You're going to think I'm stupid, but it took me a while to realize that there were books on writing and that I should read them. Maybe because it's such a lonely occupation that it never crossed my mind.
I started with Anatomy of Story by John Truby (which I highly recommend! You can buy it here). Although it's not the main theme, it helped me create better characters, especially better secondary characters who have a connection with the protagonist while advancing their character arc and the plot.
That's why I wanted to make a list of books on writing that I think are must-reads for every writer!
1. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
This book is fast-paced and witty. With humor, Goldberg encourages writers to "trust their first thoughts" and "keep the hand moving" to bypass the internal critic. It is a collection of short essays that focus on writing without judgment, writing freely.
She also created a companion deck with 60 cards to free the writer within.
2. The Accidental Life by Terry McDonell
Terry McDonell is a legendary editor who has led iconic magazines such as Rolling Stone and Esquire. In this memoir, he pulls back the curtain on his adventures with famous writers and offers practical advice on how to craft and edit great stories.
3. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
- Often cited as the « writer's bible », this book focuses on the emotional struggles of being a writer. Its most famous advice encourages writers to break down massive projects into small, manageable tasks, famously giving them permission to write « shitty first drafts. »
4. The Kite and the String by Alice Mattison
Alice Mattison explores the tension between the "kite" (the creativity) and the "string" (the discipline to actually write the story). It is a practical guide on how to maintain the spark of an idea while doing the hard work of revision.
5. Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale
Constance Hale is a journalist and editor (formerly of Wired) who specializes in making grammar provocative and fun. This is a guide for writers who want to master the rules so they can effectively break them. Hale is showing us how prose can be rhythmic and soulful.
6. Find Your Voice by Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, a landmark in contemporary young adult literature. Structured as a guided journal, this book is aimed at helping writers, especially beginners, uncover their unique perspective. It provides prompts and exercises focused on character development, world-building, and authentically capturing the way people actually speak.
7. Stein on Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies by Sol Stein
Sol Stein was an editor for James Baldwin and Elia Kazan, as well as being a successful novelist and playwright. In this craft book, Stein dives into the mechanics of fiction and non-fiction. He provides specific techniques for heightening tension, improving dialogue, and performing "triage" on a sluggish manuscript.
8. Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins
Brandilyn Collins is a bestselling novelist known for her trademarked "Method Writing" technique. In this book, Collins adapts the techniques of Method Acting (Stanislavsky’s system) for novelists. It teaches writers how to "become" their characters to find deep-seated emotions, distinct mannerisms, and authentic internal arcs.
9. Story Structure Architect: A Writer's Guide to Building Plots, Characters and Complications by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
Dr. Victoria Lynn Schmidt is a scriptwriter and internationally recognized as an expert in story structure and character archetypes. This book is a technical blueprint for plotting. Schmidt outlines dozens of classic story structures, helping authors identify the skeleton of their narrative.
10. How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of Ender’s Game. Here, he focuses on the specific challenges of genre writing: world-building, the rules of magic, and how to establish believable cultures. He also offers advice on the science fiction and fantasy market and how to frame a story for a niche audience.
I hope these books will help you improve your writing and finish that draft for good! If you’re interested in detailed character sheets, I created a 13-page character sheet available digitally or physically.
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