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
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
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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
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Write Great Beginnings by Sandra Gerth
Our Summary
Defines "a beginning" and lists do's and don'ts together with pointers on how to achieve the first and avoid the second. Offers exercises based either on an ongoing manuscript or a published work.
What I learned From It
This is a comprehensive and clear overview written in simple terms. The points it makes are self-contained so you can zoom directly to whatever concern you have about the beginning of your work.
Jeanette
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The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
Our Summary
This is Hollywood story consultant Vogler's distillation of Campbell's The Hero With A Thousand Faces. That is, it's a book on comparative mythology turned into a writing manual about the "Hero's Journey".
What I learned From It
See description in previous post of Campbell's The Hero With A Thousand Faces.
Rich.
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War And Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Translated by Anthony Briggs)
Our Summary
Napoleon has a bad idea and the lives of three young people in St Petersburg are changed forever.
What I learned From It
What it means to be human.
Rich.
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The Positive 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 Negative Trait Thesaurus by the same authors.
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
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Into The Woods: How Stories Work And Why We Tell Them by John Yorke
Our Summary
A structural guide to storytelling, plotting, punch, flow step by step
What I learned From It
Although such a step by step guide seems a bit prescriptive and in theory has the potential to limit the creative flow, I found that following the principles helped prevent a story from being a shapeless mass and made it take shape and form. A bit like a block of marble being turned into Michelangelo's David (although perhaps my results have been less classically terrific). Or a diving board: a structure from which to soar.
AliG
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Hooked by Les Edgerton
Our Summary
The focus is on great openings and keeping the reader hooked including advice on this from agents and acquiring editors.
What I learned From It
Lots about inciting incidents; balancing backstory in the set up; keeping readers going from one chapter to the next.
Trey
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Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
Our Summary
Great for understanding genre, theme, 3 act structure. Very well explained. Lots of examples of story beats from popular books. Even looks at pitches and loglines.
What I Learned From It
I found the famous beat sheet really helpful in deciding when to do what in my novel. The biggest thing for me was understanding structure enough to keep those pages turning
Hannah F
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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
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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
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Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Our Summary
Down to earth advice, not so much about the craft per se as the practice (and pitfalls) of "being a writer".
What I learned From It
I'm actually still reading it, but so far I've got lots of encouragement from it. Her style is super informal and she has a wonderful dry wit, it's like a brilliant chat in the pub with someone who really knows their shit and you go away thinking, "yeah, I really can do this..."
Josephine
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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
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Write The Fight Right by Alan Baxter
Our Summary
Alan Baxter, a martial arts instructor and author, talks about what makes a good fight scene, and how to write rich scenes that are realistic and engaging for the reader. He discusses hand fighting in depth--techniques used, guarding and blocking, common injuries sustained in fighting, the consequences of a knockout. He explains how a smaller opponent must fight differently than a larger opponent. He discusses the sounds, smells, and yes, tastes of a fight. He discusses how the use of weapons affects the pace and outcome of a fight. Most importantly, he dives into the psychology of a fight--the effects of adrenaline, training, and experience on how people fight and how they react to a fight. All these details are explained in the context of how to convey the chaos and emotion of a fight on the page.
What I learned From It
I learned how to realistically give my characters challenging odds in fights. I also learned how to make a fight scene rich in detail without focusing on the blow-by-blow of a fight. Most importantly, I learned that the key to a fight is the emotional reactions of the characters--how the characters experience and emotionally process the fight is more important than the mechanics of the conflict itself. I also learned how to realistically address the aftermath of a fight--the broken hands, concussions, emotional turmoil--rather than have my characters bounce right back as though nothing happened.
Robinne Weiss
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The Dictionary Of Body Language by Joe Navarro
Our Summary
Not a writing book per say, but an invaluable text for writers. That is, it's dictionary structure means you can flick to a section and read about a specific body part you want to write about and read authentic body language positions/movements, etc. for each character. For example, you might might want to write about a character's eye, head, hand, etc. movement, the text allows you to learn authentic, non-cliched body language. Written by a ex-FBI agent, it is easy to read and invaluable for adding layers of authentic 'show' to characters. Works well with Navarro's first book What Every Body is Saying (a more detailed account of body language with illustrations).
What I learned From It
Genuine body language that can be adapted to different characters for accurate emotion and thus characterisation. Rather than relying on the usual cliches in body language for characters, this book elevates and authenticates body language, movement, and thus emotion that 'shows' rather than 'tells' the reader in a believable manner. Easy to use both via the chapter headings and the detailed index to research each different part of the body. This is one book I would not be without as a writer.
Rachael Burnett
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The Elements Of Eloquence: Secrets Of The Perfect Turn Of Phrase by Mark Forsyth
Our Summary
This is a book with a clear message (from the blurb): In an age unhealthily obsessed with the power of substance, this is a book that highlights the importance of style.
What I learned From It
About thirty chapters each dedicated to a rhetorical figure. The book is a fun read and has plenty of examples from The Bible, Shakespeare and Tupac ( "Money don't make the man, but man I'm making money")
JohnBertel
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The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Our Summary
First published in 1949, this dense, sometimes impenetrable, and somewhat controversial book on comparative mythology takes a tour through world folklore to tease out common themes and archetypes.
What I learned From It
What George Lucas was thinking when he wrote Star Wars. If you want to understand Hollywood's obsession with this mode of storytelling, you should read this book. If you've heard other writers talk/evangelize/fret about the "Hero's Journey" and you're not exactly sure what they're talking about, you should read this book. If you have even the most passing interest in commercial Western storytelling, you should read this book. Also see "The Writer's Journey" by Christopher Vogler.
Rich.
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Techniques Of The Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain
Our Summary
First published in 1965, Swain's book is a no-nonsense, broad-brush instruction manual for beginners that shows you how to construct a commercial story.
What I learned From It
The basic shape of commercial fiction (and how unchanging that shape has been for more than half a century). Every other writing manual I've ever read has felt like a retelling or offshoot of this book.
Rich.
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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
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Becoming Superman by J Michael Straczynski
Our Summary
An astonishing bio of an accomplished (mainly) screenwriter.
What I learned From It
Never to feel sorry for myself. To keep doing it and never give up. To learn, learn, learn. A fantastic psychology of writing book that every writer serious about making it would benefit from imo.
Trey
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