Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book

Writing Books

Showing 1-50 of 61,070
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (Mass Market Paperback)
by (shelved 7710 times as writing)
avg rating 4.34 — 328,037 ratings — published 2000
Rate this book
Clear rating
Bird by Bird Bird by Bird (Paperback)
by (shelved 5765 times as writing)
avg rating 4.24 — 115,182 ratings — published 1994
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Elements of Style The Elements of Style (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4596 times as writing)
avg rating 4.18 — 88,451 ratings — published 1918
Rate this book
Clear rating
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (Paperback)
by (shelved 3470 times as writing)
avg rating 4.24 — 31,679 ratings — published 1976
Rate this book
Clear rating
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Paperback)
by (shelved 2771 times as writing)
avg rating 4.21 — 32,455 ratings — published 1986
Rate this book
Clear rating
Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You (Mass Market Paperback)
by (shelved 2173 times as writing)
avg rating 4.08 — 21,998 ratings — published 1973
Rate this book
Clear rating
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1574 times as writing)
avg rating 4.27 — 18,063 ratings — published 1997
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Writing Life: The Classic Essay Collection on the Creative Process The Writing Life: The Classic Essay Collection on the Creative Process (Paperback)
by (shelved 1469 times as writing)
avg rating 3.98 — 18,802 ratings — published 1989
Rate this book
Clear rating
The War of Art The War of Art (Paperback)
by (shelved 1452 times as writing)
avg rating 3.96 — 124,044 ratings — published 2002
Rate this book
Clear rating
Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them (Paperback)
by (shelved 1417 times as writing)
avg rating 3.78 — 12,159 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
Clear rating
Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need (Paperback)
by (shelved 1407 times as writing)
avg rating 4.01 — 22,877 ratings — published 2005
Rate this book
Clear rating
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1396 times as writing)
avg rating 4.20 — 5,991 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
Clear rating
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print (Paperback)
by (shelved 1363 times as writing)
avg rating 4.25 — 7,267 ratings — published 1993
Rate this book
Clear rating
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel Save the Cat! Writes a Novel (Paperback)
by (shelved 1354 times as writing)
avg rating 4.49 — 14,677 ratings — published 2018
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (Paperback)
by (shelved 1352 times as writing)
avg rating 3.96 — 124,739 ratings — published 2002
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1352 times as writing)
avg rating 4.25 — 7,462 ratings — published 2007
Rate this book
Clear rating
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1340 times as writing)
avg rating 3.87 — 106,966 ratings — published 2003
Rate this book
Clear rating
Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew (Paperback)
by (shelved 1323 times as writing)
avg rating 4.25 — 6,623 ratings — published 1998
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (Paperback)
by (shelved 1225 times as writing)
avg rating 4.10 — 10,550 ratings — published 1992
Rate this book
Clear rating
Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish (Paperback)
by (shelved 1179 times as writing)
avg rating 4.11 — 6,019 ratings — published 2004
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century (Hardcover)
by (shelved 1164 times as writing)
avg rating 4.04 — 9,403 ratings — published 2014
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression (Writers Helping Writers, #1) The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression (Writers Helping Writers, #1)
by (shelved 1128 times as writing)
avg rating 4.53 — 6,454 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere) Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)
by (shelved 1113 times as writing)
avg rating 4.18 — 6,838 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence (Paperback)
by (shelved 1009 times as writing)
avg rating 4.20 — 5,719 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (Hardcover)
by (shelved 945 times as writing)
avg rating 3.96 — 241,244 ratings — published 2015
Rate this book
Clear rating
No Plot? No Problem! No Plot? No Problem! (Paperback)
by (shelved 927 times as writing)
avg rating 3.83 — 7,315 ratings — published 2004
Rate this book
Clear rating
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 875 times as writing)
avg rating 4.53 — 27,496 ratings — published 2021
Rate this book
Clear rating
Stein on Writing Stein on Writing (Paperback)
by (shelved 874 times as writing)
avg rating 4.28 — 4,868 ratings — published 1995
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers (Paperback)
by (shelved 857 times as writing)
avg rating 3.99 — 6,393 ratings — published 1984
Rate this book
Clear rating
If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit (Paperback)
by (shelved 823 times as writing)
avg rating 4.12 — 8,742 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Outlining Your Novel (Helping Writers Become Authors, #1) Outlining Your Novel (Helping Writers Become Authors, #1)
by (shelved 802 times as writing)
avg rating 4.12 — 4,906 ratings — published 2011
Rate this book
Clear rating
Characters & Viewpoint Characters & Viewpoint (Paperback)
by (shelved 763 times as writing)
avg rating 4.04 — 4,743 ratings — published 1988
Rate this book
Clear rating
Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 759 times as writing)
avg rating 4.31 — 3,789 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Paperback)
by (shelved 700 times as writing)
avg rating 3.97 — 352,490 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Becoming a Writer Becoming a Writer (Paperback)
by (shelved 700 times as writing)
avg rating 4.00 — 6,393 ratings — published 1934
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Hero with a Thousand Faces The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Paperback)
by (shelved 690 times as writing)
avg rating 4.12 — 46,315 ratings — published 1949
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface (Paperback)
by (shelved 689 times as writing)
avg rating 4.25 — 3,195 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction (Paperback)
by (shelved 680 times as writing)
avg rating 4.32 — 4,325 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
Writing the Breakout Novel: Insider Advice for Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level Writing the Breakout Novel: Insider Advice for Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level (Paperback)
by (shelved 679 times as writing)
avg rating 4.08 — 4,107 ratings — published 2001
Rate this book
Clear rating
Story Engineering Story Engineering (Paperback)
by (shelved 670 times as writing)
avg rating 4.09 — 3,336 ratings — published 2011
Rate this book
Clear rating
On Writing On Writing (Paperback)
by (shelved 657 times as writing)
avg rating 4.02 — 4,952 ratings — published 1984
Rate this book
Clear rating
How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy (Paperback)
by (shelved 653 times as writing)
avg rating 3.91 — 4,930 ratings — published 1990
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation Into the Writing Life The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation Into the Writing Life (Paperback)
by (shelved 645 times as writing)
avg rating 4.07 — 6,469 ratings — published 1998
Rate this book
Clear rating
Letters to a Young Poet Letters to a Young Poet (Paperback)
by (shelved 625 times as writing)
avg rating 4.26 — 134,063 ratings — published 1929
Rate this book
Clear rating
Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story (Paperback)
by (shelved 625 times as writing)
avg rating 4.33 — 3,545 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
Several Short Sentences About Writing Several Short Sentences About Writing (Hardcover)
by (shelved 611 times as writing)
avg rating 4.13 — 3,735 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life (Paperback)
by (shelved 611 times as writing)
avg rating 4.14 — 6,609 ratings — published 1990
Rate this book
Clear rating
Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process (Hardcover)
by (shelved 600 times as writing)
avg rating 4.09 — 4,486 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
A Room of One’s Own A Room of One’s Own (Paperback)
by (shelved 590 times as writing)
avg rating 4.22 — 281,922 ratings — published 1929
Rate this book
Clear rating
Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (Paperback)
by (shelved 588 times as writing)
avg rating 4.10 — 4,062 ratings — published 1987
Rate this book
Clear rating


Toni Morrison
“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
Toni Morrison

E.L. Doctorow
“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.”
E.L. Doctorow

More quotes...

The following shelves are listed as duplicates of this shelf:
on-writing