Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card

Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card -- 240 pages

If you have read fiction by Orson Scott Card, you know that he puts a lot of work into his characters. They are explained and understood, but not over-explained.

In this book Card gives us some insight as to how he thinks of his characters, constructs them, and then portrays them. If you are a fiction writer or want to be one, this is one book you simply must read. It inspired me and instructed me, and it pulled me along to the finish. After checking out this book at the library, I went online and bought my own copy because it is definitely worth having on your shelf.

No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty

No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty -- 176 pages

This book was specifically written to help you complete the challenge of National Novel Writing Month at nanowrimo.org. It has writing tips and word count boosters to give you the push you need to win with a roar. It is complete with quotes and buttons and is full of laughs.

This book is fun and very helpful and pleasurable to read before and during National Novel Writing Month, but if you are not taking the challenge and are looking for general writing and noveling tips, this won't help you very much.