Wakeless River Blog

What makes the perfect book about writing? It should be engaging, relevant, and fun to read. It should be packed with tips that are easy to digest, even if you’re not an experienced writer yourself. It should also have the same effect on your writing that you’d get from joining a great writer’s group or working with an editor or coach—it should inspire you to keep improving your craft so that your writing reaches its full potential.

When you aren’t reading for research or for fun or to give someone your opinion on their manuscript, you should read to be a better writer. You’re editor can’t do all the work. We’ve put together a list of 10 books written with making you a better writer in mind.  With these 10 books on your shelf (you should read them first, of course) you’ll be armed with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration as you embark on your writing quest.

Read the list. Then read the books. Then get back to writing because we won’t be held responsible for a dip in your daily word count.

-R.E.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

– Stephen King

Candid advice is going to come from a lot of people once you announce your intentions to write.

Choosing which advice to follow can be tricky.  A literal tome of GOOD advice can be found in Stephen King’s On Writing which gives a look into the process that serves one of the worlds most recognizable writers. This book offers advice that will not only help you to be a better writer, but to feel more like a writer and for a new writer, that can be a large part of the struggle. This advice serves writers who have been at their craft for a while as well.  Many veteran writers note their appreciation for the words and sentiments that King lays out with a conversational and personal approach.

In his book, King discusses many of his struggles with writing and how he eventually came to define what it meant to be a writer. In short, It’s not about making money, getting famous, getting dates. It’s about staying awake, he writes. The scariest moment is always just before you start… jump out of your airplane and pull your ripcord. Your instincts will take over from there. This might be exactly what some people need to hear in order to know they’re on their way—just like King was. We all have our own stories about doubt, obstacles and worries; they’re part of what makes us human beings.

Though we may never put them into words as eloquently as Stephen King has done so in On Writing, perhaps his most valuable point lies within his title: by understanding what writers do or who writers are isn’t important at all—it’s knowing how writers feel that really counts.

The Elements of Style

– William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Rules are rules. Whether you choose to break them or follow them, it is imperative that you first know them.  No one, I think, is more apt to divulge these rules to you than the zealot William Strunk Jr. and his most enthusiastic study E. B. White. This classic book is an editor’s best friend. It covers all areas of writing, including grammar, punctuation and word usage. It also offers advice on how to write clearly and concisely.

The duo share their passion for words in a way only seasoned writers can. It’s hard not to fall in love with literature after reading The Elements of Style.  You can find it in many different versions—everything from a pocket-sized reference guide to full-length editions with plenty of examples—so you can pick one that fits your needs. If you don’t already own a copy, consider buying one today.

This book is for everyone, but I particularly recommend it to new writers. It’s a short and sweet book of advice and rules of thumb for better writing. You can read it in an hour or two and learn a ton. The advice still holds up 80 years after its original publication date. All great writers own a copy of Elements on their shelf, and I think every writer should too.

The Book of Forms

– Lewis Turco

When you first pick up a pen, it’s natural to wonder how your creations stack up against those of seasoned authors. If you’ve ever had trouble finding your style and voice on paper, Lewis Turco’s The Book of Forms will help. It contains six forms — sonnet, haiku, limerick, ballad, pantoum and ghazal — which each feature different rhyme schemes and stanza patterns. By working through each example in order (the book starts with some basic tips on structure), you’ll be able to write some great poems that suit your personal style. After all, no one knows your writing better than you do!

If you want to know how to write poetry, start with studying poetic forms. You can’t just wing it when it comes to crafting great verse—you need something more than inspiration. This book covers prosody—that is, writing in meters and rhyme schemes—as well as all of the most common poetic forms used in English. That’s useful no matter what genre or medium you’re working in. It will give you not only an understanding of how poems are put together but also some practice putting them together yourself. Not sure where to begin? Try building a sonnet or two with these tips on getting started writing poetry.

