Payton’s Picks

Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss

Right up there with the CMOS, this book is one of my favorites when it comes to craft, industry, and the smaller picture parts of the writing world. This witty little novel made me actually laugh out loud but it’s so much more than an entertaining read.

In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, former editor Lynne Truss, gravely concerned about our current grammatical state, boldly defends proper punctuation. She proclaims, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and very English way, that it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are. Using examples from literature, history, neighborhood signage, and her own imagination, Truss shows how meaning is shaped by commas and apostrophes, and the hilarious consequences of punctuation gone awry.

The Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition) by the University of Chicago Press

Technologies may change, but the need for clear and accurate communication never goes out of style. That is why for more than one hundred years The Chicago Manual of Style has remained the definitive guide for anyone who works with words.

This is an absolute must have for writers and editors alike. It’s so crucial to the craft, you might want to keep it under your pillow—you know, for safekeeping.

Your First Novel by Ann Rittenberg, Laura Whitcomb and Camille Goldin

• Practice the craft of writing, using both your right- and left-brain

• Develop a flexible card system for organizing and outlining plot

• Create dynamic characters that readers love--and love to hate

• Study classic novels and story structure to adapt with your ideas

• What agents can--and should--do for your future

• Who you should target as an agent for your burgeoning career

• How the mysterious auction for novels actually goes down

• Why you should learn to work with your agent through thick and thin

On Writing by Stephen King

Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King’s critically lauded, million-copy bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my  brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy.  Just take it bird by bird.”

The Healthy Writer by Joanna Penn and Dr. Euan Lawson

Do you suffer from physical pain relating to your writing life? Are you struggling with back pain, weight gain related to sedentary working, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, neck pain, eye strain, stress, loneliness, digestive issues, or Repetitive Strain Injury? These are the most common issues reported by writers and if you struggle with any of them, you are not alone. Writing is not a physically healthy job, but if you want a long-term writing career, then you need to look after your body. 

On Being Stuck by Laraine Herring

Writer’s block. If you are a writer, you know it can be a haunting, terrifying force—a wolf at the door, a vast conspiracy, something that keeps you up at night, spinning your wheels, going nowhere. But what if we’ve been thinking about writer’s block all wrong? What if, by paying attention to its qualities and inquiring into its hidden gifts, we can release that power?

Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark

Ten years ago, Roy Peter Clark, America's most influential writing teacher, whittled down almost thirty years of experience in journalism, writing, and teaching into a series of fifty short essays on different aspects of writing. In the past decade, Writing Tools has become a classic guidebook for novices and experts alike and remains one of the best loved books on writing available.

Writer’s Guide to Characterization by Victoria Lynn Schmidt

In the best novels, characters undergo dramatic changes that keep readers turning pages. A Writer's Guide to Characterization shows you how to develop such meaningful character arcs in your own work—stories of transformation that will resonate with readers long after the story ends.

The 10 Commandments of Author Branding by Shayla Raquel

Writing your book is the easy part. It’s the marketing and branding that make authors pull out their hair.And yet, what if you could approach marketing and branding confidently, knowing you can attract loyal readers for life? What if you could use social media without feeling sleazy? What if book marketing could actually be—gasp!—fun? Friendly and pragmatic, The 10 Commandments of Author Branding is the solution for writers who don’t want to trade their souls for a few book sales. Shayla Raquel entertains with her quirky wit while offering common sense wisdom to help authors feel excited and prepared when marketing their books. Each commandment includes a list of action tips for readers to implement their new strategy immediately. Shayla’s commandments teach authors how to:Be yourself, not a marketing robot. Choose a social media platform that works for you.Launch your book without slamming your head against a wall.

Writing Deep Scenes by Marhta Alderson and Jordan Rosenfield

Whether you're planning your first novel or have already written a first draft, you need to master the concepts of plot and scene to truly realize your story's potential. Writing Deep Scenes teaches you how to write strong, layered, and engaging scenes—the secret to memorable, page-turning plots.

Sister Bernadette’s Barking Dog by Kitty Berns Florey

Once wildly popular in grammar schools across the country, sentence diagramming has fallen out of fashion. But are we that much worse for not knowing the word-mapping method?
Now, in this illustrated personal history that any language lover will adore, Kitty Burns Florey explores the rise and fall of sentence diagramming, including its invention by a mustachioed man named Brainerd “Brainy” Kellogg and his wealthy accomplice Alonzo Reed ... the inferior “balloon diagram” predecessor ... and what diagrams of sentences by Hemingway, Welty, Proust, Kerouac and other famous writers reveal about them.

Florey also offers up her own common-sense approach to learning and using good grammar. And she answers some of literature’s most pressing questions: Was Mark Twain or James Fenimore Cooper a better grammarian? What are the silliest grammar rules? And what’s Gertude Stein got to do with any of it?

The Novel Planner: A Daily Planner for Authors by Kristen Kieffer

The Novel Planner is the perfect daily planner for authors. Hobby writers, first-time novelists, and professional authors alike will love the structure and organization this daily planner provides.

• Monthly and Weekly Calendars. (Establish goals, plan tasks, remember important dates, celebrate accomplishments, and more!)

