The Definitive

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

81aMI3-N3oL._SL1500_

Wonderbook (The Illistrated Guide To Creating Imaginative Fiction) by Jeff Vandermeer

Our Summary

For genre lovers. Practical information on plotting, structure, characterization, dialogue, exposition, worldbuilding, and POV while packed with exquisite and imaginative visuals. This is a beautiful, wild, and crazy book with contributions from various well loved authors like Neil Gaiman, Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin and others. Dense and rich and wonderful.

What I learned From It

It encouraged me to not just embrace my imagination, but to push it as far as it will possibly go.

LJ Beck

Buy UK

Buy US

71uQ195rQML._SL1360_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

71br7eziwFL._SL1500_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

71ys8IXMAnL._SL1500_

Story Genius by Lisa Cron

Our Summary

It’s every novelist’s greatest fear: pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into writing hundreds of pages only to realize that their story has no sense of urgency, no internal logic, and so is a page one rewrite.

What I learned From It

The prevailing wisdom in the writing community is that there are just two ways around this problem: pantsing (winging it) and plotting (focusing on the external plot). Story coach Lisa Cron has spent her career discovering why these methods don’t work and coming up with a powerful alternative, based on the science behind what our brains are wired to crave in every story we read (and it’s not what you think).

AnnieSummerlee

Buy UK

Buy US

91mxTIBxp9L._SL1500_

Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore by Elizabeth Lyon

Our Summary

Presents in a highly readable, organized way all of the elements of a novel, from the significance of genre and common to lesser-known structures to all the aspects of a writers' craft. Briefly and with amazing clarity, describes potential problems which might arise from each, then follows with suggestions for how to "fix" them. Chapters are organized around particular craft elements and issues, so readers can choose which parts of the book to focus on relative to their personal writing needs. Review checklists of problems and their solutions are included at the end of each chapter.

What I Learned From It

I have now read easily a dozen books on how to write a novel, plus several on revision, and while I've taken away something of value from each, not one of them has given me the breadth of awareness and practical understanding of craft elements, from A to Z and beyond, that this jam-packed, wisely conceived and clearly presented book has given me. It's not prescriptive, nor does it follow the latest trends in fiction writing. Ms Lyons doesn't think she has 'the' answer or make suggestions that make a writer feel like a square peg being forced into a round hole, but rather shows writers how to consider each issue in light of their own writing style, voice and vision for their novel. Check out the Amazon reviews; I'm not the only one who loves this book. It's a keeper! And one to be used over and over.

CarolMS

Buy UK

Buy US

71QqFxVvGSL._SL1429_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

61YAH8p3I9L._SL1164_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

71c5AaiZXsL._SL1500_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

61ZDPQGURZL._SL1500_

Story – Substance, Structure, Style And The Principles Of Screenwriting by Robert Mckee

Our Summary

An oft-quoted reference for screenwriting, this book delves deep into story as a metaphor for life. McKee's analysis of film structure is hugely insightful for novelists. He explores genre, character, theme and exposition in terms that are clear and thought-provoking. Beyond a 'how to' guide, this is a reference book that deserves its place on a writer's shelf.

What I learned From It

The art of story is universal. The same set of skills a writer uses to bring a story to the screen also strengthen our craft in writing fiction and other narratives.

Mel L

Buy UK

Buy US

818wHZtn0DL._SL1360_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

51dtCiaMXVL

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

Buy UK

Buy US

81KqxiiWucL._SL1500_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

71+b-pLLvNL._SL1429_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

71n+whq5s2L._SL1360_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

71i6Ft-vj5L._SL1500_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

61Ox0REEuJL._SL1360_

Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin

Our Summary

Everything you could possibly need to know to get your manuscript to submission or self-publishing standards.

What I Learned From It

This book is gold dust. Made me think objectively about everything I've been doing or hope to do.

Vagabond Heart

Buy US

51VEUgVhDeL

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

Buy UK

Buy US

81QCq76cBbL._SL1500_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

 

71w8YtbEqrL._SL1500_

Writing Historical Fiction by Emma Darwin

Our Summary

A beginners' guide to writing historical fiction which draws on the material in her coaching sessions and lectures: characters, plot structure, research, using your senses to recreate the past and psychic distance. There are plenty of examples and exercises.

What I learned From It

I still dip into this book if I'm stuck in my writing or need some inspiration. It's practical rather than theoretical which works for me.

Liz Brown

Buy UK

Buy US

81+k1tAlewL._SL1500_

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

Buy UK

Buy US

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.