Being a full-time writer doesn’t mean that I can generate new prose for 40+ hours a week. It does mean, however, that my mind is on writing 100% of the time.

I discipline myself to write five hours a day and sometimes even manage eight hours – but by then my brain is complete mush and so it may not be my best work. On those days when only half my hours are dedicated to producing new material, I apply the rest to writing-related work.

You don’t want to know how many hours I’ve spent looking at other authors’ websites, reading Twitter and Facebook (although I make a point of limiting these two time-consuming pastimes), and researching topics on the craft of writing as well as content for my books.

When my eyes are bulging out of my head from too much computer work, I give them a rest by reading actual paper-and-ink books about the craft. Living abroad where English-language bookstores are few – and books on writing even fewer – I make a point of having every visitor from the USA or Canada bring me books I’ve ordered on line and had sent to them.

As we will be leaving Costa Rica for China (by way of Europe) in just a few weeks, I’ve had to hurry up and read all of my writing books, highlight them and I’m now scanning them into my computer to make them portable. “Why” you may be wondering “doesn’t she just buy electronic books?” I have a few of these but there aren’t that many titles on the craft of writing available electronically. One day…

At the top of my list of how-to-write books – and which I heartily recommend – are the following:

Zinsser, William: On Writing Well. This is a classic that I’ve read twice in the last six months. He writes clearly and in an entertaining manner. While the book is directed to non-fiction writers, a lot of what he advises applies to fiction as well. Many of the topics covered this book – simplicity, clutter, style, words, usage, unity – apply to all styles of writing.

Strunk, William: The Elements of Style. Another classic – this is my third copy as I keep losing mine to writing friends. I was introduced to it in journalism school twenty five years ago and still refer to it regularly when I’m faced with grammatical problems.

Katz, Christina: Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform. Great book dealing with how to market yourself using the Internet, community forums, local bookstores and publications. The idea is that having a following interested in what you are writing about will make it easier to sell your book to publishers. It contains a lot of great advice written simply and in an entertaining style.

Herman, Jeff and Deborah Levine: Write The Perfect Book Proposal. I’m using this as my guide to formulate a proposal for my how-to plan-your-travels book. The authors cover all aspects of the proposal – concept, title, overview, markets, competition, promotion, author background, outline, and sample chapter – in a clear, how-to format. I will be pitching the book in the spring of 2010 based on the advice contained in this book. It has become my proposal writing bible.

Kress, Nancy: Elements of Writing Fiction – Beginnings, Middles & Ends. Another great book written in simple language that makes its points very well. It is organized, interesting, well written – everything a good writing book should be.

There are many, many resources available to writers now but there is nothing quite like getting advice from people who’ve already been there, done that. These are great references every writer should have easy access to. Let me know if you’ve got others you’d like me to add to my list of resources for writers.

If you would like to subscribe to this blog, click on the litle envelope next to the word ‘subscribe’ at the top of the left-hand menu. You will receive notification by e-mail every time this blog is updated. I solemnly swear to never sell, trade or give away your information to anyone!