Writers need to have books nearby. Some are reference books and some may be for inspiration. Recently, children’s author Lynda Pflueger blogged about organizing her desk for writing. She began by clearing off unnecessary books:

After looking over my choices, I determined I needed five reference books on my desk: The Synonym Finder by J. Rodale’s; A Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker; Roget’s Descriptive Word Finder by Barbara Ann Kipfer; Banish Boring Words! by Leilen Shelton; Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.

I, too, love Rodale’s The Synonym Finder. It’s an indispensable writing tool for me. When I taught high school writing, I once told a student who was stuck using the same word over and over again that there was a thesaurus behind him. Much to his embarrassment, he jumped up and looked around. He must have thought a thesaurus was a relative of the Stegosaurus!

I asked Regency romance author Judith Lown for her favorite writer’s book. Here is her contribution:

I’ve read a number of books and articles that have inspired me about being a writer. But the book that has been of most practical help to me is A Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves. I have used the daily writing exercises in this book to dissolve writer’s block, organize the logistics of complicated scenes, and decide plot questions. I cannot recommend it more strongly.

Other titles I keep close at hand for reference include:

• The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010
• Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2003

I have both print and online access to both. These books are standard references in the publishing industry and at eFrog Press all of our editors use them.

When editing or writing fiction, I frequently reference The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. I have the ebook on my tablet so I can quickly look up an emotion and find a selection of descriptions and actions for the character experiencing that emotion. For example, if the character is curious, I have pages of options in categories for physical signals like tilting the head to the side, internal sensations like an increased pulse, mental responses like increased awareness of sensory information, cues like fidgeting or tics, and many examples in each of these categories! Such details help you bring your characters to life.

For Inspiration

Sometimes you just need a beautifully written book at hand to inspire your own prose. For a while, that book was The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. The author wrote:  ”I find there is nothing more beautiful, for example, than the very basic components of language, nouns and verbs.” Her powerful use of basic language inspires me to do the same. Currently, I take my inspiration from Susan Meissner’s descriptions in Secrets of a Charmed Life. Read this introduction to her main character in the first chapter:

Isabel MacFarland steps into the room. She is a wisp of tissue-thin, weightless white hair, and fragile-looking bones. She is impeccably dressed, however, in a lavender skirt that reaches to her knees and a creamy white blouse with satin-covered buttons. Black ballet flats embrace her slender feet. A gold necklace rings her neck. Her nails are polished a shimmery pale pink and her cottony hair is swept up in the back with a comb of mother-of-pearl. She carries a fabric-wrapped rectangle, book shaped and tied with a ribbon.

Got to love “wisp of tissue-thin, weightless white hair, and fragile-looking bones” and “Black ballet flats embrace her slender feet.” So when my writing feels flat or I get stalled, I read a few pages and remember what I aspire to do.

Please Share

What titles do you keep near when writing? Are they for reference, inspiration, or both?

Since I founded eFrog Press almost four years ago, I have worked with dozens of authors and am always intrigued by their individual writing processes. No two authors seem to have the same process. I think writers have more rituals than major league baseball pitchers although there is less scratching and spitting involved.

My all-time favorite prewriting strategy is from German playwright Frederick Schiller. Before he would begin writing, he would open his desk drawer and take a big whiff of a rotting apple he kept there for inspiration! (I did not make this up.)

I define prewriting as anything that happens from the time you decide to write until you actually put fingers to keys or pen to paper. Some authors have a music playlist that relates in some way to the characters or setting. I know when I was writing my doctoral dissertation, I could not listen to music with lyrics. The words seemed to battle with my own writing. So I listened to Andre Segovia’s classical guitar music and just like Pavlov’s dogs, when I would start the music, I would start writing.

Susan Meissner averages a novel a year and likes to begin her session reading the last few pages from the day before—not to edit but to reconnect with her characters and where she left off. By the way, if you have missed her last two novels, A Fall of Marigolds and Secrets of a Charmed Life, I highly recommend them. Her beautiful language and fully developed characters will sweep you away to another place and time.

Place

Think about where you write. Some authors need a clear space without interruptions while others thrive typing away at a busy coffee shop. Children’s author Lynda Pflueger blogged recently about setting up her writing cove just the way she wanted it. Here is how she got started:

First, I tackled my desktop and I removed everything that did not pertain to my writing. I often had to get up and search for a pen or pencil. So, I stocked up and filled an old coffee mug with a dozen pens and pencils.  I added a small note pad, ruler and highlighters. Then, I thought about the reference books I often use while writing.  That was the biggest clue I needed to get organized. Thirty minutes later, I finally found all of them. I had a bad habit of leaving them where I last used them.

