Writing is an art form that requires practice, dedication, and continuous learning. Whether you are a seasoned writer looking to refine your skills or a beginner eager to learn the fundamentals, there are countless resources available to help you on your journey to becoming a top writer.
In this article, we will explore some of the best books on writing that have been praised by writers and critics alike. These books cover a wide range of topics, from mastering the basics of grammar and style to developing your unique voice and storytelling abilities. By delving into the wisdom and insights contained within these books, you can take your writing to the next level and achieve success as a top writer.
Are There Books On Writing For Writers?
There are various books on writing specifically designed for writers. These books cover a wide range of topics, including writing techniques, style, grammar, storytelling, and the creative process. Whether you are a beginner looking for guidance or an experienced writer seeking to refine your skills, there are plenty of resources available. Keep reading to find out the best books for writers.
Why You Should Read Books On Writing As A Writer
Reading books on writing can be immensely beneficial for writers for several reasons:
1. Skill Enhancement
Books on writing often provide valuable insights, tips, and techniques that can help enhance your writing skills. Whether it’s refining your prose, improving your storytelling, or mastering grammar, these books offer practical advice.
Choose books that cater to your specific interests and writing goals. Don’t feel pressured to read the “classics” if they don’t resonate with you.
2. Inspiration
Reading about the journeys of successful writers can rekindle your passion and provide the motivation to keep writing.
3. Understanding the Craft
Books on writing break down the craft of writing, explaining the nuances of character development, plot structure, dialogue, and more. Understanding these elements can make you a more effective and intentional writer.
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4. Overcoming Challenges
Many books on writing address common challenges faced by writers, such as writer’s block, self-doubt, and the fear of rejection. Learning strategies to overcome these obstacles can be invaluable in sustaining a consistent writing practice.
5. Broadening Perspectives
Reading different books on writing exposes you to various writing styles and approaches. This diversity can broaden your perspective on what is possible in the world of writing and help you find your unique voice.
6. Learning from Masters
Studying the works of renowned authors and their insights into the writing process can provide a wealth of knowledge. It’s like having a mentor guide you through the intricacies of the craft.
7. Professional Development
For those aspiring to be professional writers, understanding the industry, the publishing process, and how to market your work are crucial aspects. Many books on writing cover these topics, offering practical advice for navigating the professional side of writing.
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27 Best Books on Writing to Make You a Top Writer
Here’s a rundown of the best books on writing you need to improve your writing skills:
1. “On Writing” by Stephen King
Part memoir, part guidebook, this Stephen King classic will appeal even to those who avoid his renowned horror-packed tales. In this book, King discusses how he came to be the writer we know today, plus he shares the basic tools of writing every writer needs.
2. “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott
“Bird by Bird” is an essential part of any writer’s toolbox. In this work, Lamott shares herself and her craft with readers, including anecdotes that tie the pieces together into all-around great writing. If you need help finding your voice and passion, Lamott’s advice is sure to spark creativity.
3. “Writer’s Market” edited by Robert Lee Brewer
“Writer’s Market” helps aspiring writers become published. Its listings contain hundreds of pages of suggested markets for nonfiction writers, as well as those who want to sell short stories, including details for how to pitch your work. Because this guide is updated regularly, you’ll always have the most up-to-date information about how to publish and get paid for your writing.
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4. “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser
Although this classic book targets nonfiction writers, Zinsser discusses many forms of writing, from interviewing and telling stories about people to writing about travel. In addition to writing tips on consistency, voice, editing, and more, he also includes the fundamentals of craft that can help you grow as a writer in any genre.
5. “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
For years, writing teachers have assigned “The Elements of Style” to their students to teach them about grammar, structural writing rules, and the principles of composition. Brushing up on the basics from time to time is critical for continually developing your skills, and this book contains simple truths that every writer needs to know.
6. “The Associated Press Stylebook” by the Associated Press
AP Style is known by many as the “go-to” writing style for journalists and public relations pros. The Associated Press Stylebook contains more than 3,000 entries detailing rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation, and word and numeral usage to help you master news writing.
(Heads up: This stylebook is updated annually, so always be sure you purchase and study the most recent version!
