Aconfession from a literary late bloomer: At an age when Mozart and Mendelssohn were already writing symphonies, yours truly was reading comic books. Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman shaped my ideas of plot, character and story line.

My grandfather was so proud of my early efforts that he showed them to his patients and staff.

In pencil on notebook paper was a tale of a boy alone on a tropical island and what he did to survive.

Advancing to more worthwhile literature, my early discoveries were books that challenged me to think about how to use words.

Here are 6 that shaped me and could help you or a wannabe writer in your family or circle of friends. 1 The Elements of Style by

William Strunk Jr. and

E.B. White should be in all writers’ libraries.

Strunk taught English composition to White and a host of other Cornell University students.

After Strunk’s death, White edited the book and wrote a final chapter in which he gave a sound definition of an ever-elusive writer’s goal: Style is an increment in writing. When we speak of Fitzgerald’s style, we don’t mean his command of the relative pronoun. We mean the sound his words make on paper.

This from Strunk’s rules:

A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.

2 On Writing

Well by William Zinsser is a brilliant book by the writer of a brilliant column in the now-gone Life magazine. He was a master of non-fiction.

In this inspiring book, Zinsser uses examples from his own the life to show you how he approaches stories and handles problems. It is a journey into his own thinking and writing.

For example, in writing about a trip to Katmandu, he unveils the problems he dealt with and explains the solutions he chose.

3 On Writing by Stephen King is a better guide than you might expect from a horror novelist.

King had written 2 of the book’s sections before he was badly injured in an accident near his Maine home.

Fearing he might never write again, he forced himself to finish the book.

You will find it part confession, part life lessons, part practical advice and well worth reading.

4 The Writing Life by Annie Dillard is a highly personal, deeply revealing memoir of a Pulitzer Prize winner’s life and the lessons she learned. In it she drops tips on techniques.

One is about choosing where you write. Make it Spartan with few distractions. You don’t want anything to interfere with your work.

Another is not to rush. Memory and imagination take their own time.

5 Just Write by James Scott Bell is for those who aspire to write fiction. Bell is a thriller writer who has written a half dozen books on the craft.

Many writers, he says, get stuck in neutral. The solution is simple: Just write. Write past fears, doubts and setbacks and use your desire to deeply immerse yourself in the craft.

Bell shows you how to develop unforgettable stories, master nuances, discover what readers really want, persevere through the challenges and deal with rejection.

6 Bird by Bird by

Anne Lamott,

like Annie Dillard’s book, is a confessional filled with raw life stories and tips for writers.

Both books are by women but are definitely for writers of any gender. The title essay tells how her father, a professional writer, helped her younger brother with an essay on birds for school.

Her brother had put off the assignment until the night before it was due.

Her father sat down with him and said, “Son, lets just take it bird by bird.”

Finally, and modestly, you might consider my new

Guide to Compelling Writing

in electronic format. It is a collection of tips written to our writers. To order it for $9.99, call 359-7633.