Reality of a Prison Writer 16–E.C. Theus-Roberts

Reality of a Prison Writer 16——E.C. Theus-Roberts

                Knowledge of the craft is one of the most important things for a writer besides space and a love for literature. For most prison gaining said knowledge is almost totally an autodidactic endeavor. Other than the rare creative writing class, most prison writers never get close to a university MFA program.

                My self-education began with The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White. Some writers today may find it a bit antiquated but, in my humble view, it’s the backbone of craft comprehension. A short book jam-packed with invaluable lessons on grammar, punctuation, stylistic punctuation and more. It’s a small tome I’ve read at least five dozen times.

                Stephen King’s On Writing followed and remains a frequent reread. This is where things become less pedantic and very much freewheeling.

                I’m an essayist by inclination, nonfiction writer by nature, dabbler in fiction, and a lover of poetic artistry. Literally speaking, I’m a bit of a factotum. I tend to believe the best authors and greatest writers all suffer from an insatiable literary hunger. William Shakespeare, the pillar of English literature, was a serious history buff in addition to his curiosity about the sciences, mathematics, the arcane and philosophical questions about life, love and death. “Well-rounded” describes him and every other literary Goliath. The gift of autodidactic studies is you can be as well rounded as one’s heart desires.

                Below are some “craft specific” books that helped me immensely in my literary development and left the greatest impressions on my writing. Of course, beyond these I advise you read voraciously.

1 Reading Like a Writer: a Guide for People who Love Books and For Those Who Want to Write Them—Francine Prose

2 How to Write a Lot—Paul J Silva, Ph.D.

3 The Familiar Essay—Mark Christensen

4 Writing Mysteries, A Handbook by the MWA –Sue Grafton

5 How to Read Literature Like a Professor—Thomas C Foster

6  Unless it Moves the Hearts: The Craft and Art of Writing—Roger Rosenblatt

7. Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses and Disertations.—Kate L Turbain

8 Writing Nonfiction—Dan Poynter

9 The Portable MFA in Creative Writing—New York Writers Group

10 Writers Market of course

                I invite every reader to add your own books to this list any book that’s helped you evolve as a writer or reader. Enjoy!