What to buy a writer for a Christmas or birthday present? A book, of course!
Books on writing are an easy choice for a gift for writers. Here are some new ones along with perennial favorites.
Books about the Details of Writing
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. & E. B. White. Classic on using the English language well. Often referred to simply as “Strunk & White.”
- Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss. A delightful book on the perils of punctuation.
Books about Getting Published
- Writer’s Market or Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market (Writers Digest Books). Detailed market information, a must for any fiction writer seeking publication.
- 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why It Just Might by Pat Walsh. An editor’s views on what makes a novel publishable or unpublishable. Read a full review here.
Books about Writing Fiction
- Fiction Writer’s Workshop by Josip Novakovich. Discusses the elements of good fiction in a workshop format, with examples and writing exercises in each chapter.
- Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne. How to look at a manuscript draft with a critical eye. Very readable, with plenty of examples and exercises.
- “Elements of Writing Fiction” series (Writer’s Digest Books). Basic how-to series, with each topic written by a different author: Beginnings, Middles & Ends by Nancy Kress; Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card; Plot by Ansen Dibell; Conflict, Action & Suspense by William Noble; Description by Monica Wood; Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham.
- Between the Lines by Jessica Morrell. An insightful book on the subtle techniques of fiction writing. For more experienced writers.
- The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby. Also for experienced writers, script writers and playwrights, an in-depth look at creating compelling, multi-layered stories with complex characters.
- The Glimmer Train Guide to Writing Fiction series, by Susan Burmeister-Brown and Linda Swanson Davies. Volume 1 is Building Blocks, and Volume 2 is Inspiration and Discipline. The series is a collection of the best of the literary magazine’s "Writers Ask" newsletter.
- Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton. In-depth look at story beginnings, what works and what doesn’t.
And for fun, whimsy and thoughtful insights, try Avi’s delightful small book, A Beginning, A Muddle and an End.
Books Specifically about Writing Novels
- Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. Solid advice on writing high-concept stories and larger-than-life characters to lift a novel from midlist to best-seller status.
- How to Grow a Novel by Sol Stein. An editor’s take on writing a book that readers want to read, with examples from his own writing and editorial experiences.
- First Draft in 30 Days and From First Draft to Finished Novel by Karen S. Weisner. The first is a structured program to plan a novel carefully, avoiding time-intensive re-writes. The second book complements the first, but expands on research, layering story elements, and submitting for publication.
Memoirs & the Writing Life
- On Writing by Stephen King. Half autobiography, half how-to; fascinating, motivating, and an eye-opener to the hard work of writing.
- Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Warm and funny advice on life and writing; lessons on craft are shared through her writing and teaching experiences.
- Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. A thought-provoking book about the artist’s life, zen, and writing.
And if a writer wants something other than more books, read Great Gifts for Writers for additional ideas.
Copyright Jennifer Jensen. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Jennifer Jensen - Jennifer Jensen is an Indiana writer just returned from a lovely few years in County Cork, Ireland. She has been the Feature Writer for ...
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