Yesterday I read an old article from The Writer called “Demystifying the Writing Process” about how the author, Elizabeth George, writes her mysteries. I’ve been a longtime fan of her books after seeing BBC productions of her Inspector Lynley mysteries. Ms. George creates intricate plots, unusual characters, and psychological suspense.

In the article, Ms. George was asked about her process of writing. She said, “I developed a complicated process to demystify writing. I do think everybody needs to develop a process that works for them that will demystify or deterrify the process.” She said she created a structured, step-by-step approach to writing that appealed to her organizational side (left brain), and that as she applied her approach, she did it in such a way that it triggered the creative side (right brain). She wrote about this approach in Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life. I wondered if her approach would be too structured for me. But then I read her statement: “When it comes to writing, I never listen to my mind; I always listen to my body. I’ve learned to trust that feeling right in my solar plexus.” I checked with Amazon, read a sample chapter, and ordered a copy right then! (Check out the used prices!) I can’t wait till it arrives.

We can always learn from each other. I’ve got a pretty good system that has helped me sell 35 books, a system I originally learned in 1979 when I took a writing course from The Institute of Children’s Literature. Over the years, I’ve adjusted the system to suit my needs, and I’ve found that most how-to writing books have at least one idea (often more) that I can use to help my own writing. When Ms. George’s book arrives, I’ll let you know what I find out.

What writing books have YOU learned the most from? Current ones? Timeless classics?