Sometimes, you find yourself wondering about how to tackle a certain writing issue, and when that happens, I turn to some of the experts for reference material. A few of these books, tell you exactly how to approach your writing dilemma, whether you are writing Fiction, Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction or Screen Writing. Actually, I have read hundreds of books on how to write, but these select few, I have purchased and placed on my bookshelf in my office. They are in the perfect "EMERGENCY GRAB" location, only an arm's length away from my comfy writing chair. I'm sure you have many other wonderful worthy contenders to add to this reference list, but these are mine in descending order: |
My 15 Need-To-Own Books on Writing:
14.) Conflict, Action and Suspense ~ Elements of Fiction Writing, by William Noble; (1994).
13.) The Everything Guide to Writing a Novel ~ From completing the first draft to landing a book contract, all you need to fulfill your dreams, by Joyce and Jim Lavene; (2004).
12.) The Elements of Style ~ the Go-To Guide, by Strunk, White and Kalman; (1946).
11.) The Forest For the Trees ~ An Editor's Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner; (2000/2010).
10.) Writing Down the Bones ~ Freeing the Writer With by Natalie Goldberg; (1992).
9.) Hooked ~ Write Fiction that grabs readers at page one and never lets them go, by Les Edgerton; (2007).
8.) Bird by Bird ~ Some instructions on Writing & Life, by Anne Lamott; (1994).
7.) Naked, Drunk and Writing ~ Shed your inhibitions and craft a compelling Memoir or Personal Essay by Adair Lara; (2009).
6.) The Fire In Fiction ~ Passion, Purpose, and Techniques to make your novel great, by Domald Maass; (2009).
5.) The Making of a Story ~ A Norton Guide to Creative Writing, by Alice LaPlante; (2007).
4.) Writing the Breakout Novel ~ Insider advice for taking your fiction to the next level, by Donald Maass; (2001).
3.) The Anatomy of Story ~ 22 Steps to becoming a Master Storyteller, by John Truby; (2007).
2.) Story ~ Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting, by Robert McKee; (1997).
1.) On Writing ~ A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King; (2000/2010). * My personal favourite *