Great Books for Writers
What a writer needs is inspiration, and these books will give it to you. You'll find the power to go on, motivation to meet your goals, and ideas for streamlining your writing process.
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What you'll find here:
On Writing
by Stephen King
Almost everyone lists this as one of their favorite writing books, and for good reason. Stephen King gives you a life story, showing how his desire to write got him in trouble, troubled his soul, and forced him to strive toward success. Along the way you will get lots of information on what it means to be a writer. Very entertaining!
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Writing the Breakout Novel
by Donald Maass
The original book, Writing the Breakout Novel and the follow-up, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, are both worth owning and reading if you want to compete with the best in today's novel publishing industry. Donald Maass is president of his own literary agency, and can tell you what elements make a novel stand out from the crowd and excel.
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How to Write & Sell Your First Novel
by Oscar Collier
A good primer with lots of encouragement, plus step-by-step advice on how to write an effective, salable novel.
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On Writing Well
by William Zinsser
I usually think in terms of fiction writing, since I'm a novelist. But if your desire is to write better non-fiction, this is a must-read book, a real classic recommended highly by many writers.
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Books You Recommend
Please vote for books you have read and can recommend. You're welcome to add any books you think should be here.
On Writing by Stephen King
Part memoir, part master class by one of the bests more...5 points
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Some instructions on writing and life.3 points
Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder
This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets more...3 points
No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Chris Baty
Chris Baty, motivator extraordinaire and instigato more...3 points
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
A breakout novel is one that rises out of its cate more...3 points
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity [10th Anniversary Edition] by Julia Cameron
The seminal book on the subject of creativity.2 points
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints (Write Great Fiction) by Nancy Kress
An in-depth look at three of the most important to more...2 points
Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
What Can You Accomplish in 30 Days? If you make ti more...2 points
Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) (Write Great Fiction) by James Scott Bell
Clear and concise information on creating a believ more...2 points
The Business of Writing for Children: An Award-Winning Author's Tips on Writing Children's Books and Publishing Them, or How to Write, Publish, and Promote a Book for Kids by Aaron Shepard
Writing books for children is both art and busines more...2 points
2008 Writer's Market by Robert Brewer
Features more than 3,500 completely updated listin more...1 point
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
We all know the basics of punctuation. Or do we? A more...1 point
2008 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market (Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market) by Alice Pope
Lists over 750 places for children's writers to ge more...1 point
A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer within You by Ralph Fletcher
Writers are like other people, except for at least more...1 point
Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose
Long before there were creative-writing workshops more...1 point
A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life by Judy Reeves
Short essays and daily prompts.1 point
How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling (How to Write a Damn Good Novel) by James N. Frey
Written in a clear, crisp, accessible style, this more...1 point
You Can Write A Novel Kit by James V Smith
Eliminate that trepidation that can ruin the novel more...1 point
How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them by Sol Stein
Sol Stein books cover many aspects of the writing more...1 point
The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction by Barnaby Conrad
From travel writing to poetry to film scripting--t more...1 point
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
In this powerful, straight-from-the-hip examinatio more...1 point
Dynamic Characters by Nancy Kress
A really great guide on how to create interesting more...1 point
Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Punchier, More Engaging Language & Style by Arthur Plotnik
Teaches the power of simple sentences and words wi more...1 point
Fiction First Aid: Instant Remedies for Novels, Stories, and Scripts by Raymond Obstfeld
Takes a general problem and pinpoints what's wrong more...1 point
The Writer's Idea Workshop: How to Make Your Good Ideas Great by Jack Heffron
This book isn't about generating new ideas: it's a more...1 point
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne, Dave King
Takes you through the same processes an expert edi more...1 point
Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton
Provides readers with a detailed understanding of more...1 point
The Writer's Idea Workshop: How to Make Your Good Ideas Great by Jack Heffron
This book isn't about generating new ideas: it's a more...1 point
The Chicago Manual of Style
The 15th edition. A classic manual for every write more...0 points
The Elements of Style (Coyote Canyon Press Classics) by William Strunk
This book is the classic reference text for clear more...0 points
Everything They Had: Sports Writing from David Halberstam by David Halberstam
"Sometimes sports mirrors society, sometimes more...0 points
