Books For Writers

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 14 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,173 in Books, #89,635 overall

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, ideas for streamlining your writing process, suggestions for bringing your characters to life, exercises to improve your descriptive skills, and books that are just plain fun to read.

Why write? 

On Writing 

by Stephen King

On Writing

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/14/2009)Buy Now

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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by Stephen King

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Writing the Breakout Novel 

by Donald Maass

Writing the Breakout Novel

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/14/2009)Buy Now

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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by Donald Maass

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More about Writing the Breakout Novel 

by Donald Maass

How to Write and Sell Your First Novel 

by Oscar Collier

How to Write & Sell Your First Novel

Amazon Price: (as of 12/14/2009)Buy Now

A good primer with lots of encouragement, plus step-by-step advice on how to write an effective, salable novel.



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by Oscar Collier

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On Writing Well 

by William Zinsser

On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/14/2009)Buy Now

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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by William Zinsser

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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

On Writing by Stephen King

Part memoir, part master class by one of the bests more...5 points

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder

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

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

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

A breakout novel is one that rises out of its cate more...3 points

Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints (Write Great Fiction) by Nancy Kress

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

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

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

2008 Writer's Market by Robert Brewer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You Can Write A Novel Kit by James V Smith

Eliminate that trepidation that can ruin the novel more...1 point

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass

This powerful book builds on the success of it pre more...1 point

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

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...1 point

How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them by Sol Stein

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner

In this guide, readers will find a systematic meth more...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

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

This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley

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

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

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

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 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

Mystery Writing in a Nutshell by John McAleer, Andrew McAleer

Edgar Allan Poe Award winner, Pulitzer Prize nomin more...0 points

Solutions for Writers by Sol Stein

Solutions for Writers by Sol Stein

Another masterpiece by Sol Stein.0 points

Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You by Ray Bradbury

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009 Descriptive Writing Contest 

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.

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  • Reply
    lostinfiction lostinfiction Nov 27, 2009 @ 9:36 am
    There is some excellent advice in Stephen King's book, "On Writing" about, well, writing! :) You should also have a look at his page on Infloox for more info about his personal literary influences and what inspires him to write the books he does.
  • Reply
    BuffaloKid BuffaloKid Apr 14, 2009 @ 11:32 am
    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.
  • Reply
    ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Nov 25, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
    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
  • Reply
    rms rms Sep 24, 2008 @ 8:52 am
    You've made excellent use of the poll module here and provided me with some new books for my list of must-read-these!
  • Reply
    GypsyOwl GypsyOwl Jul 5, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
    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!
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Lensmaster LindaJM has been a member since June 11 2007, has rated 1,576 lenses, favorited 677, and has created 111 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Climategate - Global Warming Fraud". See all my lenses

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I live in the Klamath River Valley of Northern California. I'm a writer with several novels under development, and a few being submitted to agents. None published yet, but hopefully that will soon change.

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