Top-tier Reads for Scribes in the Year 2025
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Ever wondered how to transform your writing skills and craft compelling stories? Sit back, relax, and dive into this treasure trove of books about writing - the perfect guide to help you on your journey. These highly praised books offer a blend of practical tips, inspiration, and insider knowledge, all designed to elevate your writing to new heights.
Although I've earned a reputation as a natural wordsmith, I discovered the transformative power of books about writing a few years ago. Let me tell you, it absolutely changed the game for both my writing and my overall life. After all, who doesn't love relentlessly learning and bettering themselves?
This list of must-read books about writing may not catapult you into stardom overnight, but reading each of them will undoubtedly help you grow into a better writer.
(Curious about finding the best gifts for writers? You can find that post right here)
I proudly flaunt my innate writing talent, which has been praised across my lifetime. However, it's one thing to have a knack for arranging words, and another to create captivating stories that captivate hearts and minds. If you're seeking to create something truly remarkable, you'll need to grasp the fundamentals of writing and learn how to refine your work to make it even better.
There's no all-encompassing book that teaches everything about crafting a novel. The world of writing is far too vast for any single book to claim expert status. That's why it's crucial to draw knowledge from numerous sources and resist relying on a single resource as the ultimate gospel of fiction writing, no matter how valuable it might appear.
So, now that you understand why reading about writing is essential, check out these books I've found extremely helpful in honing my beloved craft. Even as I churn out my fourth novel, I still find myself returning to many of these books for fresh insights.
Essential Qualities of a Good Book
The first author whose works about writing craft I ever purchased was Donald Maass. His books, "Writing the Breakout Novel" and its accompanying "Workbook," are packed with actionable tips that have the power to turn your novel from merely decent to adored by readers. Maass meticulously analyzes various elements in breakout novels and reveals precisely what makes them so captivating. You might stumble upon books that you wouldn't typically read, but they are worth studying nonetheless.
Maass also penned another fantastic book titled "Writing 21st Century Fiction": High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling. While classics undeniably hold their own weight in literary circles, the modern reader seeks something altogether different. This book shows you precisely what they're looking for and comes with a wealth of actionable ideas that can be applied to your work-in-progress. This book was a game-changer for me, teaching me the secrets of seamlessly infusing genuine emotions into my writing.
Sol Stein's "Stein on Writing" is another exceptional book by a writer who shares genuinely useful tips on enhancing your manuscript by identifying common issues and guiding you on how to tackle them. In particular, I was particularly impressed by the sections covering writing dialogue, which genuinely helped me in crafting "What Birds Are Made Of."
Mastering Story Structure and Crafting Scenes
Many aspiring authors protest against story structure, yet fail to recognize its importance. If you harbor doubts about the necessity of structure, you might not truly understand it yet, and you could undoubtedly benefit from additional learning. Another craft book won't transform your writing into a carbon copy of someone else's; your unique voice will always shine through.
Simply put, story structure is the framework that allows authors to create engaging stories that resonate with readers time and time again. K.M. Weiland, author of "Structuring Your Story," puts it perfectly: "If there's just one thing that matters to your success as a writer, it's story structure." To help you get started, Weiland offers a set of books that can be conveniently purchased together as the "Structuring Your Story Boxset."
John Trudys' "Anatomy of Story" delves deeper into structure, offering a non-formulaic approach and numerous examples from classic films that might become tedious if you aren't familiar with them. Jessie Brody's "Save the Cat! Writes a Novel" is a favorite among writers, and with good reason. This book lays out the necessary plot points required to craft a captivating story and teaches you how to make them work for various genres. I've never excelled at developing my story plots, typically starting from a character I find intriguing or a unique vibe. This book was a real game-changer, erasing the very concept of writer's block from my vocabulary.
Jack M. Bickham's "Scene & Structure" is a book that I haven't yet finished, but it provides invaluable insights into crafting scenes in your novels. As with some of Bickham's advice, take what resonates with you and discard the rest if it doesn't align with your vision of scene structure.
Must-Read Books for Novices and Seasoned Authors
Creating a compelling story is more than just good writing; it's a skill that can be honed through practice and learning. Fortuntely, there are authors who have dissect stories and written books about their discoveries. Matt Bird's "The Secrets of Story" shares tips on how to craft stories that captivate readers, addressing various aspects of your book, including tone and dialogue.
The book "Wired for Story" takes a scientific approach, examining what it is about stories that captivate us and why they're so crucial to our existence. Understanding reader's expectations and preferences can aid in plotting, as it offers insight into the logical progression of events, which is vital in overcoming writer's block.
Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft is a book with a fancy title but is surprisingly accessible. It covers various aspects of storytelling, and I've found myself jotting down plenty of notes while reading it. Writing the Intimate Character by Jordan Rosenfeld has been critical in helping me grasp the complexities of different points of view commonly used in fiction. This book covers an array of helpful topics that you might not intuitively get right, even if you're an avid reader, making it an excellent resource for any author.
The Indispensable Resources for Crafting Dialogue
While Sol Stein's "Stein on Writing" provided valuable insights into dialogue, James Scott Bell's "How to Write Dazzling Dialogue" was also a helpful resource during the drafting phase of one of my novels.
Ginger Hanson's "She Sat He Stood" offers a wealth of ideas for having your characters interact with their environment while they converse, enriching your writing and making it more dynamic.
Planning and Outlining Your Novel
You might believe that creating a book outline robs the joy of exploring your story, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Outlining your novel allows you to discover your story as you're plotting it, and, best of all, it eliminates writer's block. While there isn't a single method for outlining your novel, here are some books that can help you find the perfect approach for you:
- Outlining Your Novel by K.M. Weiland
- Plot Gardening by Chris Fox
- Book Architecture by Stuart Horwitz
- How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson
Remember, the key is to explore different methods until you find one that works for you. Your writing techniques and preferences are as unique as your DNA, so be open-minded and don't discard a resource simply because it didn't resonate with you on the first try.
K.M. Weiland's books are an exceptional place to start, as they are highly accessible and brimming with free resources on her website, which has been my go-to source for planning new stories.
- As a beginner writer, strengthen your writing skills and craft captivating stories by reading books like Donald Maass's "Writing the Breakout Novel" and its companion "Workbook," which are filled with practical tips for elevating your writing.
- For those looking to refine their novel structure, consider K.M. Weiland's "Structuring Your Story" or John Trudys' "Anatomy of Story," both of which offer effective strategies for crafting engaging and resonant stories.
- Those seeking books on the craft of writing dialogue might find Sol Stein's "Stein on Writing" and James Scott Bell's "How to Write Dazzling Dialogue" to be indispensable resources.
- If you're a writer or an avid reader looking for a scientific approach to understanding storytelling and its role in our lives, you might enjoy "The Wired for Story" by Lisa Cron. For writers seeking guidance on developing their point of view, consider Jordan Rosenfeld's "Writing the Intimate Character."
