Books to Make You a Writing Boss

If you want to be a great writer, you should read. While that is true, not least because what you read will subconsciously influence you, as a writer, it's always worth reading a book at least twice. The first time for the entertainment. The second time should be with a more analytical approach. It's not necessarily obvious what to look for, so here are some of my favourites with highlights of what you might learn in the techniques and styles they employ.

The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon - Emotions

There are two types of emotional effect in a piece of fiction: the emotions the characters experience, and the emotions the writer elicits in the reader through the careful juxtaposition of the prose, or through the heartfelt emotion in their words. Many writers struggle with conveying either in a way that makes the reader care. Tears and tantrums don't cut the mustard when it comes to the reader empathising with the character, but this book uses an entirely different way of conveying the main character's emotions through his unique personality filter. Take note of how this is depicted towards the end, as the tension rises to the climatic extreme. It's a lesson worth learning.

Circe - Madeline Miller - Gorgeous Prose

This is the most beautiful prose I've ever read in a book. If you are in love with words, this is the most magnificent piece of work to satisfy the soul. The prose and characterisation take the front stage in this novel, set within the framework of some of the most famous legends in Greek mythology. Every sentence is sublime. This is where poetry practice comes into its own. It's the kind of writing that almost makes you want to give up it's so beautiful.

Girl with a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier - brilliantly tight POV; characterisation and suspense

There is so much to learn from this novel, it's a whole course in itself. I have picked this book to the bones in the study of its techniques. Brilliantly characterised and historically fascinating, you might be surprised to hear that these are not the elements I find the most impressive with this book. No, it's the tight point-of-view that doesn't allow even a slither of sunlight between the character and the author. Even better is the incredible level of tension Chevalier employs to keep it so intense it might cause the reader constipation. This is down to both phenomenal characterisation techniques, causing the various players to rub each other the wrong way, and by her executing a strong level of suspense throughout the narrative - something I think many reviewers and critiques overlook. I'd argue this is one of the best historical suspense novels of all time. The film doesn't do it justice.

Pride & Prejudice - Jane Austen - Story Structure

It might be over two hundred years old, but Austen knew how to structure a story. Its bones are still used today in the majority of novels, especially in the romance genre. Not only that, it's Austen who is charged with mainstreaming the technique of free indirect discourse.

The Master & Margharita - Mikhail Bulgakov - Nutsville; Prose; Allegory

This story is Nutsville. With a strong absurdist bent, written as a metaphor of Stalin's murderous reign, not only is the writing vivid and arresting, the whole book works as an allegory to depict a time when truth was in turmoil and to speak it meant punishment of the most treacherous kind. Mmm... feels uncomfortably relevant to modern times. I advise reading this with the big, thematic picture in mind, because you certainly won't be satisfied if you are looking for a completed narrative arc or character journey.

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens - Character; Prose

The king of characterisation himself, Charles Dickens. Vivid, engaging prose, and wonderfully drawn characterisations for literature's most enduring of tales. Read more about that at the old blog.

The Gap Series - Stephen Donaldson/Necroscope Series - Brian Lumley - commercial fiction; paging-turning action and mystery

It's been a long time since I read these books, but there's a lot to learn about writing chapter cliff hangers. They might not be the most obvious examples - I'm pretty sure a Lee Child or Dan Brown book could serve the same purpose, but these are the books I've read that were entirely plot-led, what-happens-next, fun reads. These two series employ high levels of plot intrigue and a strong impetus to find out the next clue, the next discovery, and build the tension to break-neck speed until you suddenly find it's all over and you want to do it all again.

The Rice Mother - Rani Manicka - Setting

The first half or two thirds of this book is so utterly beautiful and captivating it can be forgiven for losing its momentum in the second half and ending (by switching POV characters entirely). It literally transports you not only to Asia, but into a different period in history. You fall in love with Lakshmi, the main character. When her role in the story is over, you miss her so much it hurts. Still, it's worth a read if setting, culture and period are elements you would like to improve upon or just relish in.

Marabou Stalk Nightmares - Irvine Welsh - Twist

One of my favourite stories ever. It's dark. It's twisted. It's Irvine Welsh. This lives up to the same level of grit we find in all his other works, but this one has the best twist. Incorporating a mixture of the surreal with strong characterisation and an intriguing plot, there's a lot to learn about story execution here, the blending of different styles of literary fiction, and how to get your reader rooting for characters and outcomes in the right way.

UPDATE (can’t believe I forgot this one!)

The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafón - Mystery

Everyone to whom I’ve ever lent this novel absolutely loves it. It opens within a secret library called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books in the winding alleys of Barcelona’s old town in 1945. If that isn’t an instant hook to an avid reader or writer I don’t know what is. It instantly grips the reader with layers of intrigue topped with a strong atmosphere of mystery. Set in a beautiful location steeped in history with plenty of secrets of its own, it follows the protagonist Daniel in his quest to track down the mysteriously evasive author of the novel The Shadow of the Wind, the book Daniel borrowed from The Cemetery. The further he investigates this strange and almost mystical author, the deeper the mystery unfolds into something quite unexpected. If you want to weave a fantastic mystery, this is the book to study.

What favourite books have had the most impact on you? What did they teach you?