Writing Guides Books

Showing 1-50 of 1,411
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (Mass Market Paperback)
by (shelved 49 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.34 — 325,611 ratings — published 2002
Rate this book
Clear rating
Bird by Bird Bird by Bird (Paperback)
by (shelved 29 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.24 — 113,911 ratings — published 1994
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Elements of Style The Elements of Style (Hardcover)
by (shelved 27 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.18 — 88,107 ratings — published 1918
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 19 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.25 — 7,215 ratings — published 1993
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 17 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.24 — 31,500 ratings — published 1976
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 15 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.24 — 6,428 ratings — published 1998
Rate this book
Clear rating
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel Save the Cat! Writes a Novel (Paperback)
by (shelved 13 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.49 — 14,438 ratings — published 2018
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 13 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.27 — 17,924 ratings — published 1997
Rate this book
Clear rating
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Paperback)
by (shelved 13 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.21 — 32,316 ratings — published 1986
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 12 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.25 — 7,412 ratings — published 2007
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 12 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.11 — 6,005 ratings — published 2004
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 11 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.19 — 6,732 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (Paperback)
by (shelved 11 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.10 — 10,517 ratings — published 1992
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 10 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.99 — 6,378 ratings — published 1984
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 10 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.20 — 5,687 ratings — published 2012
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 10 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.87 — 106,874 ratings — published 2003
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 9 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.08 — 21,845 ratings — published 1973
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 9 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.53 — 6,434 ratings — published 2012
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 9 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.78 — 12,087 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 9 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.01 — 22,625 ratings — published 2005
Rate this book
Clear rating
The War of Art The War of Art (Paperback)
by (shelved 9 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.96 — 122,686 ratings — published 2002
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 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.25 — 3,135 ratings — published 2016
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 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.31 — 3,764 ratings — published 2016
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 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.33 — 3,529 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.91 — 4,918 ratings — published 1990
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 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.96 — 123,038 ratings — published 2002
Rate this book
Clear rating
The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.98 — 3,688 ratings — published 2000
Rate this book
Clear rating
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.05 — 2,230 ratings — published 2005
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Hero with a Thousand Faces The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.12 — 46,046 ratings — published 1949
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 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.53 — 26,991 ratings — published 2021
Rate this book
Clear rating
Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.32 — 4,299 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
Take Off Your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing Take Off Your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing (ebook)
by (shelved 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.25 — 3,303 ratings — published 2015
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 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.04 — 9,359 ratings — published 2014
Rate this book
Clear rating
Revision & Self-Editing: Techniques for Transforming Your First Draft Into a Finished Novel Revision & Self-Editing: Techniques for Transforming Your First Draft Into a Finished Novel (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.19 — 1,746 ratings — published 2008
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Situation and the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative The Situation and the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.93 — 2,959 ratings — published 2001
Rate this book
Clear rating
Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
by (shelved 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.26 — 1,071 ratings — published 2011
Rate this book
Clear rating
How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them—A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them—A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.98 — 4,283 ratings — published 2008
Rate this book
Clear rating
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer (Hardcover)
by (shelved 7 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.20 — 5,967 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws (Writers Helping Writers, #2) The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws (Writers Helping Writers, #2)
by (shelved 6 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.59 — 1,928 ratings — published 2013
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 6 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.12 — 8,724 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Beginnings, Middles & Ends (Elements of Fiction Writing) Beginnings, Middles & Ends (Elements of Fiction Writing)
by (shelved 6 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.00 — 2,521 ratings — published 1992
Rate this book
Clear rating
Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.14 — 6,596 ratings — published 1990
Rate this book
Clear rating
Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.16 — 3,389 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
Clear rating
Poetry Handbook, A Poetry Handbook, A (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.23 — 9,935 ratings — published 1994
Rate this book
Clear rating
They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.76 — 6,477 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
Clear rating
How to Write a Thesis How to Write a Thesis (Paperback)
by (shelved 5 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.93 — 4,731 ratings — published 1977
Rate this book
Clear rating
Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Hardcover)
by (shelved 5 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.34 — 9,543 ratings — published 2019
Rate this book
Clear rating
Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, and Screen Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, and Screen (Hardcover)
by (shelved 5 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.32 — 1,805 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers (Paperback)
by (shelved 5 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 4.40 — 1,065 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (Hardcover)
by (shelved 5 times as writing-guides)
avg rating 3.96 — 239,587 ratings — published 2015
Rate this book
Clear rating


Timothy Sharkey
“A writer is a thinker first and a writer second.”
Timothy Sharkey, Writing Made Easy: Just The Basics

Timothy Sharkey
“The good information about writing should be easy to find in one book.”
Timothy Sharkey, Writing Made Easy: Just The Basics

More quotes...