Writing Books

One shelf in my library is devoted to books on the craft of writing. As an instructor, it's easy to justify their purchase. As an author, it's easy to justify their purchase. As a fan of so many writers, who eventually share their writing wisdom with the world, it's easy to justify their purchase.

But the truth is, I haven't read most of them.

These are my two most recent additions:

I bought the Warren because of (digital) cookies. After perusing it at Amazon, it kept popping up on my entry page. I had looked "inside the book" and copied from it a short list of character questions that I wanted to answer for my own characters, and I felt beholden. Also, that subtitle is brilliant. What's the "one powerful question"? I simply must know.

But I've had the book for three weeks now, and I haven't opened it to find out. 

I bought the Nanowrimo young writer's guidebook because I have an enthusiastic student interested in writing his first novel. It is VERY geared toward the novice, young writer, which fits him well. During class, I have to ask him to put it away and rejoin our classwork. So, yeah. He's thirsty. 

I know this: Even though (most days) I feel accomplished as a purveyor of words, there is much to be learned. 

Maybe I'll dive in this weekend.