Top Books for Writers

52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity

© Jeffrey Yamaguchi

The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

Though the tone can be a bit New Agey, The Artist's Way is a practical, hands-on program that helps creative writers and artists unpack the reasons for their creative block and overcome them. Seven years ago, I followed Julia Cameron's program as a student. Returning to it now, I found that my impressions had not changed, and that the process still worked.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Random House

Chicago Manual of Style

The book no editor would be without. It lays down the law with regard to grammar and punctuation -- at least for the book publishing industry -- and spells out the basics in how a manuscript becomes a book.

A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations

Every writer must have a style book on his or her bookshelf. Kate Turabian is tried and true, having helped generations of students and writers.

And for something you can access now, see the Short Story Editing Checklist.

Novel and Short Story Writer's Market

Novel and Short Story Writer's market

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Tricks of the trade from one of the most prolific contemporary writers -- with a refreshingly down-to-earth approach.

Reading Like a Writer

Image courtesy of HarperCollins.

Writers on Writing: Collected Essays from The New York Times

This collection of essays by prominent writers such as Joyce Carol Oates, Barbara Kingsolver, and Rick Bass provides a variety of perspectives on the craft.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

Along with Bird by Bird, Writing Down the Bones is a classic book on creative writing, but with Zen overtones.