We editors have done much research on writing and have come up with this excellent list of craft related books for you. Don’t be intimidated! These books will inspire you to organize, plot, re-plot, dream, and get yourself in that chair to write. So without further ado…
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
Will Write for Shoes by Cathy Yardley
On Writing by Stephen King
Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose by Constance Hale
Still Writing by Dani Shapiro
Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon
Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder
Writing the Other by Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward
Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan
STORY by Robert McKee
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel, by Alexander Chee
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer
Four Screenplays: Studies in the American Screenplay by Syd Field
Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies by Leslie Wainger
The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner
Happy reading, happy writing from Patience and the SYTYCW Team! And if you have your favorite How to Write books for us to read, please leave those titles in the comments below.
19 replies on “Book Recommendations for Writing”
I’ve only read three of these. Amazon 1-click, here I come!
Thanks for the suggestions.
Because a writer can never ever have too many books on writing, I have to add two more:
Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain and
Writing with Emotion, Tension and Conflict by Cheryl St.John.
Best book on writing I ever read — How To Write Historical Fiction by Roberta Gellis. It’s only available in audio format now.
You can never have too many craft books! I love them❤
Thank you so much for the list! I remember seeing this post a while back and couldn’t find it again.
Because they are not on your list but they really helped me with learning about character etc:
Orson Scott Card Character & Viewpoint
Karl Iglesias Writing for Emotional Impact
Brandilynn Collins Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets Actors can teach novellists
23+I guess if the author herself, (who is not some small fish in romance publishing that couldn”t have roughed it through one website giving her a F), admitting she was off this time doesn”t change the minds of people who vehemently disagree with the review grade, then nothing probably will. And perhaps those same individuals might insist that SBTB and commenters here railroaded Kleypas into that declaration. SBTB doesn”t have to same level of influence and power in this situation as Kleypas and her publishing house does. I believe most big authors who received a low grade here are still thriving (e.g., Mary Balogh). Kleypas listened and followed through good for her. SBTB and many commenters here (some of whom are veterans of this type of discussions in romance) stepped up and as an Indian woman, I love how empathetic you all have been. And to those who feel the need to share their “relaxation tips YOU are welcome to sit and relax with your teas and what not and escape into that world. As a non-tea drinker and a mostly “can”t escape even if I want to reader, I”ll keep chugging my coffees and adding my voice these discussions
Great list of books. I have some of them but will have to see about the others. Thanks for your suggestions too, Michelle. I’ll have to look them up also.
Thank you Jason I will surely read that post
I would add “How to Write a Killer Thriller” for the romantic suspense writers.
I’ve read most of these. I also recommend the Writing Excuses podcast. It’s SFF oriented but most if it can be applied to any kind of writing.
Let me add “Writing Fiction for Dummies” by Randy Ingermanson and Peter Economy and “The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing” by the editors of Writer’s Digest. Both have lots of good advice that I’ve implemented.
I would add “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody and “Romancing the Beat” by Gwen Hayes to this list.
2 books by Lisa Cron should definitely be on this list: Wired for Story and Story Genius
Yes! So amazing.
For those of you interested in writing for Harlequin Intrigue or Harlequin Romantic Suspense, check out “The Writer’s Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference for Using Firearms and Knives in Fiction” by Benjamin Sobieck.
Not that weapons are the focus of thriller romances, but it can be a useful reference for proper vocabulary and function.
I recommend the writing thesauruses by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman, especially The Emotion Thesaurus. All of them are helpful in writing.
Anything by Michael Hague!
I’ve read 3 of the books you have mentioned. They have help me in many ways.
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!