• Novel Project Reference Guide. (Outline up to two novel projects–including plot, character, setting, theme, and motif details–set project goals that can be broken down into actionable steps to be completed throughout the year, and create a marketing strategy to help you promote your upcoming novel.)

• Brainstorming and Research Center. (Jot down story ideas, compile a reading list, sketch out musings, and more!)

• Yearly Achievements Tracker. (Celebrating a year's worth of accomplishments, both big and small.)

Guide to Literary Agents 2020

No matter what you're writing—fiction or nonfiction, books for adults or children—securing a literary agent will help you get the best book deal possible from a traditional publisher. With listing information for more than 1,000 agents who represent writers and their books, Guide to Literary Agents 2020 will be your go-to resource.

Writer's Market 2020 

Want to get published and paid for your writing? Let Writer's Market 2020 guide you with thousands of publishing opportunities—including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents. These listings feature contact and submission information so you can get started right away.

The Elements of Style (4th Edition) by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White

You know the authors' names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual. This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers.

Story Trumps Structure by Steven James

Award-winning novelist Steven James explains how to trust the narrative process to make your story believable, compelling, and engaging, and debunks the common myths that hold writers back from creating their best work.

• Ditch your outline and learn to write organically.

• Set up promises for readers—and deliver on them.

• Discover how to craft a satisfying climax.

• Master the subtleties of characterization.

• Add mind-blowing twists to your fiction.

Publishing 101 by Jane Friedman

Whether you’ve finished a manuscript or just have the seeds of an idea, learn how to smartly approach editors and agents with your work, while avoiding the pitfalls of first-time authorship.

The Business of Being A Writer by Jane Friedman

The Business of Being a Writer offers the business education writers need but so rarely receive. It is meant for early-career writers looking to develop a realistic set of expectations about making money from their work or for working writers who want a better understanding of the industry. Writers will gain a comprehensive picture of how the publishing world works—from queries and agents to blogging and advertising—and will learn how they can best position themselves for success over the long term.

Second Sight: An Editor’s Talks On Writing, Revising, & Publishing Books For Children And Young Adults

Try a little Second Sight. In this collection of talks, a professional editor offers insights from the other side of the publishing desk on a wide range of writerly topics:

• Terrific first lines and how they got that way

• What makes a strong picture book manuscript

• Why the Harry Potter series was such a tremendous success

• Finding the emotional heart of your story

• Worksheets and checklists for building characters and bolstering plot

• The Annotated Query Letter from Hell

• And an Annotated Query Letter That Does It Right

Crushing It! By Gary Vaynerchuk

In this lively, practical, and inspiring book, Gary dissects every current major social media platform so that anyone, from a plumber to a professional ice skater, will know exactly how to amplify his or her personal brand on each. He offers both theoretical and tactical advice on how to become the biggest thing on old standbys like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat; podcast platforms like Spotify, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and iTunes; and other emerging platforms such as Musical.ly. For those with more experience, Crushing It! illuminates some little-known nuances and provides innovative tips and clever tweaks proven to enhance more common tried-and-true strategies.

The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications by Amy Einsohn

The Copyeditor's Handbook is a lively, practical manual for newcomers to publishing and for experienced editors who want to fine-tune their skills or broaden their understanding of the craft. This book may be used for self-instruction or as a textbook in copyediting classes. The exercises are accompanied by answer keys and detailed line-by-line explanations.

The Subversive Copy Editor by Carol Fisher Saller

Longtime manuscript editor and Chicago Manual of Style guru Carol Fisher Saller has negotiated many a standoff between a writer and editor refusing to compromise on the “rights” and “wrongs” of prose styling. Saller realized that when these sides squared off, it was often the reader who lost. In her search for practical strategies for keeping the peace, The Subversive Copy Editor was born. Saller’s ideas struck a chord, and the little book with big advice quickly became a must-have reference for copy editors everywhere.

Pep Talks for Writers by Grant Faulkner

Every writer knows that as rewarding as the creative process is, it can often be a bumpy road. Have hope and keep at it! Designed to kick-start creativity, this handsome handbook from the executive director of National Novel Writing Month gathers a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career. From tips about how to finally start that story to helpful ideas about what to do when the words just aren't quite coming out right, Pep Talks for Writers provides motivation, encouragement, and helpful exercises for writers of all stripes.

The Truth of Memoir by Kerry Cohen

In The Truth of Memoir, best-selling memoirist Kerry Cohen provides insight and guidelines for depicting the characters who appear in your work with honesty and compassion. You'll learn how to choose which details to include and which secrets to tell, how to render the people in your life artfully and fully on the page, and what reactions you can expect from those you include in your work—as well as from readers and the media.

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

On Writing Well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the day, as almost everybody does in the age of e-mail and the Internet. 

Whether you want to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts or about yourself in the increasingly popular memoir genre, On Writing Well offers you fundamental priciples as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.

Write Your Novel From The Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between by James Scott Bell

What's the best way to write a "next level" novel? Some writers start at the beginning and let the story unfold without a plan. They are called "pantsers," because they write by the "seat of the pants."

Other writers plan and outline and know the ending before they start. These are the "plotters."

