Top 10 Books About Writing That Will Improve Your Craft
Struggling to find the right words or build amazing narratives? You're not alone.
Just like any journey, your path towards becoming a better writer could be made easier with the support of some expert advice. By learning the ins and outs of grammar, storytelling, creativity and more from the masters of the craft, you'll build your own skills and find new ways to overcome blocks.
The good news? Most writers are word people, which means that there are countless books out there on how to improve your writing.
Writing Craft Books Are a Private, On-Call Mentor
Maybe you need a few reasons to crack open a craft book. Isn’t the best practice for becoming a writer the act of writing itself?
Yes, but craft books offer a fast track to a lot of hard earned lessons. First and foremost: craft books will help you get a grip on the basic building blocks of becoming a good writer.
For example, writing books often offer sage advice on various kinds of writing routines. With so many models, you can pick and choose what works for you. This is a huge benefit to the novice writer: creating consistency in your writing will help you integrate it into your daily practice, give you the motivation to overcome internal resistance, and create a sustainable habit that helps you regularly get the stories out of your head and onto paper.
Books about writing can also be a great way to unveil your unique voice. Every writer has a specific style to their writing, and advice from the professionals is no different. Many craft books will offer advice on how to find style, play around at the line level, and discover your true self in your writing. These are hard fought lessons—thank goodness someone has already gone through the process and can offer their insight.
Best of all, books about writing allow you to gather new information on your own time. This offers a huge amount of flexibility for the busy scribe.
What Are The Best Books About Writing?
To help you find the right resources we've chosen ten books that we believe represent diverse writing styles and author backgrounds. Each one has something unique to offer, no matter what kind of writer you are.
As you turn the pages of Stephen King's book or finish Ursula K. Le Guin's treatise on the craft, you'll start to see how each writer moulds their language, word choices, and pacing to fit their own preference. With these examples in mind, you'll be able to start exploring what your voice sounds like.
Here are the top ten books about writing that we love for relighting your creative spark, generating new ideas, and remembering why you started writing in the first place.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Stephen King’s On Writing is a treasure trove of insights. This book blends personal memoir with practical advice, providing a detailed look at King's own creative process. It's filled with tips on everything from grammar to narrative structure, making it an essential read from one of today's most prolific (and successful) authors.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird is a classic guide that’s as funny as it is deeply insightful. Lamott shares her thoughts on the writing process and the writer’s life with honesty and wit. This book is perfect if you're an aspiring writer who needs practical advice and a bit of encouragement to keep moving forward in your creative writing journey.
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
In The Writing Life, Annie Dillard provides a poetic and profound look at the ways a writer's life can feel solitary and challenging. Her reflections on the creative process are both inspiring and thought-provoking, and Dillard offers a valuable perspective for anyone serious about pursuing writing as a craft and a calling.
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones combines writing practice with mindfulness, which can be a great way to explore the inner thoughts and emotions that will help you build your next story. This book is a fantastic resource if you're ready to get more connected to your creative life and unlock your authentic writing voice through practical exercises and meditative techniques.
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
The Elements of Style is a timeless resource in the way that only the author of Winnie the Pooh could make it. This guide covers the fundamentals of English grammar and composition through clear, straightforward rules for effective writing. It's a great place to start when you're looking to polish your prose and write clear, compelling stories.
Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin’s Steering the Craft provides a detailed exploration of the elements of fiction. As the original queen of dragons, Le Guin offers exercises and examples to help you improve your narrative techniques and understand the mechanics of storytelling. This book is particularly useful if you're interested in writing short stories or novels, and are looking to refine your line level prose as well as your storytelling.
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing is a collection of essays that celebrate the joy and passion of writing. Bradbury’s enthusiasm is infectious, and his insights into the creative process will inspire you to embrace your imaginative powers. This book is perfect for finding motivation, digging into the joy of writing, and discovering inspiration all around you.
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a comprehensive program designed to unlock your creativity and overcome writing blocks. Cameron’s method involves daily writing exercises, known as Morning Pages, and weekly activities that nurture your creative spirit. This book is a valuable tool for building or enhancing your creative writing practice and developing a more consistent writing routine.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need by Jessica Brody
Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel adapts Blake Snyder’s screenwriting principles for novelists. This book offers a structured approach to plotting and structuring a novel, making it an excellent resource if you're one of the many writers who struggle with story development. Brody’s step-by-step guide is an amazing way to start writing fiction with strong, engaging narratives.
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art tackles the mental and emotional challenges that writers face. Pressfield introduces the concept of Resistance, the internal force that gets in the way of your best creative work, and offers strategies to overcome it. This book is the essential way to build your discipline and mindset so that your writing schedule feels doable.
There are so many writing craft books out there
Writing is a continuous learning process. The books that we have shared here aren't the only ones out there. However, they do a great job of introducing different techniques, styles, and approaches to storytelling.
But keep searching. When you allow yourself to explore a diverse range of perspectives, you can expand your creative horizons. Le Guin’s narrative techniques, Bradbury’s enthusiasm, and Brody’s plotting strategies all offer valuable lessons that can elevate your writing, but this is just the beginning.
In other words, make the time to do more than just write. Seek out resources that are not only helpful and useful, but also genuinely enjoyable to read at the same time. Embrace the lessons you find, try out new ways of approaching your writing, and watch your skills flourish. Go pick up a book now and let us know what secrets you unlock.