Five books to kick start your writing.

There are many books out there that will tell you how to create characters, plot your story and get published. These books will help you kick start your writing…

The Write Brain Workbook by Bonnie Neubauer. 

(Writer’s Digest Books, 2006.) 

I’ve used this book and have found it very helpful. It contains 366 exercises to help kick start your brain. It’s a workbook so you can write and draw straight into the book (For someone who never writes in books it took a while to get used to but great fun once I had.) One exercise a day. It will help warm up the brain before jumping in on the work in progress. 

The Five Minute Writer by Margret Geraghty. 

(How To Books, 2009.) 

I also own this book and have found it very helpful, (yes, I own a lot of writing books.) This one offers writing related discussion followed by a five minute exercise. Even when I’m busy, five minutes of writing seems possible. 

What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter. 

Harper Collins, 2005. 

Like the five minute writer, this book offers bite size writing exercises that you can fit into your day no matter how busy you are. 

My Future Listography (all I hope to do in lists.) 

(Chronicle Books, 2011.) 

I LOVE lists. I am the queen of making lists whether it’s a to do list or a wish list. This is one in a series of books which allow you to make lists around a particular thing, for example, “which films do you want to see in your life?” Lists are a good way of getting the writing brain going. 

Ready Set Novel (A Noveling Journal,) by Taria Stewart – Streit, Chris Baty and Lindsey Grant. 

(Chronicle Books, 2011.) 

From the people who brought you National Novel Writing Month comes Ready, Set Novel. This book is amazing and one that I’ve found very helpful. It takes you through the stages of planning a book from the plot to characters but where it’s a workbook, it’s very practical and it means all of your story notes are in one place. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.