The old clichéd bit of standby advice regarding how the most effective writers must also consider themselves thorough readers became as such for a reason. No matter how creative, educated, or naturally talented an individual may be when it comes to literary prowess, he or she can always find ways of improving. Fortunately, a bevy of books on writing within a wide range of genres, learning about the business, editing one’s own work, and myriad other relevant topics are available for the savvy literati hoping to better refine his or her style before jetting off to an agent or publishing house. The following selections provide both amateur and professional writers alike with a diverse amount of references covering a broad spectrum of subject matter. Hopefully, they prove valuable in the quest to continuously grow and further their skills at communicating a point and telling a story.
1. The Office of Assertion
Author: Scott F. Crider
One of the more eloquent and inspiring books on essay writing available, Scott F. Crider’s The Office of Assertion extols the virtues of passion, clarity, persuasiveness, and self-editing in any literary work.
2. Zen in the Art of Writing
Author: Ray Bradbury
Legendary author Ray Bradbury compiled a number of his essays into one volume as a means of expressing how much he very much loved writing with the hope of nurturing his readers who wish to contribute to the literary world.
3. Faint Praise: The Plight of Book Reviewing in America
Author: Gail Pool
Writers must contend with reviewers both professional and amateur if they hope to grow and establish an audience, so it pays to understand the climate in which they read and relate how they feel about a specific work.
4. Why You Say It: The Fascinating Stories Behind Over 600 Everyday Words and Phrases
Author: Webb Garrison
This extremely fun book peeks into the origins of words and phrases used in daily writing and speech, challenging literary types to dig as deeply as they can into the nuances and evolution of language.
5. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Author: Stephen King
Wildly popular and lucrative author Stephen King’s blend of memoir and instruction provides a handy and valuable resource for fellow writers looking to pen effective and evocative literature of their own.
6. The Elements of Style
Authors: William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
A classic work of writing on writing, many in the literary field have grown divided over The Elements of Style’s value due to its age. However, it is entirely up to the reader to decide how well the book meets their needs.
7. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
Even beyond research papers, those working and writing in fields that prefer MLA documentation formatting must remain absolutely in touch with the latest updates and changes by reading the latest volume of its guides.
8. MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing
Another must-read for anyone tied to the Modern Language Association’s rules for academic or professional reasons, this time focusing on scholarly works.
9. Chicago Manual of Style
The Chicago Manual of Style is another absolutely indispensible tool for writers who need to work with their manuscripts and assignments in Chicago (or even Turabian in many cases) format.
10. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Like the MLA and Chicago styles of formatting literary works, the APA also offers up its own consistently evolving formalized structure for papers and books as well – and psychologists are not the only ones who use it!
11. Understanding Comics
Author: Scott McCloud
Aspiring comic book writers must absolutely read this influential resource on the genre by venerable industry veteran Scott McCloud. Even those electing to work outside the genre may find some valuable storytelling pointers as well.
12. Writing Screenplays That Sell
Author: Michael Hauge
Screenwriter Michael Hague dissects every element of that particular style of writing, challenging his contemporaries from all genres to ponder the very basics of storytelling.
13. Of Grammatology
Author: Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida stood at the forefront of the poststructuralist movement, and his seminal work can turn the novice writer’s perceptions of a text and how readers may approach it upside-down.
14. The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Author: Joseph Campbell
Another absolute classic, Joseph Campbell’s reflections on the portrayal of heroes throughout literary history has inspired numerous writers and storytellers – including George Lucas.
15. Man and His Symbols
Author: Carl Jung
Necessary reading for both psychology students and writers alike, Carl Jung’s seminal work regarding dream interpretation and the collective unconscious gives readers and intimate peek into symbology shockingly common to many different cultures.
16. Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York’s Acclaimed Creative Writing School
Author: Gotham Writer’s Workshop
The writers and editors involved in the Gotham Writer’s Workshop offer up their collective advice and opinions on creating a successful work of literary art.
17. Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market
Author: Writer’s Digest Books
Published annually, Writer’s Digest offers up an incredibly valuable resource when it comes to understanding how the current literary marketing climate for novels and short stories appears.
18. The Artist’s Way
Author: Julia Cameron
Writers afflicted with creative block or hoping to better refine their technical skills can try out Julia Cameron’s 12-week, self-directed course to see if it helps out.
19. How to Read and Why
Author: Harold Bloom
One of the more universal bits of advice on writing dictates that one hoping to practice the art must also become an astute reader as well. Here, Harold Bloom offers suggestions on thinking about a work of literature in depth and on one’s own terms.
20. Characters & Viewpoint
Author: Orson Scott Card
So many written works fall entirely flat because of their poorly conceived characters and perspectives, and respected author Orson Scott Card offers up some excellent, seasoned advice on how to prevent this from happening.
21. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Author: Lynne Truss
A funny, provocative approach to teaching writers about the grammar rules they need to know in order to fire off a successful manuscript – especially considering how one small slip can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
22. A Dash of Style
Author: Noah Lukeman
Notable author and literary agent Noah Lukeman weighs in on “the art and mastery of punctuation” with the needs of creative writers in mind.
23. Telling Lies for Fun & Profit
Author: Lawrence Block
With cheek and accessibility, Telling Lies for Fun & Profit by former Writer’s Digest columnist Lawrence Block covers everything the aspiring fiction author needs to know about penning a satisfying piece.
24. How to be Your Own Literary Agent
Author: Richard Curtis
Drawing from his considerable experience as a literary agent, Richard Curtis opens up about the process of selling a manuscript or draft to publishing companies. It pays for aspiring writers to know the basics, even if they have to hire an agent or a lawyer to look over the minute details.
25. From Pitch to Publication
Author: Carole Blake
Like Richard Curtis, Carole Blake – director of the Blake Friedmann Agency – offers writers (and hopeful writers) a look at how a manuscript becomes a book and what authors can do to compile a bankable pitch.
26. Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction
Author: Charles Baxter
Charles Baxter’s engaging series of essays takes readers on a spirited journey through the ins and outs and observations of his passion for writing, offering them some valuable tips and tricks along the way.
27. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Author: Anne Lamott
Part memoir, part manual, Anne Lammott’s Bird by Bird offers some very nice advice on the entire writing process in between personal anecdotes.
28. Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words
Author: Susan G. Wooldridge
Poets and aspiring poets do not need to fear the form to write something beautiful, and this book points out particular effective, evocative examples alongside suggestions for inspiration and creation.
29. Letters to a Young Novelist
Author: Mario Vargas Llosa
In this handy tome, Mario Vargas Llosa ruminates on the role of the subconscious in creating works of literature without making distinctions between “good” and “bad” pieces.
30. The Anxiety of Influence
Author: Harold Bloom
Literary criticism giant Harold Bloom expresses his opinions regarding how newer works (specifically, poetry) consistently build upon those that came before, therefore significantly diluting the amount of originality.
31. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
Authors: Renni Browne and Dave King
Although most books published through corporate and independent presses do pass manuscripts through an editor first, writers hoping to make a good impression with a tight, cohesive work (as well as those opting for the self-publishing route) would do well to consult this reference.
32. Making a Literary Life
Author: Carolyn See
Writers seeking a bit of a push when it comes to sculpting great characters and plotlines should consult Making a Literary Life for great tips, tricks, and exercise to breathe life into a manuscript.
33. The War of Art
Author: Steven Pressfield
No matter their chosen genre or personal style, all writers will face criticism due to the subjective nature of art. Steven Pressfield analyzes the creative process and the way people react to its results with great pragmatism and insight.
34. The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers
The Believer magazine shares some excellent, intimate conversations between some of the world’s most prominent and respected writers – Zadie Smith, Haruki Murakami, Ian McEwan, and others.