On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (On Writing Well) by William K. Zinsser
This book has been praised for its sound advice, i more...0 points
Thinking About Memoir (AARP) by Abigail Thomas
If living is an art, it must be practiced with dil more...0 points
The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size by Julia Cameron
A revolutionary diet plan: Use art to take off the more...0 points
Notebook Know-How: Strategies For The Writer's Notebook by Aimee Buckner
Learn more about creating your writing notebook.0 points
First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner
In this guide, readers will find a systematic meth more...0 points
Write: 10 Days to Overcome Writer's Block. Period. by Karen E. Peterson
Get over it!0 points
How to Write a Best-Seller While Keeping Your Day Job! A Step-By-Step Manual of Success for Writers Who Want to Be Published But Don't Have the Time by Daniel H. Jones
A practical and fun outline for getting your book more...0 points
Simon and Schuster Quick Access Reference for Writers by Lynn Q. Troyka
Just the facts...0 points
This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley
No more excuses. Anyone can write a novel now, and more...0 points
How to Write and Sell Your Novel...Handbook for the Beginning Novelist by R. Karl Largent
If you are one of the growing numbers of people se more...0 points
How to Write & Sell Your First Novel by Oscar Collier, Frances Spatz Leighton
A book that gives the writing and marketing instru more...0 points
Write Away: One Novelist's Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life by Elizabeth George
Here's what I tell my students on the first day wh more...0 points
A Story Is a Promise: Good Things to Know Before You Write That Screenplay, Novel, or Play by Bill Johnson
A fresh new model for mastering the elusive art of more...0 points
Mystery Writing in a Nutshell by John McAleer, Andrew McAleer
Edgar Allan Poe Award winner, Pulitzer Prize nomin more...0 points
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass
This powerful book builds on the success of it pre more...0 points
Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies by Sol Stein
Useful advice for all writers of fiction and nonfi more...0 points
Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You by Ray Bradbury
Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities ev more...0 points
101 Best Scenes Ever Written by Barnaby Conrad
Barnaby Conrad is an expert at telling us what to more...0 points
Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method by Gerald M. Weinberg
I thought I was hopelessly scattered until I read more...0 points
Dynamic Characters by Nancy Kress
A really great guide on how to create interesting more...0 points
Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Punchier, More Engaging Language & Style by Arthur Plotnik
Teaches the power of simple sentences and words wi more...0 points
Fiction First Aid: Instant Remedies for Novels, Stories, and Scripts by Raymond Obstfeld
Takes a general problem and pinpoints what's wrong more...0 points
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne, Dave King
Takes you through the same processes an expert edi more...0 points
Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton
Provides readers with a detailed understanding of more...0 points
Thanks for coming by to visit my lens on books about writing...
Seems like I'm always reading about writing - it is a big part of my life as a writer.Click here to add this lens to your favorites.
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Your comments are WELCOME
You're welcome to tell us about other books you've read and recommend for writers, or add them to the link list above.
BuffaloKid wrote...
I'm mostly a visual artist, but I've been reading about writing lately, because, as an artist, it sure helps to be able to write articles, artist statements and an artist bio ... not to mention Squidoo lenses. So far, I've read "Bird by Bird" and "Writing Down the Bones," but I see some others here I think I'll pick up. Thanks for the information.
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
Writing your first novel is a challenge. Work hard and keep at it. Reading books on writing will inspire. As a would-be author you need all the encouragement you can get. At least that's how it was for me. It WILL be worth it in the end.
Lizzy
rms wrote...
You've made excellent use of the poll module here and provided me with some new books for my list of must-read-these!
GypsyOwl wrote...
5*FAV added a book and voted for a couple I've read, and highly recommend, that you had already listed. This lens is awesome! I am nearly finished with a novel that I wrote. It started out during the Nanowrimo of 2007 (contest to write 50,000 words in one month - and I WON!!!), and during the 2008 contest I worked on it a bit more since it needed about three more chapters to round everything out. This summer it will be published and I am so very excited.
I would highly recommend to anyone who desires to write, to read Julia Cameron right away. Get past any blocks, (her book did that for me a decade ago), then 'write'. The joy of getting 'that book out of my head' on onto paper can not be expressed in a couple of paragraphs. :D
:D Great 5* Lens!!! Thank YOU!
awelldressedbullet wrote...
Well hello! I would love to write a book someday, and who knows maybe I will and these books will help me! Another great topic! - Kathy
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Lensmaster LindaJM, aka Linda Martin, has been a member since June 11 2007, has rated 1,274 lenses, favorited 585, and has created 102 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Image and Video Mentor". See all my lenses
My Bio
I live in the Klamath River Valley of Northern California. I share my life with my boyfriend, Bob. We like to watch movies at home on DVD, swim, hike, and prospect for gold in the Siskiyou Mountains.
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