7. “How to Write Bestselling Fiction” by Dean Koontz
While many books on this list are aimed at nonfiction writers, this one is for those who dream up their own stories to tell. If anyone is qualified to tell people how to write bestselling fiction, it is prolific author Dean Koontz, who’s sold more than 450 million copies of his books.
This book was written in 1981 and is out of print, so if you buy it online, you’re paying for a collector’s item. But the book has timeless, valuable insights for writers who manage to snag a copy. (Consider checking your local library!). After four decades, it’s still one of the best books on writing fiction.
8. “Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg
Goldberg’s insightful book examines the craft of writing including how to start brainstorming, the importance of learning how to listen, the vital role verbs play in writing, and even how to find an inspiring place to write. No matter the stage you’re at with writing, this inspiring read will give you the encouragement you need to keep going.
9. “Plot & Structure” by James Scott Bell
Written for fiction writers, this book tackles everything from story structure models and methods to a variety of techniques to help you craft great stories from start to finish. You’ll even find tips on how to create plot diagrams, plus the tools to overcome various plot problems that can arise.
10. “Writing Short Stories” by Courttia Newland and Tania Hershman
Broken into three comprehensive parts, this book examines the craft of short stories and teaches writers how to do it successfully. It explores the nature and history of this form, provides useful tips from noteworthy short story writers, and how to look deeper into your characters. Plus, if you’re struggling with writer’s block, Newland and Hershman’s book can help you there, too.
11. “I Should Be Writing: A Writer’s Workshop” by Mur Lafferty
For writers who should be writing—erm, all of us—this book is like your personal writing workshop condensed into a journal. Lafferty shares writing exercises to help the strength of your writing blossom, plus writer’s prompts, and tips on how to refine your creative process and hone your craft. Most of all, you’ll learn how to ignore your inner writing bully.
12. “Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets A Novelist Can Learn From Actors” by Brandilyn Collins
Award-winning and best-selling novelist of 30 books Brandilyn Collins created this in-depth guide to help writers understand the psychology of their characters. That way, you’ll know how to express it in your stories and bring your characters to life. Because it draws on popular acting methods that I’ve been using professionally for decades, reading this book will teach you techniques and concepts that will change the way you look at writing.
13. “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” by Renni Browne and Dave King
When you can’t hire a professional editor to ensure your manuscript is print-ready, pick up this book to learn how to edit yourself into print. Written by two professional editors, “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” teaches editing techniques like dialogue, exposition, point of view, and more so you can turn your work-in-progress into published novels and short stories.
14. The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
Annie Dillard, winner of the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction for her book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, published The Writing Life in 1989. In this book, Dillard presents a unique view of what it means to be a writer in a way that is accessible and relatable to both amateur and seasoned writers. It’s no wonder that Maria Popova calls the book “timelessly wonderful.”
15. “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron
From time to time, every writer suffers from burnout or writer’s block, and Julia Cameron understands that. Her book focuses on the craft of writing and training yourself to be even more creative.
She offers valuable techniques, like starting each morning with a free-writing exercise and exploring one subject you find fascinating per week. Her tips for gaining the self-confidence to reinvigorate your creative juices could be of help to any kind of writer.
16. “Word Work: Surviving and Thriving as a Writer” by Bruce Holland Rogers
“Word Work” is packed with practical advice to help you navigate core elements of the writing process. Whether you want to overcome procrastination, find happiness in writing, or even conquer writer’s block, this roadmap is filled with useful exercises to help you achieve your goals. It also covers how to handle rejection and success.
17. “A Writer’s Guide to Persistence” by Jordan Rosenfeld
This book focuses on how to be a happy and successful writer throughout your career. It covers everything from finding joy as a writer to avoiding burnout to the all-important challenge of balancing writing with a busy life. It also discusses how to fine-tune your craft, get in touch with your creative flow, revise your work, find critiques, and learn how to be resilient.
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18. Naming the World, by Bret Anthony Johnston
This is kind of an anthology. Johnston includes essays of his own but intersperses them with writing exercises from a ton of famous authors, from Joyce Carol Oates and Steve Almond to Adam Johnson and Elizabeth Strout.
As with any anthology, the exercises are hit or miss — I found myself scratching my head for some of them. But in general, you will find a wealth of practice in these tips (but only if you actually do the exercises!).