35. Writing the Breakout Novel
Author: Donald Maass
All novelist careers start off with the very first book. Donald Maass helps those with this particular goal in mind get motivated, get started, and – most importantly – remain realistic.
36. The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets
Author: Ted Kooser
Aimed squarely at novices (or veterans looking for a refresher), Ted Kooser’s The Poetry Home Repair Manual dishes out some excellent and practical advice for writers of all styles – not just poetry!
37. Woe is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English
Author: Patricia T. O’Connor
Former editor for The New York Times Book Review Patricia T. O’Connor takes readers on a hilarious and accessible excursion through common grammar errors and how to fix them right up.
38. The First Five Pages
Author: Noah Lukeman
Noah Lukeman’s thesis is simple – literary agents and readers alike generally judge the overall tonality and effectiveness of a written work as they read the first five pages. Writers hoping for some degree of success ought to learn how to make this phenomenon work in their favor.
39. Kirsch’s Guide to the Book Contract
Author: Jonathan Kirsch
Writers hoping to make it in the business without a literary agent to back up their works should definitely familiarize themselves with all the intricacies of a contract with a publishing company before submitting their manuscripts.
40. Plot & Structure
Author: James Scott Bell
As with characters and perspectives, ill-defined or poorly written plotlines and overall structures can turn an amazing concept into an utter failure. Fortunately, James Scott Bell lays down a solid foundation for readers to follow with the hopes of strengthening their technical skills.
41. Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Author: Mignon Fogarty
Venerable internet icon Mignon Fogarty – also known as Grammar Girl – puts her signature “quick and dirty” accessibility to good use by providing her fans with a valuable resource on improving their writing.
42. A Map of Misreading
Author: Harold Bloom
Intended to serve as a companion piece to Bloom’s The Anxiety of Influence, A Map of Misreading suggests his method of reading and analyzing poetry on its own merits and as an interpretation of its predecessors.
43. Word Painting: A Guide to Write More Descriptively
Author: Rebecca McClanahan
Learning how to write descriptively with vivid verbs, adverbs, and adjectives adds pop to a work of literature and makes it memorable – and Rebecca McClanahan helps her readers work towards developing this element of their craft.
44. 52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity
Author: Jeffrey Yamaguchi
Jeffrey Yamaguchi includes all sorts of creative exercises in his book – many of which do not even involve writing. However, their interpretive nature nurtures imagination and innovation in all its forms, making this a stimulating resource for literary types of all stripes.
45. Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
Author: Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg caters to writers in need of a little discipline and guidance with meditative and creative tips, tricks, and exercises.
46. The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious
Author: Carl Jung
Psychology plays an undeniable role in the creation of compelling literature, and writers would do well to explore Carl Jung’s theories regarding common archetypes that crop up in many of mankind’s attempts to make sense of the world around it.
47. The Power of Myth
Author: Joseph Campbell
As with character types, Joseph Campbell also points out how humanity repeatedly dips into the narrative well and comes up with different interpretations of at least 6 different broader stories.
48. The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics
Author: Dennis O’Neil
Even writers not hoping to break into comics can still appreciate Dennis O’Neil’s pointers on practicing economy in storytelling while simultaneously developing 3-dimensional characters and engaging plots.
49. On Writing Well
Author: William Zinsser
For over 30 years, William Zinsser’s On Writing Well has served as one of the go-to guides for literary types in need of general advice on cranking out effective stories of all types.
50. Writing and Difference
Author: Jacques Derrida
In this series of essays, heavily influential postmodernist and poststructualist thinker Jacques Derrida outlines how to deconstruct literature and philosophy for an entirely new way of perceiving the text.
No matter one’s career goals, there will always be room for him or her to build upon the foundation that already exists. Writers are no exception, and there exists a thankfully wide range of books to guide them through everything from getting started to handing the manuscript over to a publisher. With an open mind and a sense of discipline, these writers-as-readers can help sharpen the skills they need to succeed in the literary world.
