost her left arm - or where she was when it happened. However, most of us would keep on reading to find out.
The minimalist approach doesn’t end with the hook. Throughout the novel, the writing is direct and matter-of-fact. There’s no purple prose to distract the reader.
Butler's worldbuilding is likewise utilitarian. She sets the stage with everything we need to know, and little else. If something more is needed to move a scene forward, she’ll drop it in later so readers aren't overwhelmed.
There is brutality in this world, and Kindred doesn’t shy away from it. Slavery in the US was a cruel business. Still, she conveys the humiliation and suffering of human bondage with an economy of words. There’s no need for intricate detail.
There’s also no need to explain why slavery is wrong. Butler trusts her readers enough not to lecture them.
The author falls into a common conceit of the era - chapter titles. However, she doesn’t abuse that conceit. Each title is short and to the point with neither wit nor irony. There are no spoilers, either. The meanings are clear upon finishing a respective chapter.
Kindred has both a prologue and an epilogue. Few books need one, and even fewer need both. However, this story demands both. There is nothing extraneous about their inclusion here. Unlike many novels, neither feels bolted on to the main narrative. The prologue hooks the reader while the epilogue provides the necessary denouement.
Not everyone agrees Kindred is Science Fiction. If it’s not, there's a lot here for Sci-Fi readers (including myself) to like. If it is Science Fiction, the characters and dialogue are much more realistic than most contemporary works.
Most importantly - this book remains relevant to readers and authors alike.
Bloo✒️
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3sNpDvv" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3MY4VQc" ]
Blurb Your Enthusiasm: An A To Z Of Literary Persuasion by Louise Willder
Our Summary
How different blurbs work in different genres from an insider in the business (Willder is a Penguin books blurb writer). Lots of great examples in each genre in terms of what does and doesn't work and why. Willder argues every word matters in a blurb, and so each has to count. Thus, she offers ways to do this.
What I learned From It
How to write a successful blurb from an experienced blurb writer. That is, what will appeal to readers in different genres and why. Use of specific words and phrases that attract readers. The multitude of different examples proved helpful as comparisons to craft your own blurb. As the book is written with humour, it's easy to read. You can also flick to different sections as per the genre you're working in, but I'd recommend you read the whole books to get the full picture.
Rachael Burnett
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3RczNiw" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3RbgTZh" ]
Show Don’T Tell by Sandra Gerth
Our Summary
Defines and illustrates the strategy. Explains the importance, art and limit of showing; also lists the uses of telling. Offers exercises and proposes solutions for some of them.
What I learned From It
I learned that 'telling' comes naturally to me but 'showing' much less so. This book is one I return to time and time again while I'm revising what I've written.
Jeanette
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3sEIUzh" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3sO8Fgp" ]
The Conflict Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman And Becca Puglisi
Our Summary
A breakdown of types of conflicts for your story and potential fall-outs for characters. Useful for sparking your imagination early in the creative process or if you feel that the stakes aren't high enough when you're writing.
What I learned From It
It opened my mind to different ideas and consequences.
Claire G
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/47s2xtj" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/3R88jKV" ]
Truth by Susan Batson
Our Summary
Public personas, needs, and tragic flaws - A step-by-step guide for creating truth in a character from an acting perspective.
What I learned From It
This one's a little off the beaten path... I was fascinated with method acting, and wanted to bring that to my writing. How to embody and write the truth of a character. This is one of the books I learned a lot from in that regard.
LJ Beck
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/3GdieIY" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/49PPZgR" ]
Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias
Our Summary
It delves into the psychology of the reader and techniques to create emotional scenes within your storytelling, including in dialogue.
What I Learned From It
This author's way of teaching the craft really chimes with me. It's quite an expensive book but worth it in my opinion. For me, this book takes me into a layer above plot and structure.
Hannah F
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://amzn.to/47N7jRN" ]
[maxbutton id="2" url="https://amzn.to/49QTT9e" ]
Basic Membership Is Free.
Basic membership is sufficient for many writers.
Benefit from unlimited access to the Writing Lab for critiques using the Litopia® Method… Start your own writer’s blog on our powerful platform… And of course, maximum support from the oldest and friendliest community for writers on the ‘net.
Full Membership Is Only $149.95 For An Entire Year
Everything in Basic Membership plus unlimited access to all our writing seminars and unlimited access to our weekly live Writers’ Huddles for personal mentoring & coaching.