Writers have a remarkable talent of transforming ideas into meaningful collection of words for others to use as guides, educational resources, or even entertainment! No matter what genre you specialize in, here are five books that every writer should read for improving writing techniques and connecting with our targeted audience.
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Stories that Stick by Kindra Hall
If anyone walked up to notify me that sharing personal stories in my blog posts were a waste of time, this is the book I would imagine whacking them with while shouting, “Shun the non-believer!” Stories, when told effectively at the right time, builds connections. It’s what we use to relate to one another. Even with folklore and mythology, those stories have lessons to teach one another.
I recommend this book for helping to build stronger bonds with your audience. It’s easy to just tell someone what to do or think. It’s easy to tell someone what you do and how you do it. What many people neglect is the importance of explain why we do what we do and why we advise one thing over another.
Like with Kyrabe Stories. When I graduated high school, I soon realized that my mom and I didn’t have the funds for me to go to college. Scholarships were not being accepted, and we missed the cut off for financial aid by a few dollars since my income was added to the application as well. Out of desperation and a deep desire to go to college, I enlisted in the Navy. Yeah, I know, drastic decision indeed. Over the following years, I began to gradually discover alternative methods I could have earned an education. I still went on to college to earn my B.F.A. in Computer Animation with my G.I. Bill after my service was completed, but now I advocate for affordable educational opportunities to help other avid learners achieve their academic and career goals.
Stories that Stick by Kindra Hall explains why stories like this are so important to an audience. It might just seem like causal life experiences to the presumed storyteller, but for the audience, they are pathways to understanding a brand and why we are passionate about what we do.
Writing Creative Nonfiction by Tilar J.J. Mazzeo
Have you ever heard the phrase “based on a true story” when exploring a new show to watch or a new book to read? True every day actions have their own stories to tell. Just because something is nonfiction doesn’t mean that it has to always read like an IKEA instruction manual. Yes, many writings might require a straight matter-of-fact outline, but thank goodness not EVERY explanation has to be that way. It’s possible to write creative true stories.
Many of us neglect the importance of the human senses. What was the texture like on that old coat or how heavy was it? What scents did you smell when you walked into a new fragrance store? How many various sounds did you hear when you went camping? What seemed different visually when you visited your hometown a few years later? How many flavors did you explore at the new ice cream parlor?
The most important factor to writing nonfiction is that all the details must be true. Writing Creative Nonfiction by Tilar J.J. Mazzeo teaches you how to be creative in the ways you describe your unique experience.
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
I had this book recommended to me on about five different occasions. Each time, I would log into Audible to bookmark it, only to realize that it was already on that wait-list for me to eventually get to. Finally, I decided to read the darn thing! Ironically enough, this quick read ended up being about time management…and procrastination.
Pfft, I would have never guessed that from this title, but I admit that it’s a creative analogy. The title references a quote my Mark Twain stating, “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”
What on Earth does eating a frog has to do with time management? Glad you asked. Let’s rephrased the idea a bit to something less…disturbing.
What’s the most important, yet tedious, activity that you need to do today for you to progress effectively in your goals?
- Do you have a deadline approaching?
- Do you need to study for an exam before heading to your job?
- Are there important client inquiries that you need to respond to through email?
- Are you trying to fit working out three times a week into your packed schedule?
That task is your frog. If possible, do it as soon as you start your day. Once the worst most important task is completed, then everything else will feel like a breeze. Save the worst part for last, then it will most likely be procrastinated. Do the worst part first. Eat that frog.
5,000 Words Per Hour by Chris Fox
When I read this title, I think I shouted something along the lines of, “That’s a load of bull crap!” I mean, come on! I even pulled out my calculator to do the math. There are 60 minutes in an hour. 5,000 words per hour would equate to 83 words a minute. Okay, it’s not impossible to type that fast, but for a full freakin’ hour! Heck, I barely type 50 words a minute. Plus, I stopped at least five times just to debate how to create this one paragraph!
After reading the book, I realized that there were some tips and tricks that I had not considered before judging the title of the book. For one, I had forgotten about a handy tool called the talk-to-text function where one can just ramble on ideas and the app with prescribe EVERYTHING that you say. Second, nothing said that the writing sprint had to be grammar and spelling perfect. Many of us tend to want to edit while we type (guilty). This disrupts our creative flow and our word count.
I recommend 5,000 Words Per Hour by Chris Fox because it not only lists out creative methods for us to improve our word count and creative flow each day, but it also highlights bad habits that many writers have that tend to seriously hinder our writing progress. If one of your goals is to write more each day, then this is the book for you.
One Million Followers by Brendan Kane
Okay, not everyone is comfortable when it’s time to start discussing the methods about advertising and self-promotion, but hear me out on this question: How on Earth are people going to read about your work if they don’t even know that your work exists?
Let’s say you have published a book. Yes, you can place it on bookshelves and hope someone picks it up and buys it. If you manage a blog, then yes, you can hope that someone will stumble upon your website and begin sharing your work. If you’re a Copywriter or Editor or many other roles, then yes, you can hope that someone comes across your business cards or recent work and reach out to you for business.
We can hope for all of this. But come on, let’s be real. It’s the 21st century and competition is high! We must roll up our sleeves and put in the work to promote our services/skills ourselves. But that’s not all, folks! We must do this in an authentic manner where our audience trusts our expertise enough to not only buy our products/services but will also advocate to their friends why they should trust our expertise too.
Lord…have…mercy.
I recommend One Million Followers by Brendan Kane because this book explains the power of social media and how building a loyal community can open up opportunities to grow your brand. Now, before anyone gets scared away from this title, please know that none of my social media pages have reached even a tenth of this audience yet at the time of this post! It’s a process to build a loyal and engaging audience, but even back when I just had a few hundred followers, they played a HUGE role in helping to get my blog posts out to a larger crowd. In return, I needed to make sure I provided material that was worthy of their attention.
Do not neglect the power of growing an audience on social media. Build up awareness and trust now, and it will pay off in the future.
Now let’s hear from you!
What type of writing do you specialize in: short story, technical, ghostwriting, etc.? What resources have you found helpful throughout your writing journey? Do you have any book recommendations to share? I would love to read your stories in the comments below!
If you desire to become a writer, just start now. Discovering your writing style takes time and practice, but it’s so rewarding once you discover it.
And as always, remember to just live and learn one story at a time!
Take care,
Kyndall Bennett from Kyrabe Stories
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