01 Aug 15 Books on Writing You Should Read

Looking for a new book to read on becoming an author, writing, publishing, and more?

 

Guest Post: Content and recommendations by Holly Moore.

There are so many books on writing out there that it can be hard to find exactly what you are looking for. In this blog post, I will be highlighting 15 books that offer invaluable insights and advice to help you find inspiration, hone your craft and avoid common writing mistakes. While I haven’t read all of these yet, they do come highly recommended!

If you want a motivation boost, read … Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Through sharing stories from her own life, her friends and others who have inspired her, Elizabeth Gilbert discusses the creative process. Whether you are writing a book or creating other types of art, Big Magic encourages you to embrace your curiosity and go on a journey of exploration. 

If you’re struggling to find inspiration, read … The Very Short Story Starter, by John Gillard. While specifically targeted towards writers of flash fiction, this workbook, which contains 101 writing prompts, could help any writer struggling with writer’s block.

If you’re just about to start writing your first novel, read … The Everything Guide to Writing Your First Novel, by Hallie Ephron. This book covers the entire novel writing process, from finding ideas to creating believable characters, settings and plotlines, to submitting to agents and publishers. Featuring a week-by-week guide to help you write a first draft in 26 weeks, as well as advice from bestselling novelists, this book is a great starting place for anyone interested in writing fiction.

If you are looking for a guided journal full of prompts and writing exercises, read … Find Your Voice, by Angie Thomas. This creative writing guide from the bestselling author of The Hate U Give is packed with step-by-step tips, prompts and exercises to help aspiring writers through the writing process from initial ideas to the finished draft.

If you want to write for young adults, read … Get Started in Writing YA Fiction, by Juliet Mushens. From leading literary agent Juliet Mushens comes a book that seeks to introduce beginners to the world of writing young adult fiction. Full of guidance and exercises on the do’s and don’ts for this genre, this book is perfect for anyone hoping to write the next The Hunger Games, Twilight, Divergent or The Fault in Our Stars. It is part of the Teach Yourself: Writing book series, which covers a wide range of genres from romance to science fiction to poetry to children’s picture books. 

If you write nonfiction, read … On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, by William Zinsser. First published in 1976, On Writing Well remains an invaluable resource for anyone writing nonfiction. With chapters highlighting the importance of simplicity and reducing ‘clutter’, this book offers clear and practical advice for those writing about people, places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts or themselves. 

If you write poetry, read … Poemcrazy, by Susan G. Wooldridge. From poet and teacher Susan G. Wooldridge comes a guide to help you express your life and feelings through words. Including topics like creating a wordpool and using sound and rhythm, this guide is perfect for the aspiring and established poet alike.

If you want to hook a reader’s attention, read … Make a Scene: Writing a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time, by Jordan E. Rosenfeld. This guide walks writers step-by-step through the process of developing compelling and engaging scenes. From openings that will immediately hook the reader, to ensuring character’s intentions are driving the plot, to creating a climax that will stay with the reader long after they’ve finished the book, Rosenfeld’s tried-and-tested tips are sure to help you improve your scene construction skills. Jordan E. Rosenfeld has also written Writing Deep Scenes, How to Write a Page Turner, A Writer’s Guide to Persistence, and Writing the Intimate Character.

 

 

 

 

 

If you struggle to convey emotion in your writing, read … The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface, by Donald Maass. Creating stories that actually impact readers is hard, so Donald Maass has created a guide that shows writers how to do exactly that. Covering topics like ‘beyond showing versus telling’, ‘moral stakes’ and ‘invoking higher emotions, symbols, and emotional language’, this book is ideal if you want your writing to fully engage and captivate readers. 

If your dialogue is as stale as week-old bread, read … How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript, by James Scott Bell. Even if your story is compelling and your characters are complex, dull dialogue can instantly turn readers off. Targeted towards novelists and screenwriters, this book gives writers the tools they need to craft realistic and ‘dazzling’ dialogue that will elevate their manuscripts to the next level. James Scott Bell’s other books on writing include Writing Unforgettable Characters, Super Structure, The Last Fifty Pages, How to Write Short Stories and Use Them to Further Your Writing Career, and many more.

If you’ve just finished your first draft, read … Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore, by Elizabeth Lyon. This thorough guide on novel revision includes guidance on character development, plot, dialogue, structure, grammar and punctuation, as well as information on how to submit manuscripts to agents and publishers. 

If you want to learn how to market your books, read … Write to Market: Deliver a Book That Sells, by Chris Fox. This book teaches writers how to start marketing their books from the beginning, giving tips on how to research the market, and figure out what readers want and expect. Chris Fox has also written a number of other writing and marketing books, including 5,000 Words Per Hour, Lifelong Writing Habit, Launch to Market, Six Figure Author, Relaunch Your Novel, Plot Gardening, and Ads for Authors.

If you want advice from some of the world’s greatest writers, read … How to Write like Tolstoy, by Richard Cohen. In this book, author and editor Richard Cohen walks readers through the minds of some of the world’s greatest writers, from Tolstoy and Eliot to Woolf and Nabokov, through to Zadie Smith and Stephen King, highlighting their tips and tricks, motivations and techniques.

If you love reading memoirs, read … Mouth Full of Blood, by Toni Morrison. Through a collection of essays, speeches and meditations, Toni Morrison examines and reflects on the power of language and art, looking at themes of race, gender, politics and culture. While this isn’t a how-to writing guide, Morrison does revisit her own works, giving readers an insight into the mind of one of America’s most celebrated writers. 

If you need publishing advice, read … Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. Brimming with advice and information on how to get published, this comprehensive guide is brought out and updated each year by Bloomsbury. With a directory of agents and publishers from across the world, as well as invaluable articles on topics from self-publishing to marketing to managing your finances, this is a must-read for all writers taking the next step in their writing journey.

 

 

 

 

 

For more book recommendations, check out my last post, 6 More Things Every Writer Needs. And if you‘ve already read most of these, keep an eye on our website as we are currently working on something very exciting!

That’s it for today’s post! I hope you found at least one book that could help you on your writing journey!

This post was written by Holly Moore.

Holly graduated from The Open University, after completing modules in science, history and creative writing. She has always loved consuming stories, whether through reading books or watching TV shows and films. She hopes to create her own stories in the future, as well as becoming a professional proofreader. 

Find her here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmPNXRtbL6m-RuzrysAW1VA

 

 

Disclaimer: These are suggestions by Holly and not personal recommendations from Kirsten. Please research before making any purchases. And remember, books from the library are free!

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