Zen in the Art of Writing

– Ray Bradbury

While many of us may know Bradbury as a science fiction writer, his nonfiction collection of short essays about writing is inspiring. Whether you’re just beginning to write or have been writing for years, Zen in the Art of Writing will leave you with a renewed sense of excitement and purpose. The amount of knowledge it holds is immense – from great storytelling tips to observations on what it means to be a writer – and once you start reading, it becomes almost impossible to put down. The author focuses primarily on giving helpful tips for writers, such as his Rule No. 12: Don’t cramp your style. Some of

Bradbury’s more unusual writing advice includes: Use your imagination as a tool, not as an escape from reality and Fear and fatigue can’t exist in you if you keep yourself open and alert and flowing with new information. It’s no surprise that Zen in the Art of Writing is considered one of those must-have books for aspiring novelists. Whether or not you’re planning to become a famous writer, it has inspired countless people over decades. Perhaps it will inspire you too!

This book is an interesting mashup of memoir and writing advice. He remembers what it was like to be a young writer, lost in inspiration, but he also gives keen advice about how to write well. While parts are out of date—and I have to admit that when Bradbury says to keep our adverbs dear I cringe just a little bit—the heart of his advice is still incredibly solid. The goal, Bradbury reminds us throughout Zen in the Art of Writing , is to find your voice and express yourself honestly. A great book for both aspiring writers and established ones who can get stuck in a rut or simply feel unhappy with their work.

Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need

– Blake Snyder

This book is a practical manual to story structure and character creation. It’s a must read for any aspiring screenwriter, but you’ll get just as much out of it if you’re writing novels or short stories. Blake Snyder breaks down your screenplay into fifteen different beats and then provides exercises that help you nail each beat. For anyone interested in how to turn an idea into a well-structured, three-act narrative, Save The Cat! should definitely be your reading list.

Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat! is a great book that shows writers how to do something that seems deceptively simple: start their screenplay with a compelling character whose goal is clear. It teaches how to create better stories by following some simple rules, one of which is writing about what you love. You’ll learn everything from A-stories and B-stories, inciting incidents, heroes and heroines, reversals and payoffs, The Bad Guy Always Gets His—and how they apply to scripts for just about any genre out there. Whether you want to write your first feature film or just want some tips on improving your own work, you can definitely benefit from reading Save The Cat!.

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

– William Zinsser

The key to writing well is simple: write a lot and read a lot. But why do so many people still think it’s about adding loads of flavor and spice, metaphors and rhetorical tricks? On Writing Well lays out exactly what to do, why you should do it, and how to do it well. The good news is that good writing isn’t rocket science; it’s much simpler than that. Zinsser presents 10 basic principles for crafting clear, concise prose without sacrificing interesting details or important nuances. Economy means saying more with less—it does not mean uninteresting or vague or uninformative. The only way to be understood is to be yourself—and who else would you rather be than yourself? This book will show you how!

A best-seller on writing nonfiction since 1976, Zinsser’s guide gives a solid introduction to several aspects of professional writing, including argumentation and storytelling. His advice is pertinent for any level of experience. If you need help with practical advice on how to craft a story or build a strong essay structure, get your hands on a copy immediately. Highly recommended for anyone who writes nonfiction professionally.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

– Anne Lamott

In her signature style, Anne Lamott uses Bird by Bird to talk about life, creativity and writing. It is witty, fun and filled with practical advice. This book should be read by anyone who’s ever felt frustrated at their inability to get a story on paper or anyone who struggles with self-doubt when it comes to expressing themselves through writing. How do you find a style? How do you deal with bad reviews? How do you develop courage in your daily life so that you have it when it comes to writing? All these questions are answered in an easygoing but thoughtful manner.

This book is about much more than writing; it’s about life too. If you enjoy her writing (and if you don’t, I can’t help you), then try her novels; she has several great ones that are all semi-autobiographical in nature and always interesting. This particular book is useful to writers at any stage in their career because it provides sound advice on how to get over writer’s block, not take yourself too seriously, and really do your best work when you need to most.

