Deb asked Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney:

I have always wanted to write. I have taken a "Writing for Children" course and am thinking of taking a "Creative Writing" course. I want to narrow my library of "writing" books down, so could you please suggest 1 or 2 books on writing that you think my help a "wanna be writer" like myself? Thank you very much.

Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney Hi, Deb. First, I definitely encourage you to take a creative writing class because I think the best way to learn how to write is 1. to do a lot of writing (this sounds obvious, I know, but sometimes we become so self-critical that it's hard to just sit down and write). 2. To be part of a community of writers. Writing is a solitary activity and it helps to have mentors and peers to share your efforts and offer feedback. My favorite book on writing is Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird." I also like "Reading Like A Writer" by Francine Prose, which isn't a book on writing as much as a book on reading, which is critical to becoming a strong writer. I honestly believe that the best thing you can do for yourself as an aspiring writer is to read the kind of books you want to write as frequently as possible. Books are the best teachers. I hope this helps and good luck!

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