My Top 10 Books on Writing Fiction

On Writing

by: Stephen King

Amazon Price: $24.78 (as of 05/30/2012)

This is one of the most popular writing books for aspiring novelists and with good reason. It's part-autobiography, part-writing guide - detailing Stephen King's own journey to publication and beyond. I think its strength lies in the fact that it's both written in King's easy-to-read style, but also contains 'trade-secrets' from one of the most successful novelists of the twentieth century. King offers advice about basic writing styles, location and practice - interweaving tutorial with personal anecdotes.

This was one of the first books on writing fiction that I read and I found it truly inspirational, certainly enough to set my fiction on the right path. I would recommend this for anyone who is setting out as a writer.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

by: Anne Lamott

Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 05/30/2012)

If you're finding it hard to get started or are stuck in the middle, read this book. Anne Lamott explores her own feelings of self-doubt and negativity, viewing these as an essential part of the creative process. Bird by Bird doesn't contain a great deal of advice about craft and technique, but it's a great way to boost your writing mindset.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print

by: Renni Browne, Dave King

Amazon Price: $5.82 (as of 05/30/2012)

If you want to have a serious career in writing, then you must read this book. It's recommended by most writing courses and consultancies. Nowadays, it's important to submit a clean manuscript to agents so your editing needs to be impeccable. I'll confess that I found the book a little technical when I first bought it, but it's worth persisting even if you only read the first chapter - Show and Tell. Learn these lessons and you'll be a few steps ahead of everyone else.

The First Five Pages: A Writer'S Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile

by: Noah Lukeman

Amazon Price: $4.59 (as of 05/30/2012)

A good beginning will open doors. This book shows you how to write a riveting first chapter and catch an agent's eye. One word of warning though - don't be tempted to rely on the first five pages only. You'll need to have a full, polished manuscript before you approach agencies and publishers. That's where the next six recommendations can help.

20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them

by: Ronald Tobias

Amazon Price: $2.88 (as of 05/30/2012)

I find plotting hard so this book has been hugely helpful. It lists 20 basic plots with examples and shows the writer how to construct these. This is a great place to start if you want to improve the structure of your novel.

The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition

by: Christopher Vogler

Amazon Price: $13.78 (as of 05/30/2012)

This is a more advanced book for writers who wish to explore the deeper archetypes behind character and plot. I'd recommend it as a background reference for authors as it helps to clarify some of the familiar themes running through story.

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting

by: Robert McKee

Amazon Price: $17.59 (as of 05/30/2012)

If you really want to delve deep into the science of story, then this is the book for you. It's written for screenwriters, but is also relevant for novelists. Personally, I find it quite dry and precise, but I know published authors who swear by it.

Novel Metamorphosis: Uncommon Ways to Revise Novels with Creative Writing Tips, Tools, and Strategies

by: Darcy Pattison

Amazon Price: $16.54 (as of 05/30/2012)

This is a workbook for writers who are ready to revise a first draft. Darcy Pattison has formulated a set of exercises that the author can apply to their own novel. I uncovered a much stronger story after using this guide. There are spaces for notes throughout the book, but I saved my notes online so that I could re-use the manual again.

Writing the Breakout Novel

by: Donald Maass

Amazon Price: $5.92 (as of 05/30/2012)

I received this book recommendation from a published children's author and have found Maass' advice invaluable. He shows authors how to take a solid novel to the next level by heightening stakes and deepening character. This is one for writers who have already produced a body of work and who want to raise their game.

2011 Writer's Market

Amazon Price: $3.01 (as of 05/30/2012)

If you feel you're ready to submit to agencies then I would recommend that you purchase a guide that can help you sell your work. Writer's Market includes listings for agencies and publishers with handy tips throughout. There's no need to buy a new guide every year as much of the information can be found online, but it's useful to have at least one reference book when you start out.