Great advice! I have discovered that when I am stuck, simply moving to a new location may trigger new ideas and my writing flows again. Others prefer to always write in the same location.

Time

Another variable is when you write. Some busy parents with full-time jobs find early morning before the family awakes is the best time. Others reserve a full-day per week. Still others can only write late at night. Find your ideal time and calendar it.

Hera Hub, a coworking space for entrepreneurial women, offers a Writers Lounge for two hours per week. There is something special about being in a room where everyone else is writing. You feel compelled to sit still and write. I was stuck on my next book and in that confined environment my plot issue was resolved and a new character was born.

Creating Rituals

In addition to where and when you write, notice if you have developed any rituals—from pencil sharpening, to brewing fresh tea, to playing just the kind of song your main character would rock out to. If you want to create writing rituals, think about all of your senses. An author I recently met takes a meditative walk and then applies cinnamon oil to her wrists before writing. I know another author who keeps M&Ms (peanut, of course) on her desk—just in case chocolate is required.

Please share

What inspires you to write? Share your writing rituals—however unique they might be—in the comments below.

L. C. Scott is the founder of eFrog Press and an author. Her many years of teaching at the high school and university level and her freelance writing career have prepared her to lead a team of experts to guide both fledgling and experienced authors through the maze of indie publishing. Today on Take the Leap she reflects on what makes a great bookstore reading. 

Authors can take a page from Susan Meissner’s book when planning a book talk. Yesterday her newest book, A Fall of Marigolds, was released and she spoke at a local independent bookstore, Warwick’s in La Jolla, California.

I have heard dozens of authors speak about their books. For over a decade I worked behind the scenes on large English teacher conferences and we had many amazing speakers: Isabel Allende, Gail Tsukiyama, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Kathleen Krull, Anne Lamott, Michael Chabon, and more. I have learned from some of the best what works—and what doesn’t work—in an author’s talk.

Here is what Susan Meissner did right.

1. Be approachable

Susan was very approachable before her presentation. No diva here. She mingled, hugged, and chatted.

2. Have food

Cookies! She provided cookies from the cultures represented in her book including Polish and Italian.

3. Connect with your audience

Susan spoke informally at the beginning about other book talks she had attended and what she planned to do that evening. She introduced her high school English teacher, Frank Barone, to whom the book is dedicated [Full disclosure, many moons ago, Susan was in my English class for one semester]. She honored Frank for helping her find her voice as a writer and the audience loved it.

4. Give your audience inside information

Susan elaborated on how the book took shape and let her audience in on the back story. Her title evolved from a dark, depressing one to A Fall of Marigolds and she shared the evolution with us. You could also share your writing process.

5. Act like you want to be there

Susan appeared relaxed and delighted to be with us. Of course, the local audience was filled with friends, family, and ardent readers.

6. Choose reading passages carefully

Choose reading passages that highlight your writing style and illustrate earlier remarks. The selected readings were not long but tied in beautifully with her discussion of her book and showcased her prowess with the written word. The audience was dazzled.

7. Take time to reflect as you answer questions

Susan answered questions thoughtfully and patiently. How many books has she written? 15! What does she do when she gets writers block. She backs up a chapter and writes around the wall. If that doesn’t work, she backs up further. Then she gave an example from an earlier book. Audiences love examples.

8. Give something away

Susan held a drawing. As she spoke she passed around a bowl of paper slips and we wrote our names, folded them, and passed the bowl along. No fuss, no muss. At the very end, she drew names. The prizes included marigold earrings, a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore, and a free copy of her new book if you bought one at the bookstore. She explained that she valued independent bookstores and didn’t want to undermine them in any way so it was BOGO!

9. Engage readers during book signing

Full disclosure, it was late and I did not join the long line, but Gail Tsukiyama epitomizes what an author should do. After meeting with a very long line of readers, she still smiled, looked directly at the reader, paused before signing, and engaged in brief conversation. Everyone in her very long line went home feeling special. She gained readers for life. As an author you have been writing to get readers, so when you have the opportunity to meet them, make the most of it. What’s your hurry?

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