Resources for Writers & Creatives

What follows are some of the books Kris recommends when she teaches tarot to writers and creatives. These are listed in no particular order. The ones marked with an asterisk are especially suitable for new writers and tarotists.

TAROT:
*Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for Personal Transformation. One of the best books about tarot by acclaimed tarotist Mary K. Greer.

*Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. A classic in the world of tarot by Rachel Pollack, another famed tarotist.

* Tarot: No Questions Asked—Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading. By Theresa Reed, aka “The Tarot Lady.” All of Reed's books on tarot are great, but this one is especially suitable for new tarotists.

Tarot Diva. A fresh and sassy spin on the tarot by tarotist Sasha Graham.

FICTION WRITING:
*The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master. By Martha Alderson. Goes deep into the Universal Story and how it interacts with character development.

*Save the Cat Writes a Novel. By Jessica Brody. If you’re new to plotting a novel, this breaks it down. Very accessible.

Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author’s Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development. By K.M. Weiland. As described. Very helpful and insightful.

The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults. By Cheryl Klein. Much of the advice and methodology in this book are applicable for writers of adult fiction. Kris took an invaluable master class with Klein several years ago, which this book is based on.

The Thorn Necklace: Healing Through Writing and the Creative Process. By Francesca Lia Block. Memoir and writing advice. Kris loves Block’s “Twelve Questions” technique, which helps get to the heart of a story.

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting. By Robert McKee. A classic in the field that’s great for novelists as well as screenwriters. A lot about classic three act structure.

The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller. By John Truby. Another book oriented toward screenwriters but works well for writers. The information in here goes beyond the three act structure.

Techniques of the Selling Writer. By Dwight V. Swain. This is an “old school” writing book with invaluable writing techniques, such as “scene and sequel.”

*On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. By Stephen King. A not-to-be-missed classic.

Writing the Breakout Novel and Writing 21st Century Fiction. By Donald Maass. Kris has taken workshops with Maass based on these books, which were incredibly inspiring and helpful.

Write Your Novel from the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between. By James Scott Bell. A short but sweet guide to untangling your story, if you suffer from a soggy middle syndrome. 

CREATIVITY:
*Big Magic: Creative Life Beyond Fear. Elizabeth Gilbert is the real deal. This book is filled with so much wisdom about the creative process. Read it.

*The Artist’s Way. For anyone yearning to break through creative blocks, questioning their right to be an artist, or just yearning to lead a more authentic life, Julia Cameron’s book is an essential resource.

The Vein of Gold. Cameron’s follow up to The Artist’s Way. Filled with her personal experiences, wise suggestions, and practical exercises for moving to the next stage of life as a creative.