13 Books That Offer a Master Class in Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writing

Storyteller, by Kate Wilhelm
Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and the co-founder of the Clarion Writer’s Workshop—you might say Kate Wilhelm knows a thing or two about writing SFF [and mysteries, because what’s one more genre among friends?]. In this book, Wilhelm balances telling stories about her own evolution as a writer and her experiences mentoring young writers with the sort of advice on the craft many people would (and do) pay a pretty penny for.

Words Are My Matter, by Ursula K LeGuin
As with her fiction, LeGuin’s manual on writing isn’t exactly what it seems. There’s no practical nuts-and-bolts advice to be had here, but there is a lifetime of wisdom on offer, and plenty of insight into what makes a story work. If you want to get into the mindset of a writer who has dedicated her life to producing incredible work, and thought deeply on the big-picture aspect of writing in the modern age, this is the book for you.

Damn Fine Story, by Chuck Wendig
Wendig is exhaustingly prolific; aside from his own celebrated novels, he writes official Star Wars tie-ins and has published several popular writing guides. He’s not exactly shy about his accomplishments, either—his newest book is filled to the brim with practical advice on creating compelling stories with characters readers care about, offering a mix of academic and personal evidence to back up his lessons. If you’re looking to craft a modern SFF story during NaNoWriMo, you can’t ask for a better contemporary guide than Wendig.

I Should be Writing, by Mur Lafferty
The Six Wakes author has also been hosting the I Should be Writing podcast for years, and the essence of that essential listening has been distilled into this phenomenal book. It’s billed as “A Writer’s Workshop,” and that’s exactly what it is, complete with exercises, examples, and stimulating (and encouraging) lessons. If you’ve never tried to write a novel before, this is the book that will help you get over the hump, and into the delirious glory of a NaNoWriMo SFF novel.

Yours to Tell, by Steve Rasnic and Melanie Tem
Reading this book by the Tems (who have between them won the World Fantasy Award, the British Fantasy Award, and the Bram Stoker Award) is like having a lingering lunch with two brilliant writers eager to help you get your own ideas onto the page. The best part is that while it includes plenty of absolute gold in terms of practical writing guidance, it also addresses a lot of the lifestyle aspects of the writing life, which you’ll experience—in concentrated form—during NaNoWriMo.

On Writing, by Stephen King
It’s easy to forget King is a horror writer, so thoroughly has he permeated the zeitgeist. But he began a horror writer, and remains one, despite his celebrated forays into more generalized fiction, and On Writing remains a classic of the genre. A mixture of personal memoir (including a harrowing account of the accident that almost ended his life) and straightforward discussion of writing, it’s a rare chance to get inside the head of one of the most successful authors of all time. If you can absorb even 10percent of what King lays down here, you might actually write two books during NaNoWriMo.

Wonderbook, by Jeff Vandermeer
Vandermeer has written several writing guides with a visual angle most others are lacking. Writers are often advised to read widely in order to feed their imaginations, but visuals are just as stimulating, if in a different way—which can be incredibly valuable when you’re trying to create an entire universe from scratch. Vandermeer’s excellent book is a visual feast, while also providing plenty of fundamental advice and guidance, with input from established SFF writers like George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, and Lev Grossman, to name a few.

How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy, by Orson Scott Card
If you’re looking to write a sci-fi or fantasy book this NaNoWriMo, why not read a guide that is laser-focused on those genres, written by one of the most successful writers in the field? Card focuses on the stuff that only SFF writers generally have to worry about, like magic systems and creating societies from scratch, and bases his advice on his own obviously successful process. It’s one of the most useful books for anyone who wants to pen an SFF novel.

Get Started in Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, by Adam Roberts
Roberts is one of the most versatile SFF writers working today, putting out various hilarious parodies under a collection of pseudonyms as well as more straightforward (although still subversively funny) speculative fiction under his own name. His writing book is essential NaNoWriMo gear; aimed specifically at someone who’s never attempted a novel before, it contains a treasure chest of great startup info and inspiring advice that will help you at every step of the way.

The Quill and the Crow, by Lilith Saintcrow
There are few better authorities on writing SFF prolifically than Saintcrow, who has multiple book series published both traditionally and by her own bad self. This collection of essays offers something most other writing books overlook: emotional support and empathy. Writing is hard, and writing a novel in a month is insane, and Saintcrow, a scarred veteran of many deadlines and bouts of writer’s block, has sage advice for dealing with the many barriers you put in front of yourself. This is just the sort of book you want to carry with you into the foxholes of NaNoWriMo.

Zen in the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury
Every single writer, in SFF or otherwise, should aspire to be Ray Bradbury. This classic collection of essays isn’t so much a writing guide as a spiritual one. Any time you find yourself hating your work-in-progress or convinced you’ll never actually write anything worth reading, Bradbury’s calm, authoritative essays will help you rediscover what drew you to writing in the first place—and remind you that there is joy in creation, no matter how flawed.

The Art of Language Invention, by David J. Peterson
Peterson, the guy who created the Dothraki language for Game of Thrones (among many other fictional tongues) is about as authoritative as you can get in the field. If your NaNoWriMo project involves creating a fictional language, this guide has everything you’ll need to get started. Thankfully Peterson proves to be a master of English as well as fake languages, as the book is a fun read that avoids becoming too academic. There should probably be some sort of special award if you both write a complete novel and invent a new language in a single month though, right?

Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion, Viewpoint, by Nancy Kress
Kress, winner of multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards, is the Queen of hard sci-fi, but part of the secret to her success is that she doesn’t forget that all stories require engaging characters and real emotions to accompany the believable science and authentic-sounding technology. In this fantastic book, Kress offers a seminar on how to create characters who are real people, who seem three-dimensional, who have agency and emotional clarity. If you easily imagine the spaceships and politics of your universe but find the people a mystery, this is the book for you.

2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love, by Rachel Aaron
While the daily word count for NaNoWriMo is just 1,666, Rachel Aaron—author of the Eli Monpress epic fantasy series, as well as the Paradox space opera series under the pseudonym Rachel Bach—has innovated a fantastically simple way to help you soar past that figure and reach new heights. Aaron’s popular writing guide is packed with tips on outlining, creating memorable characters, and remaining enthusiastic about your story even when you’ve hit a (temporary!) snag. As essential NaNoWriMo companion for anyne stressed out about that daily word count goal.
How are you getting ready for NaNoWriMo?