Confession time: November will end tomorrow and I have only reached page 122 of my 200 page revision. My revision process came to a screeching halt Thanksgiving week as I shifted into holiday prep and enjoying out-of-town relatives modes. However, although November has ended, I am determined to get that remaining 78 pages revised as quickly as possible so I can take a break to enjoy Christmas.
Although I did not complete my revision, I did complete my revision reading: The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction: The Complete Guide to Finding Your Story, Honing Your Skills, & Glorifying God in Your Novel by Jeff Gerke. Gerke is a fiction writer, editor, and the publisher of Marcher Lord Press. He has seen a lot of manuscripts come across his desk and is quiet familiar with the weaknesses that cause a novel not to work.
While The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction is targeted at the Christian novelist, the lessons on craft are lessons from which any fiction writer could benefit. Gerke proposes fiction writers adopt a new metaphor for themselves as writers and through the book shows you how to use that metaphor to strengthen your writing. The book is broken into “Masteries”, and Masteries 9-52 all deal with topics to help you develop your craft. I highly recommend this book.
Gerke’s most recent book, Plot Versus Character: A Balanced Approach to Writing Great Fiction, published by Writer’s Digest Book is high on my “next read” list
What book (or books) did you enjoy this November?
P.S. Attention Teachers!!! Jeff Gerke has informed me there is a curriculum workbook for using The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction for teaching high school Creative Writing. Check out The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction Workbook, by Jeff Gerke and Mary Agius.
Debby Zigenis-Lowery's Literate Lives 
Hey Deb – I didn’t read any craft books this month. I did read The Secret Life of Bees, for the second time. Now I’m reading Plainsong, again. I guess it’s fall reruns for me! I decided to read books that I knew were GOOD.
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I know what you mean, Robin. This time of year I often turn to something cozy and familiar. When it’s dark and blustery outside, its amazing how a favorite book can warm your heart!
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Although I do not have a lot of free time to read as much as I would like, I DO have a book that I am reading this month. It’s called, “My Appetite For Destruction” by Steven Adler. It’s an autobiography written by the former drummer of the Heavy Metal band, “Guns N Roses”. My reason for choosing this book is for education purposes. I want to learn as much as I can – especially via “first hand” about drug and alcohol addiction and recovery. It’s a very personal matter to me, and I feel that the more I can learn, the better I can understand. I have read several autobiographies in this genre – including “Running With Scissors”; “Dry”; “A Million Little Pieces”; “Long Hard Road out of Hell”; “The Herion Diaries” and “The Dirt” by Motley Crue. I do not have the “addict” gene, so it’s very difficult.. well… impossible actually, to TRULY understand the nature of addiction and the journey they make on the path to recovery. So, that is what I am working on reading now. I look forward to finding autobiographies in differnt genres sometime soon. Thanks and take care!
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Wow, Janene. I can relate. When I have to deal with something I don’t understand or feel helpless in facing, I too, turn to books that can open my eyes, educate me, and give me hope and courage to move on.
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