Whether you are a budding author or have been in love with words for years, you will fall in love with Lamott’s work after reading Bird by Bird. With her signature candor and humor, she describes how writing can be personal and can become an extension of who we are and what we believe in. She often takes herself and other writers to task while encouraging us to continue down our path to becoming great writers. This is one of those books that I re-read at least once a year, even though it has been ten years since I first read it; each time I find myself laughing out loud (probably because I share many of her foibles) while appreciating how wonderfully blunt she is about such things as balancing family life with life as an artist.

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

– Austin Kleon

If you’ve always wanted to be a writer but you’re not sure how to go about doing it, Steal Like an Artist is an inspirational guide for artists, writers, musicians and anyone who wants to add creativity to their life. This book encourages artists and makers of all kinds to embrace their influences and make something original from them by adding their own voice, spin and style. It’s a great reminder that we’re all standing on shoulders of giants: without artists who came before us we’d never have known just how incredible art can be. If you’re looking for some motivation or inspiration then Steal Like an Artist is a must-read.

If you want to create something original, your first step is to familiarize yourself with everything else out there. With insights from those who created some of America’s most popular culture, Kleon offers that all creative work builds on what came before. This book shows readers how to approach their work as an artist would, breaking down such skills as observation, persistence, originality and process into concrete, easy-to-implement tactics that will improve your output. Kleon gives good practical tips on finding ideas and inspiration – both his own process of capturing interesting things he sees and hears and examples from other artists – but also writes beautifully about why we do what we do: All creative work is done in service of something greater than itself. When you’re making something new it’s always because there’s something out there that needs to be expressed.

Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction

– Jeff VanderMeer

Some call it magic. We just call it what works. From best-selling author Jeff VanderMeer comes a spectacularly beautiful guide that shows you how to conjure up wondrous stories, characters, and worlds—and captivate your readers for years to come. Through jaw-dropping illustrations, VanderMeer reveals some of fiction’s most closely guarded secrets. He answers questions like: What are quiet scenes? How can I make my narrator funny? Why do I need an inciting incident? Explore these answers—and more—in Wonderbook. Packed with practical tips on writing science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, crime novels—even poetry! Here’s everything you need to know about crafting stories that grab editors’ attention (and get published!). Writing is an art form; let Wonderbook be your muse.

VanderMeer discusses a number of techniques for creating vibrant imagery and characters, as well as his take on worldbuilding, inspiration, and other general writing wisdom. VanderMeer doesn’t hold back in criticizing popular tropes or naming names—the curse of ‘fantasy’ he calls it—and he does so with a self-effacing sense of humor that makes it easy to hear him out. Wonderbook is accessible yet challenging, witty yet sobering, and I’ve probably marked up my copy more than any other book I own (except for maybe Dracula). This is one of those books every writer needs to read at least once: insightful and inspirational even when you disagree with VanderMeer’s criticisms or advice.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

– Natalie Goldberg

Having recently picked up my copy of Writing Down The Bones again, I can say it’s still one of my all-time favorites. It’s so good I even read it during lunch breaks at work! This book provides excellent advice for how to get started writing and keep that motivation going. Natalie writes clearly and enthusiastically about how you don’t need an MFA or anything fancy to write; just get out there and start putting words on paper, wherever you are.  She teaches you how you can write by simply sitting down and doing it.

This is a great book for understanding that writing doesn’t have to be perfect, just let your thoughts flow through your fingertips onto paper. This is definitely one of my favorite books on writing because I don’t believe you have to have a degree or special training in order to be a writer, anyone can do it if they practice everyday. I still use The Freewriting Exercise when I get stuck when trying to figure out how to start my articles, letters, emails etc… The way she breaks down what many consider complex techniques into simple easy steps that anyone can accomplish are exactly what people need in order to get started with writing every day.

The whole attitude of anything worth doing is worth doing badly in your spare time until you can do it better later is something I want to emulate. A great first book for anyone interested in improving their writing skills. Writing Down The Bones is an essential read if you’re serious about freeing your own creativity.

-R.E.