Recommended Reading for Writers
February 4, 2010 at 5:01 pm katemorgan1 1 comment
I hope you’re really getting into your writing these days with the excellent advice Melissa is passing along. I know some days it probably feels like you’re flying along, writing sentences and paragraphs that fit together and contribute to your story. Other days you might feel completely stuck, like you will never write another word.
No matter where you’re at with your book, I know there will be times you need a boost, some inspiration and more tips about writing well. That’s where this post comes in – a recommendation list of books that will assist you on your writing journey. These books come recommended by hundreds of published authors, authors who were at one point where you are today.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King – Part memoir, part tough love writing guide, On Writing is a classic every author should own. Though the book King describes his childhood, how he started writing, what he overcame to be the writer he is today and then advice on perfecting your own technique.
Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White – Almost unparalleled in its content, Elements of Style has been described as “direct, correct and delightful” by the New Yorker. If you have any questions about grammar, spelling, correct usage of a word, sentence structure, punctuation and more, this book holds the answers.
Chicago Manual of Style – Some would call this book picky and dogmatic, but they are the people who don’t know how valuable it is. It contains every imaginable answer to questions about preparing a manuscript for electronic publishing, being concise and clear when writing, correct grammar, citing sources and so much more.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Rennie Brown & Dave King – Complete with checklists and exercises for your own manuscript, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers will force you to take a merciless look at your writing and make it better. This book is a must have for all authors, but especially for self-published authors who aren’t getting the editing traditionally published books receive in a publishing house.
The Dictionary of Concise Writing: More than 10,000 Alternatives to Wordy Phrases by Robert Hartwell Fiske and Richard Lederer – If you find your writing is full of phrases like “based on the fact that” (use “because” instead) and “put an end to” (“cease” is a better fit) then you need this book. This is the ultimate guide to paring down your writing.
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein – The author of nine bestselling books Sol Stein doesn’t sugarcoat anything in this straightforward guide to writing. Instead, he firmly takes your hand, makes you cut mediocre content and scrutinize every single sentence of your manuscript.
Getting into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors by Brandilyn Collins – If your characters need some new life then this may be the book for you. Collins takes a theory actors have used for years and tweaks it to work for fiction so your characters have depth and personality. Learn how to communicate the deep psychology, behavior and motivations for why your characters do what they do throughout your book.
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass – As you probably already know getting your book picked up by a traditional publisher is nearly impossible. Maass, a literary agent and author of 17 books, will walk you through the most critical elements your book should have to really make it stand out from the rest.
There are hundreds of writing books, some that may be better than the ones on this list. Do your own research and find some that work for you. Don’t be a stagnant writer; keep learning and perfecting your technique from those who have gone before you.
Do you have a favorite writing book we missed? Share it in the comments below.
Happy writing,
Kate
Entry filed under: Reading & Writing. Tags: book recommendations, books about writing.
1.
Phil Womersley | March 31, 2010 at 6:19 am
I am reading your second edition Self Editing For Fiction Writers and have decided, wisely you would say, to act on removing 98% of my ‘…ly’usage. On putting ‘ly ’ into Find. I discover surprisingly and frighteningly a worrying amount of words also having that ending. Am I being neurotic.? Well am I?
Yours faithfully
Phil.
First time writer of a story about asbestos pollution, ‘Still Killing Children’.