Books for Writers

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A list of useful, interesting, or otherwise noteworthy books for writers, with an emphasis on the craft and practice of writing. Got your own to add? Leap in!

Thanks to scarylady for digging up the original thread on peopleofthedas, and aithne for compiling the original list, and additional credit to Cat Rambo.

Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Nancy Kress
Full of exercises and examples that illustrate the potential pitfalls of all three parts of a story. Part of the 'Elements of Fiction Writing' series.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
An interesting look at writing and spirituality, which you'll probably either love or hate. Those who fall into the former category might also like If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland, a classic and very individual, semi-motivational book that tackles the idea of life as a writer.

The 10% Solution by Ken Rand
A slim volume that packs a lot of punch on the topic of cleaning up and streamlining your prose.

Writing The Other by Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward
A series of essays on how to write outside your own viewpoint - including characters from different races, ages, orientations - sensitively and well. Includes several basic exercises, originally written as a companion to a workshop.

The Joy of Writing Sex: A Guide for Fiction Writers by Elizabeth Benedict
A guide to not just writing sex scenes, but ensuring they carry their weight in the wider framework of the story.

The Chicago Manual of Style
Probably more often used as an industry or house standard than Strunk & White, but both are invaluable style guides to ensure your writing is technically up to snuff.

Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella
Applies largely to scripts rather than prose fiction, but includes invaluable references for unique fiction, conversational flow and tags.

Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin
A thoughtful, poetic primer on concepts and attitudes to story and writing, including a series of clever, useful exercises. Also very nicely written.

On Writing by Stephen King
Part autobiography and part detail of a very successful author's creative process - apparently a very good read.

From Pitch to Publication by Carol Blake
Yes, Blake as in Blake Friedmann. I suspect this is a tad outdated now, but it remains a useful first guide for authors new to the process of researching markets and pitching manuscripts. As long as it's not the only source of information you use.

If you have any opinions, personal favourites, or anything else you'd like to add, feel free to chip in.

Comments

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I had a flick through Writing Down The Bones, and eventually elected not to buy it because she said something particularly daft about "real" writers writing in the rain. Which is just nonsensical because your nice notebook will be destroyed, your ink will run and you could catch a chill. I'm all for melodrama but this seemed needlessly melodramatic to me, so I sniffed and set her back on the shelf.

I have two books on their way at the moment, "A Writer's Book of Days" which is more inspirational than technically useful, but that's what I wanted really, and Strunk and White for the technical side.

On my shelf I have:
the Gotham Writers' Workshop guide to Writing Fiction which I haven't dug through enough to know the value of yet,
Fondling Your Muse which is more the sort of thing to vent your frustrations with you,
In a Word, which is indispensable when you're looking for exactly the right word to describe your protagonist, or that one moment in a scene, and it's on the tip of your tongue but you just can't remember it.... yeah. Is good.
...and Juicy Writing, which is aimed at the young people but is actually quite good for the odd prompt, journalling ideas, story starters and so on. I don't use it much, but I like having it around, and there's quite a bit in there.

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Which is just nonsensical because your nice notebook will be destroyed, your ink will run and you could catch a chill.

Hee hee... yes. I'm afraid I come down more on the 'real writers just get on with it' school of thought, although for those who have to put up with discouragement and disparagement from family and so-called friends, the touchy-feely side of things can be motivating.

I'll have to have a peek at the John Warner and In a Word, definitely - looks interesting!

[noctuary]

In A Word also has fantastic lists at the end - like popes, angels, phobias, types of wine, sports terms etc - that you might just need. It's no replacement for your thesaurus, though, because it's organised differently. But I do recommend it!

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You had me at popes... and phobias. I'm a complete sucker for esoteric lexicography. Duly ordered!