What to buy a writer for a Christmas or birthday present? A book, of course!
Books on writing are an easy choice for a gift for writers. Here are some new ones along with perennial favorites.
Books about the Details of Writing
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. & E. B. White. Classic on using the English language well. Often referred to simply as “Strunk & White.”
- Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss. A delightful book on the perils of punctuation.
Books about Getting Published
- Writer’s Market or Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market (Writers Digest Books). Detailed market information, a must for any fiction writer seeking publication.
- 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why It Just Might by Pat Walsh. An editor’s views on what makes a novel publishable or unpublishable. Read a full review here.
Books about Writing Fiction
- Fiction Writer’s Workshop by Josip Novakovich. Discusses the elements of good fiction in a workshop format, with examples and writing exercises in each chapter.
- Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne. How to look at a manuscript draft with a critical eye. Very readable, with plenty of examples and exercises.
- “Elements of Writing Fiction” series (Writer’s Digest Books). Basic how-to series, with each topic written by a different author: Beginnings, Middles & Ends by Nancy Kress; Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card; Plot by Ansen Dibell; Conflict, Action & Suspense by William Noble; Description by Monica Wood; Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham.
- Between the Lines by Jessica Morrell. An insightful book on the subtle techniques of fiction writing. For more experienced writers.
- The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby. Also for experienced writers, script writers and playwrights, an in-depth look at creating compelling, multi-layered stories with complex characters.
- The Glimmer Train Guide to Writing Fiction series, by Susan Burmeister-Brown and Linda Swanson Davies. Volume 1 is Building Blocks, and Volume 2 is Inspiration and Discipline. The series is a collection of the best of the literary magazine’s "Writers Ask" newsletter.
- Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton. In-depth look at story beginnings, what works and what doesn’t.
And for fun, whimsy and thoughtful insights, try Avi’s delightful small book, A Beginning, A Muddle and an End.
Books Specifically about Writing Novels
- Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. Solid advice on writing high-concept stories and larger-than-life characters to lift a novel from midlist to best-seller status.
- How to Grow a Novel by Sol Stein. An editor’s take on writing a book that readers want to read, with examples from his own writing and editorial experiences.
- First Draft in 30 Days and From First Draft to Finished Novel by Karen S. Weisner. The first is a structured program to plan a novel carefully, avoiding time-intensive re-writes. The second book complements the first, but expands on research, layering story elements, and submitting for publication.
Memoirs & the Writing Life
- On Writing by Stephen King. Half autobiography, half how-to; fascinating, motivating, and an eye-opener to the hard work of writing.
- Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Warm and funny advice on life and writing; lessons on craft are shared through her writing and teaching experiences.
- Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. A thought-provoking book about the artist’s life, zen, and writing.
And if a writer wants something other than more books, read Great Gifts for Writers for additional ideas.
The copyright of the article Shopping Guide for Writers Gifts in Writing Fiction is owned by Jennifer Jensen. Permission to republish Shopping Guide for Writers Gifts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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