19. What If? by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter
The student examples of each of the writing exercises are particularly helpful in this book (and show a massive undertaking to procure for the book). And the exercises themselves are everything from “Ways to Create a Story” to “Psycho: Creating Terror.”
Bernays also has two points for each section: The exercise itself, and then the objective. You wouldn’t think the objective would be necessary, but for many exercises, it can be unclear WHY you would put yourself through the linguistic wringer. The objective helps you to understand how to take this exercise and make it apply to your real writing.
20. The Paris Review Interviews
A notable magazine, The Paris Review offers 16 in-depth interviews with some of the leading names in the literature world, from novelists to playwrights and poets. If you want insight into how superstars like Ernest Hemingway, T.S. Eliot, Kurt Vonnegut, Toni Morrison, and more penned their esteemed works, check out this book to learn from their revelations.
21. “Art & Fear: Observations On The Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking” by David Bayles & Ted Orlando
This book reflects on the artistic side of being a writer. Making art is no easy feat, and Bayles and Orlando—both artists themselves—explore the challenges of making art and the various obstacles that can discourage people along the way. Originally published in 1994, “Art & Fear” is now an underground classic, dishing out relatable, valuable advice about what it means to create.
22. “The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century” by Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker offers a new take on some of the classic writing manuals. Inside “The Sense of Style”, he analyzes examples of modern prose, pointing out fantastic writing styles from those he considers awful. To help you improve, Pinker also provides tips to spruce up lackluster work.
23. Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle
Madeleine L’Engle has mastered the art of weaving faith into fiction. In Walking on Water, the late author explores what it means to be a Christian artist, and touches on the influence of science on her life. This is, truly, a book that will hold appeal for writers and readers alike, as it sheds light upon the mind of one of this last century’s most talented writers.
24. On Writing by Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski was a legend in his own time and has left behind a legacy that will live on for as long as the English language does. In On Writing, take a deeper look into this complicated, brilliant writer’s mind through his correspondence with publishers, editors, friends, and other writers. And be prepared, of course, for Bukowski’s oft-hard-to-take honesty.
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25. On Moral Fiction by John Gardner
Morality and art have a complicated relationship, but John Gardner faces it fearlessly in this book-length essay. By Gardner’s way of thinking, all real art is moral, but morality doesn’t necessarily have to do with codes of conduct and submission to a Higher Power; it is the ability of art to point to some human value. The harsh lines he draws to distinguish “art” from “not art,” may frustrate some, but even in that case, this book’s ideas stick in the reader’s head.
26. How to Write Stunning Sentences by Nina Schuyler
Schuyler has compiled an amazing repository of sentences in this book, exploring things like rhythm and sound, metaphors, and imagery. There are lots of exercises for each sentence type, so you’ll get to practice what you learn. My only quibble is that she leans academic, so if you want a more accessible book, this might not be the book for you. But since other books about sentences (like the book above), get much more into the weeds of syntax and arcane grammar, this might be one of the best out there.
27. Crafting Dynamic Dialogue by Writer’s Digest
If you’re at the start of your writing career, this complete guide to writing dialogue is the right choice.
It’s from the editors of Writer’s Digest, and they cover all the bases. I particularly like the sections where they talk about common mistakes, how to find sources for good dialogue and give hundreds of examples of both made-up dialogue and dialogue from established authors.
FAQs On Books on Writing
Books on writing offer valuable insights, tips, and techniques from experienced authors. They provide guidance on various aspects of the writing process, helping you improve your skills, overcome challenges, and enhance your understanding of the craft.
What are some essential books for beginner writers?
For beginners, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King, “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott, and “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White are highly recommended. These books cover fundamentals, motivation, and style.
How can books on writing help improve my writing skills?
Writing books often provide practical advice on developing characters, creating engaging plots, refining your writing style, and navigating the publishing process. They also offer exercises and examples to apply the concepts, fostering hands-on learning.
Conclusion
The books listed above cover a wide range of topics, from mastering the basics of grammar and style to developing your unique voice and storytelling abilities. By delving into the wisdom and insights contained within these books, you can take your writing to the next level and achieve success as a top writer.
References
- thewritelife.com – 34 of the Best Books On Writing: Inspirational Reads
