Books on Writing
These are books on writing that I (and/or writers and editors I know) have found helpful. If you buy a book from one of the links to Bookshop.org on this page, I will receive a tiny commission and you will support an indie book store.
General Writing Advice
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author’s Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development by K.M. Weiland
Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell
Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer
The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma by Angela Ackerman
How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript by James Scott Bell
The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults by Cheryl Klein
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need by Jessica Brody
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller by Jessica Brody
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King
Steering the Craft: A 21st Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story by Ursula K. Le Guin
Story Genius: How to Outline Your Novel Using the Secrets of Brain Science by Lisa Cron
Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story by K.M. Weiland
Genre-Specific
Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan
Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction: Create an Authentic and Compelling Story Set in the Past by Emma Darwin
Making Myths and Magic: A Field Guide to Writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy Novels by Shelly Campbell and Allison Alexander
Medieval Underpants and Other Blunders: A Writer’s (& Editor’s) Guide to Keeping Historical Fiction Free of Common Anachronisms, Errors, & Myths by Susanne Alleyn
Putting the Fact in Fantasy: Expert Advice to Bring Authenticity to Your Fantasy Writing edited by Dan Koboldt
Putting the Science in Fiction: Expert Advice for Writing with Authenticity in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Other Genres edited by Dan Koboldt
Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels by Gwen Hayes
Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer
Words for Pictures: The Art and Business of Writing Comics and Graphic Novels by Brian Michael Bendis
Writing & Selling Your Mystery Novel: The Complete Guide to Mystery, Suspense, & Crime by Hallie Ephron
Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner
