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My Favorite Book on Writing
135 Plays5 years ago
My favorite book on writing might be a bit unexpected and certainly not 100% in the genre of nonfiction.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to a Unique Writing Book
00:00:05
Speaker
I figured I'd take a slight departure and offer you a book on writing, and not just any book, my favorite book on writing. It's not Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, it's not even Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark, or Stephen King's on writing, or Tracy Kidder and Dick Todd's Good Pros.
The DC Comics Guide by Denny O'Neill
00:00:25
Speaker
It's Denny O'Neill's The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics.
00:00:30
Speaker
This book was a sign slash recommended to me by the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Thomas French. There are universal lessons in this book that apply to any genre of writing, not just graphic novels. Here's a few great highlights I made throughout the book for you to chew on and then just a little riff on why I think that's important.
Core Writing Principles
00:00:51
Speaker
So here's one. People are interested in people, not things. So in non-fiction, do your reporting. Talk to as many people as possible. Talk to those people as long as possible. Because people are more interesting than things. Okay?
00:01:08
Speaker
Next one, know the ending of the story before you write the beginning. In this week's upcoming conversation that you'll hear hopefully this Friday with Cassandra King-Conroy, we get into this a little bit, but you've heard me talk about the lighthouse in the distance, I bet.
Clarity in Storytelling
00:01:23
Speaker
I love knowing the ending as early in the process as possible. You might not know it on day one, but the sooner you get a sense of the ending, write to it with abandon. Next point, telling your story as clearly as possible.
00:01:41
Speaker
My greatest weakness in my first 10 years as a writer, I might even say up until just a few, up until this year, was trying to be flashy or showy. Trying to light up the page with prose. This is a mistake almost 100% of the time. The story is the star. Not you. Get out of the way. Be the conduit for the story. Tell it straight. Tell it clearly.
Effective Scene Construction
00:02:09
Speaker
Next point, never write a scene or a single panel that does not contribute directly to your plot. Every word should contribute to the emotion you're trying to engender in the reader. Okay, so this often means you have to kill your darlings, right? Even if you love a scene, love that turn of phrase, that great quote, you've got to ask yourself, does it advance the story or reveal a critical character trait? Yes, okay, it stays. No, it's gotta go.
Encouragement and Upcoming Discussion
00:02:38
Speaker
Look at DVD extras, ideally with commentary. Ratatouille's got a great one with Brad Bird. And you'll get some great insight into why great scenes make the cut and even in some great scenes that don't
00:02:52
Speaker
So, that's it! That's my favorite book on writing. The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics. Great insights. I hope you dig it. Go check it out and I think it'll help improve your writing. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for this Friday with Cassandra King-Conroy.