As a writer, you’re an eternal learner. You’re always hoping to find some valuable resources that can further help you master your craft. Many writers ask me for book recommendations and tools they can peruse. Here, I’m sharing some of the best tools, tips, books, websites and other resources that have helped me and numerous other writers over the course of several years. Use this list wisely. If you were looking for an impetus to your learning process, this is it.
This list is a compilation of my personal recommendations as well as those from other writers from across the globe, whom I have met through writing courses, groups and workshops. The items listed are not in any order of preference.
Contribute: I invite you to add to this list. Please share titles of books you’ve read (specifically on writing, language, style, grammar, or creativity), websites, useful tools, constructive tips or suggestions you have that have enhanced your writing process. Let this be a go-to learning resource for anyone stuck on the blank page!
I’ll keep updating this list as and when I find newer gems.
Happy writing!
Books:
- On Writing, by Stephen King
- The Elements of Style, by E. B. White and William Strunk Jr.
- On Writing Well, by William Zinsser
- Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
- The Paris Review Interviews, Volumes 1 to 4
- This Year You Write Your Novel, by Walter Mosley
- Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg
- The Spooky Art, by Norman Mailer
- The Prime of Life, by Simone de Beauvoir
- What is Literature?, by Jean-Paul Sartre
- The Art of Fiction, by John Gardner
- Steering the Craft, by Ursula K. Le Guin
- The Art of X-ray Reading, by Roy Peter Clark
- Writing Well, by Donald Hall
- The 3 A.M. Epiphany, by Brian Kitele
- The 4 A.M. Breakthrough, by Brian Kiteley
- Story, by Robert McKee
- Aspects of the Novel, by E M Forster
- The Art of Fiction, by David Lodge
- How Not to Write a Novel, by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman
- Lectures on Literature, by Vladimir Nabokov (Russian and European)
- Writing, by Marguerite Dura
- The Simple Art of Murder, by Raymond Chandler (Essay)
- Zen in the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury
- Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction, by Patricia Highsmith
- You Must Be This Tall to Ride, by B J Hollars
- The Art of Memoir, by Mary Karr
- Writing Tools, by Roy Peter Clark
- The Writing Life, by The Washington Post
- Writers on Writing, essays by The New York Times
Websites:
Articles:
- http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/150-writing-resources/
- https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-dialogue-7-steps/
- https://letswriteashortstory.com/short-story-ideas/
Software:
- Scrivener by Literature and Latte
- Scapple by Literature and Latte
- Dramatica Pro by Write Brothers
- Outline 4D by Write Brothers
- Screenwriter by Write Brothers
- Scribophile by Scribophile
Style and Citation Guides:
- American Psychological Association (APA) Style
- Associated Press (AP) Style
- Modern Language Association (MLA) Style
- The Chicago Manual of Style
- The Turabian Citation Quick Guide
Share your opinion.