A Writer's Bookshelves

I love books!

This is a bookshelf that sits next to my computer. It has my reference books in it and some of my favorite middle grade books.

For 8 years I wrote a column for kids and I also like writing historical fiction.

My middle grade book (which means it is geared toward 8-12 year olds - but baby boomers love it, too, because they were young when this story takes place) Duck and Cover, is a historical fiction novel. It takes place in the fall of 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
 
Here are some more reference type books that I have on my shelves that I have found to be very helpful in my writing.

Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg. I have 3 other bookcases in our family room. They are filled with numerous other books, including picture books, chapter books, vintage books, copies of Two Lane Livin' (the magazine I wrote a children's column in). etc. etc.

Oh, I can't leave out a pic of this old floor-model radio which was converted into a bookcase. I bought this at a yard sale for $3. It is filled with Little Golden Books!

Do you have lots of books, too?
If you like, tell us about them in your comment.
Or better yet, do a blog post about them and come back and put a link to it in your comment - I'd love to see them.

Happy Writing

 

Getting My Writing Room Organized - with my Little Library

I have a bookcase!

Well, actually, I have lots of bookcases. But, I now have one for the little walk-through room I call my office.

My office is really our old laundry room where we have a small upright freezer, a pantry, a Hoosier cabinet and other old kitchen stuff ---- and a little enamel top table that I use for a desk.

my bookcase (that I am still getting organized)

shelf filled with various 'writing' books

shelf filled with my 'idea' and reference books

Now, whenever I need to look up anything, all I need to do is roll over in my chair and browse through my little library of helpful books.

Titles of some of my getting idea books are: The Book of Bizarre Truths, Inventions That Changed the World, Kids Say the Darndest Things, Sears Roebuck and Co. 1909 Catalog, Scholastic Book of Lists, American Nicknames, Garfield's Book of Excellent Excuses, Going to School in 1776, What Your 5th Grader Needs to Know, The Quotable American, Mistakes that Worked, 97 Ways to Make a Baby Laugh, American Folklore and Legend, Great Thoughts and Funny Sayings and The Book of Answers, etc.

Some of my writing books are: Various books on writing poetry, Nothing Rhymes with Orange, Writing in History, Writing From Personal Experience, Write your Life Story, Thesauruses, Writing Picture Books, From Inspiration to Publication, Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, various Dummy and Idiot books, Creative Writing, Painless Writing, Write Right!, etc.

It was a learning experience just putting the bookcase together :o)

It must be helping, since doing this a few days ago, I have sent in two submissions!

Clutter hurts creativity and output! So I challenge you to get uncluttered.

Are you organized? Do you have your helpful books all in one easy place to get to?

Happy Writing!