Writers are an interesting bunch. We’re constantly seeking new ideas in all forms of media. So what better way to get inspired than with some of the best books on writing out there? Whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been at this for years, I guarantee that these five books will keep your creative juices flowing and help improve your skills in many ways.
Bird By Bird- Anne Lamott
“Thirty years ago, my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. [It] was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said. ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’”
A must-read for all writers, this book is a witty and insightful guide to getting started in the creative field. It doesn’t maintain any illusions about what it takes to be successful as an author – instead of sugar-coating anything with fluff phrases or telling you how great things will turn out when everyone knows better than that! Instead, Anne Lamott shares her insights from over 20 years of experience, including advice such as “first drafts are for cutting” because they can give clues about good storylines hidden within poor constructions.
Stephen King’s – On Writing: A Memoir of The Craft
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”
Stephen King is a legendary American author who has been writing for over fifty years. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft helps to put into words what it takes to be an aspiring writer by describing events from his life that influenced him and providing insight on how one should approach their craft. For fans of Stephen King and anyone with an appreciation for the art of writing, this book is a must-read.
Lisa Cron- Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)
“We don’t turn to stories to escape reality. We turn to stories to navigate reality.”
Story Genius is a foolproof program that saves writers from wasting hours of their life on a book that goes nowhere. This writing guide reveals how to use cognitive storytelling strategies to build an outline for your rough draft, helping you discover what’s not working. Inspired by Lisa Cron’s insights into story structure through science-based studies – which show us how to craft satisfying scenes and plotlines–this book provides helpful advice about plowing through those pesky details before putting pen (or fingers) anywhere near them.
William Zinsser- On Writing Well
“Decide what you want to do. Then decide to do it. Then do it.”
On Writing Well is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or needs some help getting it done. It has been praised by writers and readers alike because it provides fundamental principles and insights from an experienced writer and the warmth of its style in conversational language that will keep you engaged all day long! You can use this book to write about any topic in the expanding memoir genre.
Betsey Lerner- The Forest For The Trees
“The world doesn’t fully make sense until the writer has secured his version of it on the page. And the act of writing is strangely more lifelike than life.”
The process of writing is often a journey that takes writers on many adventures. In this volume, Betsy Lerner shares her insights to help you find your way through the publishing world and provide guidance for any writer at any stage in their career! From exploring personality types as well as how to best approach new topics or challenges with more experience under one’s belt; there will be something here everyone can benefit from.
I hope this list has given you some inspiration on what to read next. If not, please reach out and let me know which books on writing you’ve found most helpful over the years! Whether you are a first-time writer or an experienced author looking for tips on how to improve your craft, there is surely something here that will help.
Still don’t know where to start? Learn How To Write Your Book Today!
