14 Books Every Writer Needs on their Shelf

Here is a list of fourteen books on writing every writer needs on their shelf. Some of these books could be used as a reference to solve a specific problem, like “Form the possessive singular of nouns with ‘s.” That answer is on page one of The Elements of Style.

Or maybe you have a dragon called Resistance every time you try and sit down to write and you need to read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Or maybe you need to figure out how to make the reader care about your villain, and you need to read Save The Cat by Blake Snyder.

If you are a writer, you write. Right?

Writers should be writing, but sometimes you need to read and learn from other writers.

14 Books Every Writer Should Read

1. For Fiction

The Modern Library’s Writers Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Stephen Koch

Art is long and life is short. Except for the miraculous times when it doesn’t, everything you write will take longer than you think it should.

 —Stephen Koch

2. For Formatting

The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers from the University of Chicago Press

All the rules you will ever need if you are a writer, editor, or publisher. And in this world of self-publishing, you could be all three.

In the absence of electronic files, the author should provide the publisher with two identical paper copies of the manuscript; one may be a photocopy.

—The University of Chicago Press

3. For Fun

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Words are fun. Life is fun. This book reminds me language is beautiful and words are fun. They rhyme, they dance, and Mr. Brown is out of town.

PAT CAT

Pat sat on cat.

PAT BAT

Pat sat on bat.

—Dr. Seuss

4. For Goal Setting

The Freedom Journal by John Lee Dumas

This will give you a detailed plan to get your book finished. It is one thing to say, “My book will be written at the end of the summer.” But what are you going to do every day to get it finished? Dumas gives you daily action steps to actually finish.

If you don’t put time constraints on your goal, the time to accomplish it will expand indefinitely.

 —John Lee Dumas

5. For Grammar

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

A small little book with rules to help writers with their craft. I carry this book in my messenger bag (I don’t carry a purse) to read while I am waiting in line to buy cat litter, or when I am waiting at the veterinarian’s office. It’s a quick read to help you write better.

Omit needless words.

—William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

6. For Memoir

The Memoir Project by Marion Roach Smith

If you want to write about your life, read this book. Hmmm, now I am sounding bossy. I have read this book three times, not because I didn’t understand it the first time, but because it is so full of good information and fun stories. I read it for pleasure and to learn.

We all have stories to tell. This book will help you write your story so someone will want to read it.

In any decent game of chance, you must be present to win. That’s also true with writing what you know, where paying attention is the skill you need to succeed.

—Marion Roach Smith

7. For Resistance

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

Here is one battle writers need to win: the inner creative battle. The War of Art will give you the weapons to fight and win the battle to create. Don’t waste your life doubting your ability.

If you only have one book on your bookshelf, make it this one. Read the rest of the books at the library and buy this one.

The danger is greatest when the finish line is in sight. At this point, Resistance knows we’re about to beat it. It hits the panic button. It marshals one last assault and slams us with everything it’s got.

—Steven Pressfield

8. For Screenwriting

Save The Cat by Blake Snyder

This book is about screenwriting. However, no matter what you write, you have to be able to tell me what it is about. This book helps you answer two essential story questions.

First, what is the logline for your story?

Second, why do you need to save the cat?

If you can’t tell me about it in one quick line, well, buddy I’m on to something else. Until you have your pitch, and it grabs me, don’t bother with the story.

—Blake Snyder

9. For Self-Doubt

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

This book talks truth with a few cuss words. I almost didn’t buy the book because Sincero said “badass” in the title. However, being a badass means loving yourself and not listening to lies other people tell you about who you are.

Seriously, don’t doubt your greatness. Live an awesome life.

You are perfect. To think anything less is as pointless as a river thinking that it’s got too many curves or that it moves too slowly or that its rapids are too rapid.

―Jen Sincero

10. For Self-Publishing

APE: How to Publish a Book by Guy Kawaski and Shawn Welch

You don’t need permission from anyone to self-publish a book. However, you do need to know how. This book is a complete guide to self-publishing. I have not only read the book, but studied it. We can have total control over what our books look like.

Whitman, for example, self-published (and typeset!) Leaves of Grass. Self-publishing could change from stigma to bragging point—maybe we could change the term to “artisanal publishing” and foster the image of authors lovingly crafting their books with total control over the process.

—Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch

11. For Self-Editing

The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know by Shawn Coyne

When you write, it is important to be able to self-edit. Shawn Coyne, an editor for over twenty-five years, tells you everything he knows in this book and on his podcast, The Story Grid Podcast.

Without an Inciting Incident, nothing meaningful can happen. And when nothing meaningful happens, it’s not a story.

—Shawn Coyne

12. For Story

Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee

Robert McKee’s book Story is about the principles of screenwriting; however, he explains clearly what makes a good story.

Some people have a long bucket list. The only thing on my bucket list, besides driving to Canada to see my mom, is to attend one of Robert McKee’s Story seminars.

A story is a series of acts that build to a last act climax or story climax which brings about absolute and irreversible change.

—Robert McKee

13. For Submitting

The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of The Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman

Lukeman gives very specific information about story submission, from point size to margin width. Don’t give an editor an excuse not to read your story because you didn’t know how to properly submit.

Your creativity should be expressed through your writing, not your font.

—Noah Lukeman

14. For Words

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language edited by William Morris

Words are beautiful, and you can discover their origin and meaning. I know you can find definitions online; however, on a screen you cannot see the words that come before and after the one you are looking up. A dictionary is like a family reunion: the words are all related.

By knowledgeable use of the dictionary we should learn where a word has come from, precisely what its various shades of meaning are today, and its social status. —William Morris

Stop Reading and Write

Reading books on writing can help you write. But no matter how many books you have on your shelf, the only way to get better at writing is to write.

Write is a verb. Go do it.

Source: The Write Practice

Pamela writes stories about art and creativity to help you become the artist you were meant to be. She would love to meet you at ipaintiwrite.com.