Highly Recommended Books on Writing
This is a compilation of some of the best books on writing. Not only are they well written, but they have helped thousands of people on their writing journey. All of these books will make you a better writer. Or at the very least, a better reader. Enjoy!
*Note – all the links below are Affiliate Links. But I’m sharing these books with you because they’re actually useful. I only ever promote products that are high quality and worth the investment.
1. The Anatomy of Story, by John Truby
“The foundations of story that Truby lays out are so fundamental they are applicable–and essential–to all writers, from novelists and short-story writers to journalists, memoirists, and writers of narrative non-fiction.”
Goodreads.com
The quote above really sums it up: if you’re a writer, you need this book. I stumbled upon this in my local library and immediately went home to purchase a copy. Best investment ever. Truby has created a masterpiece with this work. You can literally only read this one book and still have all the tools you need to write successfully.
2. Yes You Do Have Time!, by James Butch Tanner
“Yes, You Do Have Time! offers two great finds. First, discovering time you didn’t think you possessed. Second, giving you practical ways to use those moments to positively impact your life.”
Amazon Product Summary
I love this book. It seriously changed how I live my life. It’s very short, about an hour to read, and FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Tanner presents an extremely clear and concise way to find (not make) time for your dreams. He provides all the tools you need to identify and utilize the time you didn’t even know you had.
3. How to Write Your Book: Guaranteed!, by Thomas Williams
This book is not the best book in the world. Williams comes across as condescending and pretentious. The book has several formating and technical errors. However, Williams has some really great ideas for organizing and writing books of any kind. His system and methods are brilliant and that’s why I recommend this book. It’s a short read – I read slow and still managed to finish this in one day.
4. On Writing, by Stephen King
“…[T]his superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have.”
Goodreads.com
Ok, who doesn’t have at least one Stephen King book in their library? Love him or hate him, he’s a brilliant author and this book is no exception. He details his writing process and the experiences that shaped his craft. This book is both interesting and educational. In addition to telling yet another great story, King provides very useful information for writers new and old.
5. Jeff Goins’ You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)
“You are a writer; you just need to write.”
Jeff Goins
This book is 100% free on Kindle Unlimited. It is an excellent motivational source for any writer suffering from imposter syndrome. Goins has a passion for writing and it is contagious. He also gives some great advice on becoming a writer. If you are just starting out, or struggling with your craft, and you need some direction, check this book out. You won’t regret it.
6. Kindle Unlimited
I wasn’t sure whether to include this with my websites for writers, or here. Since it’s direct access to books, it ended up here. Every reader should have Kindle Unlimited. It’s the gateway to literally thousands of free books. Many others are a mere $1.99 or less.
It’s also one of the ways you can help support our fellow writers. Many of them have their books for FREE and are simply looking for reviews. I do reviews whenever I can because it boosts the book’s ranking with Amazon’s algorithm (even bad reviews help boost ranks).
Plus, Prime members get early access to a unique selection of new releases before they’re out. You get to download and keep one for free on the first of every month. Who doesn’t love free books? If you don’t have Kindle Unlimited, click here to get started.
Even more amazing is Audible. I literally use Audible every single day. Try it now for free:
7. Zen in the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury
“You grow ravenous […] run fevers, [and] know exhilarations. You can’t sleep at night, because your beast-creature ideas want out and turn you in your bed. It is a grand way to live.”
-Ray Bradbury
Zen in the Art of Writing changed my life. It’s perhaps one of the best books on writing you will ever read. This was *the* book for. I wanted to be a writer for a very long time. But it wasn’t until I picked up this book that I finally said, “Yes, he gets me. This is what I was meant to do.” It’s a short read. Zen is very similar to King’s “On Writing.” It’s part memoir, part instruction manual, part ramblings of a madman. I adore this book, and I think you will too.
8. Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder
The Original Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting That You’ll Ever Need
The Novel Writer’s Version of Save the Cat
Save the Cat Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter’s Guide to Every Story Ever Told
Save the Cat Goes to the Indies: The Screenwriters Guide to 50 Films from the Masters
Save the Cat Strikes Back: More Trouble for Screenwriters to Get Into… And Out of
You might be thinking, “What the heck with all the books?” Ok, yes there’s a lot. I didn’t want to exclude any writer genre. But there’s even more than this. Why? Because this technique is amazing and it works. It’s simple to follow, easy to understand, and effortless to put into practice. Read this book now and save yourself a lot of headaches.
Drop on by the Save the Cat website for even more tips, tricks, and ideas!
Check out my Pinterest Board for more amazing books-
Want more writerly advice, freebies, and printables? Head on over InkWell Spills’ Resource Vault for all the good stuff.
Do you have any books on writing you love? Please share with me!
Note: This page may contain affiliate links for which, if an item is purchased, I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you. I only ever post links for products that I have used, found helpful, and loved. Thank you for supporting my writing journey so I can continue to help you on yours!
