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7 books that should be on every writer’s bookshelf

Seven books that have served writers for years, helping them refine their art. These concise powerhouses of information provide much needed advice on pre-writing, writing and post-writing. That is why they are a must on every writer’s bookshelf.

1. How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James. N. Frey

This popular book for fiction writing has good advice for beginner writers, especially those writing their first novel. It helps them with plot, POV, dialogue, narration, editing. I had read it a few years back and found it useful.

Book review by Mike Klaassen

How to Write a Damn Good Novel includes the following chapters:

Chapters: 1. What it’s all about is “Who”

2. The Three Greatest Rules of Dramatic Writing: Conflict! Conflict! Conflict!

3. The Tyranny of the Premise, or, writing a story without a premise is like rowing a boat without oars

4. The ABC’s of storytelling

5. Rising to the climax, or, the proof of the pudding is in the premise

6. Viewpoint, point of view, flashbacking, and some nifty gadgets in the novelist’s bag of tricks

7. The fine art of great dialogue and sensuous, dramatic prose

8. Rewriting: the final agonies

9. The zen of novel writing

2. Oxford Essential Guide to Writing by Thomas S. Kane

This must-have book on writing helps you with both fiction and non-fiction writing. From style, plot, subject, narration, POV, tone, language, description to planning, organizing and laying down the strategy; the book has all the arms that should be in a writer’s arsenal.

Book review by Joy Cagil

Oxford Essential Guide to Writing includes the following broad topics:

Part I: The writing process

Part II. The essay

Part III. The expository paragraph

Part IV. The sentence

Part V. Diction

Part VI. Description and narration

Part VII. Punctuation

3. The Elements of Style, Fourth edition by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White

This book is the most widely cited book on writing. It is handy and gives precise information. It includes useful tips American usage, essential rules of grammar along with some great advice on what makes good fiction.

Book review of by Carla

The Elements of Style has the following chapters:

I. Elementary rules of usage

II. Elementary rules of composition

III. A few matters of form

IV. Words and expression commonly misused

V. An approach to style

4. Handbook of Literary Terms: Literature, Language, Theory (2^nd edition) by X. J. Kennedy, Dana Gioia, Mark Bauerlein

This book has a wonderful collection of literary terms. They are arranged alphabetically with cross-references, pronunciation guides and explanations. It includes figures of speech. A must for every beginner.

5. Self-Publishing Manual: How to write, print and sell your own book (16^th edition) by Dan Poynter

Another must-have on your bookshelf. This excellent book helps you know about publishing and promotion, which are so essential for a fiction writer. Even if you do not plan to self-publish, getting information about it will give a peep into how the publishing industry works.

Book review by Mr. Cheap

Self-publishing Manual: How to write, print and sell your own book includes the following chapters:

1. Your publishing options
2. Writing your book
3. Starting your own publishing company
4. Producing your own book
5. Announcing your book
6. What is your book worth?
7. Promoting your book
8. Who will buy your book?
9. Advertising your book
10. Fulfillment
11. Electronic book publishing and promoting
12. Coping with being published

6. How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren

Originally published in 1940, How to Read a Book has reached the status of a living classic today. In 1972, it was revised by Charles Van Doren. This delightful guide to reading focuses on how to extract the best out of every book. It includes recommended reading list and reading tests.

Book review by Julia Evans

How to Read a Book has the following chapters:

Part I. The Dimension of Reading

1. The activity and art of reading
2. The levels of reading
3. The first level of reading: Elementary reading
4. The second level of reading: Inspectional reading
5. How to be a demanding reader

Part II. The Third Level of Reading: Analytical Reading

1. Pigeonholing a book
2. X-raying a book
3. Coming to terms with an author
4. Determining an author’s message
5. Criticizing a book fairly
6. Agreeing or disagreeing with an author
7. Aids to reading

Part III. Approaches to Different Kinds of Reading Matter

1. How to read practical books
2. How to read imaginative literature
3. Suggestions for reading stories, plays and poems
4. How to read history
5. How to read science and mathematics
6. How to read philosophy
7. How to read social science

Part IV. The Ultimate Goals of Reading

1. The fourth level of reading: Syntopical reading
2. Reading and growth of the mind

7. Plot & Structure: Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish by James Scott Bell

Every fiction writer knows the importance of plot. It is the road on which you drive your story. This book tells you what is a plot, how you can develop it and what you can accomplish with it.

Book review by Mike Klaassen

Plot and structure includes chapters on:

• What is a plot, anyway?
• Structure: What holds your plot together?
• How to explode with plot ideas
• Beginning strong
• Middle
• Endings
• Scenes
• Complex plots
• The character arc in plot
• Plotting systems
• Revising your plot
• Plot patterns
• Common plot problems and cures
• Tips and tools for plot and structure