Craft Books Are Keeping You Stuck

Hi Reader,

Listen, I love craft books. I am a writing craft book girlie. In fact I bought a new one recently, and have it and another sitting on my nightstand waiting to be cracked open.

In addition to my MFA professors, craft books have been some of the best teachers that have helped me learn about story and voice and about the writer’s mindset. I think there is very much a place for them.

But—and this might ruffle some feathers—they won’t actually teach you how to write. Not in the way you think.

How can that be? You might even say to me, “But you teach us craft all the time.” I get it. Sounds like a whopping contradiction that I, someone who teaches and coaches writers, is saying that learning craft doesn’t teach you how to write.

Here’s the thing: I love sharing the how-tos of writing with you. I love breaking down a craft concept and applying it to a text to show you how you might acquire a writing skill. I teach you the steps you might take, or give you a roadmap to follow.

But the real work happens when you put pen to paper. When you practice the concepts the craft books and workshops and summits teach you.

A few years ago I went to a workshop with my mom and sister that taught us how to finger-knit a big chunky wool blanket. It was hosted in this big ol’ converted barn that smelled like hay and horses, and the cold November air nipped at us while we lay out our yarn and took our seats at the folding tables and chairs.

The instructor called us to gather around and she gave us the steps, showing us how to start the blanket. Tie a knot here, loop your fingers through here, etc. She showed us what felt like ten steps before she cut us loose to get going on our own.

The problem was, when we sat down to do as she showed us, all the steps fell out of our heads. She’d shown us too much, without letting us first master the beginning steps.

When you are first learning new skills, it’s not enough to just have people show you what to do. You must do the work yourself. Practice.

And yet, I think as writers, we get in the habit of trying to learn, learn, learn—amass all the knowledge and skills we need to actually write a good book—but then we don’t always put those skills into practice.

I love hosting workshops, and contributing to these big writing summits (I’m even participating in one in June!) because I think that they are so eye-opening for writers. Especially for beginning writers. The problem is, it feels like there is a gap between knowledge accumulation and application. It is not until we apply the teachings that we begin to actually learn how to write.

I recognize this pattern in myself too. I will read a hot take on, say, character development and think “Wow, I never thought of it in that way.” But I don’t apply it instantly, or put it to the test in an activity that might cement the learning. And then my writing gets no better as a result.

So what is actually going to make you a better writer? What will move the needle in a meaningful way?

If you, like me, love craft books and you feel like you have a strong foundation of knowledge about writing on a line level as well as a story level, great! It’s time to get busy putting that to use. Practice those skills. Don’t just consume the content like a hungry ghost; stop and do something with it. We’ve got to close the gap between consuming knowledge and applying that knowledge. That is what will move the needle.

Learning more craft will not make us a better writer until we actually…write. It feels productive and good, and like you’re having breakthroughs or staying busy. But really, sticking your nose in craft books without doing the work is just keeping you stuck. We think it somehow buys us time. First I’ll learn everything I need to know, then I’ll write a great book.Wrong. Ask yourself whether flooding yourself with all the knowledge is just something you’re doing because you’re scared of actually putting yourself out there and writing the difficult book. I think it often is. It is easier to consume than to create. But creating is why you are here. It’s what your heart really wants.

So if you’re a beginner writer, and you need to learn the “rules,” then go for it. Read the craft books, sign up for the summits and workshops. But then get to work.

The other thing that will actually make you a better writer is getting real, quality feedback on your work. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: we all have blind spots in our own writing. It’s extremely difficult to tell whether something is working or not because we have our own biases, and because we know, intimately, what we are trying to say. We have the whole story inside our heads. But there’s a gap between our vision and our execution, too, that another reader might be able to help you with. Getting a qualified read (beta readers with craft knowledge, book coach, editor, critique partner whose writing ability you trust) will help your writing skills improve dramatically. I know this because my clients have told me how it opened their eyes, and because I, myself, have felt my skills skyrocket after receiving quality feedback.

All of this is to say: Craft books, etc., are great and they can help, especially newer writers. But if you find yourself glued to them for the sake of “learning,” so much so that you aren’t progressing on your own novel writing, it’s time to get your nose out of the book and put it, instead, to the grindstone.

Summer Story Studio

Last call for my small group coaching session--beginning next week! If you're looking for accountability, coaching, forward momentum, craft lessons, and community, consider joining us!

How does it work?​
For 12-14 weeks, I host 4-5 writing sprints on Zoom a week, and lead bi-weekly meetings (rotating between a craft lesson and hot-seat coaching session in which participants share pages they'd like direct feedback on.)

Here's a sample schedule from last week:

Monday: Writing Sprint 5:30am PT/8:30am ET
Tuesday: Hot Seat Coaching 10am PT/1pm ET
Wednesday: Writing Sprint 5:30am PT/8:30am ET
Thursday: Writing Sprint 12pm PT/3pm ET
Friday: Writing Sprint 11am PT/2pm ET

Of course I work with my writers across time zones to find sprint times that they can attend.

How much does it cost?
​I'm proud to offer this 14-week session at a low rate of $97

What are the dates for the next session?
​I'm looking at Monday May 4th through Friday August 7th, 2026, with some lighter weeks around holidays and vacations.

$97.00 Summer Story Studio A 12-week writing accelerator for novelists who are ready to make serious progress on a draft or revision with expert... Read more Join Us!

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Offerings

Thanks so much for being here with me. I value you and I sincerely hope that I provide value for your writing journey. If you feel inclined, drop me a line and let me know what you’re working on!

Happy Writing,

Karyn

P.S. Loving these emails? Buy me a cup of tea to say thanks. Or you can book a free 30-min story strategy chat here if you're interested in getting specific help with your book.

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Granite Bay, CA
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