So You Wanna Write: 11 Best Books for Aspiring Writers

Have you ever wondered how Stephen King produces so many books? Well, he has a lot of experiences, habits, and convictions that have helped him become the person and author we all know and love. Part memoir and part master class, this book will help writers learn basic tools of the trade, get advice grounded in King’s own emergence as a writer, and find the connection writing holds with living. We can’t recommend this memoir enough for writers looking to hone their craft and understand what goes into getting published! 

Anne Lamott is the perfect author to listen to when it comes to writing advice. With wisdom pertaining both to life and writing, this book will help writers on and off the page, sparking creativity and inspiring people to pursue their writing dreams, even if it’s only bird by bird! 

Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami is as close to being Haruki Murakami (apologies to John Malkovich) as we’ll ever get. A beautiful and luxurious deep dive into how Murakami works and writes, fans of his fiction as well as anyone interested in creative pursuits will do well to wander into these pages.  

Looking to make your book a success? Well look no further than Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. Revealing essential “beats” that make a story successful, both with important knowledge and craft advice and quirky insights, this book will help those new and experienced write their novel.  

While this book is technically for screenwriting, it’s full of important structures and advice that are transferrable to novels. After all, this book is much more about storytelling than on the specific medium of screenwriting. Full of insights and fresh techniques from a respected and sought-after story consultant in the industry, The Anatomy of Story will help writers new and old hone their abilities. 

Have you ever had writers’ block and simply couldn’t figure out how to kick it? Or found yourself hating every single word you’ve put down on the page? We’ve all been there, and this book is all about overcoming our inner critic and letting ourselves write. So, get ready for advice connected to the writer’s craft and unleash your inner writer! 

It’s undeniable that a good story makes readers feel something. If you’re struggling to figure out how to write an emotionally compelling story that will linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve finished reading, then you’ll want to pick this book up. Written by a veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor, this book will help authors write a novel that readers can experience.  

Are you a Pantser or a Plotter? What if you were to know that there’s a more effective way of writing a story than just winging it or planning it all out ahead of time? In Story Genius, Lisa Cron sets out to help writers discover just that, harnessing the science behind how our brains are wired and what they crave in each story. This book is a step-by-step blueprint to harnessing that power and drafting compelling stories.  

If all of these seem a little overwhelming, might we recommend this book full of advice ranging from sparking the story idea to selling your work to be published. Full of bite-sized advice from established authors, this book is organized by topic to help budding writers seek out the information they want in a manageable way.  

If you’re looking for tips to write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy, then this is the perfect comprehensive guide for you! Ranging from world-building to character creation and defining subgenres, this book is full of advice from master authors like Orson Scott Card, Philip Athans and Jay Lake.  

Writing is hard. Period. It’s only natural to seek out information, insight, and advice from experts in the field, and with Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being a Writer, readers will get exactly that. For writers of all genres and forms, this book is the perfect reference guide to help writers not just write, but also make a career out of it!