Our Favorite Books on Writing

Today, at Gem State Writers, we’re going to share with you some of our favorite books on our favorite subject, writing. After you’ve read it, we hope you’ll share your favorites by making an entry in the comment box.

Carley

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Clarissa

Screenwriting Tricks for Authors by Alexandra Sokoloff

Janis

The Hero’s Journey by Christopher Vogler

Johanna

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

Liz

My favorite treatise on the subject of writing isn’t a book. Although Dr. Brooks Landon, Professor of English and Collegiate Fellow at the University of Iowa, has written a number of books. I’ve learned a great deal listening to a course he teaches entitled Building Great Sentences: Exploring the Writer’s Craft through The Teaching Company’s Great Courses series.

Lynn

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain

Mary

Write Faster, Write Better by David Fryxell

[It] has been my bible for helping me apply writing time management to my schedule. Every time I pick it up, I am inspired to write more.

Meredith

I don’t have one on writing. As awful as it sounds I don’t read them. I’ve taken workshops and classes but I have this odd fear that if I read a book about writing I will then do everything that author says and lose my own voice.

Neysa

On Writing by Stephen King

I have never read any of King’s fictional books, but I am a big fan of this book. He clearly knows what it takes to make writing fiction work, and his comments meld with my writing philosophy in every way. If every writer would just follow his advice, there would be a lot less bad writing out there.

Peggy

The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler, and Who Dares Wins, by Bob Mayer

These are two book I would never be without. Vogler lays everything out in a very nice linear fashion. Easy to follow, and apply. Mayer’s book made more of an impact on me personally. Probably because it takes a very military point of view, and I do love a man in uniform.

Don’t forget to tell us your favorite.