The two sides never seem to agree with each other on the best approach.

But what if it's not the beginning or the end that is the key to a successful book? What if, amazing as it may seem, the place to begin writing your novel is in the very middle of the story?

Bringing together years of craft study and personal discovery, Bell presents a truly unique approach to writing a novel, one that will stand the test of time and serve you all your writing life.

The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide To Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

One of the biggest problem areas for writers is conveying a character's emotions to the reader in a unique, compelling way. This book comes to the rescue by highlighting 75 emotions and listing the possible body language cues, thoughts, and visceral responses for each.

Dotcom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online by Russell Brunson

It is NOT just another “how to” book on Internet Marketing.

It is NOT about getting more traffic to your website - yet these secrets will help you to get exponentially MORE traffic than you’ve ever experienced before.

It is NOT about increasing your conversion - yet these secrets will increase your conversion MORE than any headline tweak or split test ever could.

In Russell Brunson's experience, after working with hundreds of thousands of businesses he realized that low traffic or conversions are symptoms of a much greater problem that’s a little harder to see (that’s the bad news), but a lot easier to fix (that’s the good news).

Inside this book will find the actual playbook we created after running thou- sands of tests and perfecting what works online. You now have access to all of the processes, funnels and scripts that we used to scale companies online.

Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer

As Random House’s copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alike—not to mention his followers on social media—for deconstructing the English language with playful erudition. Now he distills everything he has learned from the myriad books he has copyedited and overseen into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward.

Writer’s Workbook: Ready. Set. Novel! by Lindsey Grant

This writer's block-busting workbook guides authors through planning and plotting a novel before writing it from the initial idea generation and brainstorming through character, setting, and story development. Full of helpful lists, plot maps, character Q&As, field trips, writing exercises, inspiring quotes, and plenty of space to write and outline, Ready, Set, Novel! provides ample inspiration and guidance to first-time novelists and more seasoned scribes alike.

The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists by Andrew McAleer

This book will inspire, nourish, and provide the needed kick in the pants to turn the wannabes into doers! The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists is full of "aha" experiences as the reader uncovers the collected wisdom from the cream of today’s fiction writers.

Now Write! Fiction Writing Exercises From Today’s Best Writers & Teachers

What's the secret behind the successful and prolific careers of critically acclaimed novelists and short story writers Amy Bloom, Steve Almond, Jayne Anne Phillips, Alison Lurie, and others? Divine assistance? Otherworldly talent? An unsettlingly close relationship with the Muse? While the rest of us are staring at blank sheets of paper, struggling to come up with a first sentence, these writers are busy polishing off story after story and novel after novel. Despite producing work that may seem effortless, all of them have a simple technique for fending off writer's block: the writing exercise. In Now Write!, Sherry Ellis collects the personal writing exercises of today's best writers and lays bare the secret to their success. 

Serious Daring by Lisa Roney

• Flexible Structure. This innovative text features a flexible organization that allows for different course structures and various teaching approaches.

• Practical Lessons. In addition to a comprehensive introduction to Creative Writing craft, the book provides practical tips and poses questions to prepare students for continuing their writing lives long term.

• Fresh Readings. The anthology offers up a fresh mix of classic and newer reading selections that promote step-by-step instruction in the craft and encourage further discussion.

Starting Your Career As A Freelance Editor by Mary Embree

If you've ever considered editing as a career, this book will help you on your new path. You’ll learn about the requirements in various fields, how to get started, the step-by-step facets of setting up and conducting your editing services, working with writers and publishers, promoting yourself and your expertise, and determining what to charge.

No Plot? No Problem! A Low Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing A Novel In 30 Days by Chris Baty

Chris Baty, founder of the wildly successful literary marathon known as National Novel Writing Month, has completely revised and expanded his definitive handbook for extreme noveling. Chris pulls from over 15 years of results-oriented writing experience to pack this compendium with new tips and tricks, ranging from week-by-week quick reference guides to encouraging advice from authors, and much more. His motivating mix of fearless optimism and practical solutions to common excuses gives both first-time novelists and results-oriented writers the kick-start they need to embark on an exhilarating creative adventure.

The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style by Robert Hudson

Comprehensive yet easy-to-use, The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style, 4th Edition, is a go-to resource for Christian authors, pastors, teachers, copy writers, editors, proofreaders, publishing and ministry professionals, executive assistants, and students—anyone who writes or edits as a part of their work or study—and for grammar aficionados everywhere.

Chicago Manual of Style Quick Study Guide

When that research paper comes due and you’ve forgotten your style manual, get the guidance you need quickly with the Chicago Manual of Style QuickStudy® guide. Based on the 16th edition of CMS, this handy, easy-to-carry three-panel guide contains the information you need for writing academic papers to CMS specifications, pared down to the essentials, including common, real-world sample references for both CMS citation formats so that you can be sure you are giving appropriate credit where credit is due.

This handy-dandy cheat sheet is so useful! I use mine all the time. Of course, I still have about a gazillion colored tabs sticking out of my CMOS but this makes it so easy to find my most frequently accessed information.

Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert, Tim Ferriss, and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery.

The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors.

A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.