I love craft books. I collect them. I love reading different philosophies on writing craft. I also find them very inspirational. When I’m developing a new story, I’ve got John Truby’s 22 Steps in hand. When I’m revising for word choice, I review Mary Oliver’s Poetry Handbook. When I’m looking at story construction, Robert McKee is whispering in the back of my mind. There’s a craft book to help you with everything!

Slowly, I’ve been amassing a master list of my favorite craft books. You’ll find it below in it’s current form. I also promise to update the list as new craft gems cross my desk. In the meantime … happy crafting everyone! Books are listed alphabetically (not by preference) in each section.

Generally Awesome (On Writing Fiction):

• From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction by Robert Olen Butler
• Aspects Of The Novel by E.M. Forster
• The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby
• Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway
• The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers by John Gardner

Inspiration:

• Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayels and Ted Orland
• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lammot

If You’re New To Writing:

• What’s Your Story? by Marion Dane Bauer
• Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly by Gail Carson Levine
• The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb

If You’re Looking For More Advanced Books on Writing Craft:

• Alone With All That Could Happen: Rethinking Conventional Wisdom about the Craft of Fiction by David Jauss
• Words Overflown By Stars: Creative Writing Instruction And Insight From The Vermont College MFA Program Edited by David Jauss

Plot, Story Structure, and Screenwriting:

• The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson
  
• Screenwriting: The Sequence Approach by Paul Guilino
• Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
• Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder
• The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joeseph Campbell
• The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler

Character Development:

• How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell
• Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets A Novelist Can Learn From Actors by Brandilyn Colllins
• Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen

Poetry and Language Development:

• A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver
• Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose
• The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman

Editing and Revision:

• Second Sight: An Editor’s Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults by Cheryl B. Klein
• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King
• Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Mass

Creativity and Imagination:

• Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• Imagine: How Creativity Works by John Lehrer

Creating Good Habits:

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen Covey
• The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) by Hal Elrod
• Making a Literary Life: Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers by Carolyn See
• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp

Writing Romance:

• Writing New Adult Fiction by Deborah Halverson
• Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit
• On Writing Romance: How to Craft a Novel That Sells by Leigh Michaels

Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction:

• Writing Monsters: How to Craft Believably Terrifying Creatures to Enhance Your Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction by Philip Athans
• How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
• Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction: How to Create Out-of-This-World Novels and Short Stories by Orson Scott Card, Philip Athans, and Jay Lake
• World-Building (Science Fiction Writing) by Stephen L. Gillett
• Storyworld First: Creating a Unique Fantasy World for Your Novel by Jill Williamson
• The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference by Writer’s Digest

Writing For Children and Young Adults:

• Second Sight: An Editor’s Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults By Cheryl B. Klein
• Writing Irresistible Kidlit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers by Mary Kole
• The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb
• Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books by Uri Shulevitz
• Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Anne Whitford Paul

Writing Fight Scenes:

• Writing Fight Scenes by Rayne Hall
• The Writer’s Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference for Using Firearms and Knives in Fiction by Benjamin Sobieck

Book Marketing and Self Publishing:

• Book Launch: How to Write, Market & Publish Your First Bestseller in Three Months By Chandler Bolt
• Build Your Author Platform: The New Rules: A Literary Agent’s Guide to Growing Your Audience in 14 Steps by Carol Jelen and Michael McCallister
• What To Do Before Your Book Launch by M.J. Rose and Randy Susan Meyers
• Reader Magnets: Build Your Author Platform and Sell more Books on Kindle By Nick Stephenson

What are your favorite writing craft books? Please share them in the comments!

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Tags: Craft Books