Writing Craft Books
We often get questions about what writing craft books are worth the time it takes to read, process, and apply them. With so many options out there—and more being published all the time—it helps to have the opinion of those who have been in the industry over a decade and who know craft backward and forward.
These are some of our personal recommendations. We’ve read these book ourselves, specifically to provide you with the best options, books that will truly forward your career and familiarize you with what readers what in your genre or age category.
We consider this book a must read for every writer.
The power of description is important in your books, no matter your genre. But what exactly is worth describing at length and what isn’t? What’s worth repeating and what isn’t?
In What We See When We Read by Peter Mendelsund, these and many more questions are answered, along with Mendelsund’s careful and logical reasoning.
We highly recommend reading the paperback version of this nonfiction writing craft staple due to its illustrations.
Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels by Gwen Hayes is a classic nonfiction guide to exactly what romance readers are looking for, no matter the subgenre.
This is a very easy and fast read, plus a fantastic guide that you can open up any time to help lead you in the right direction.
If you’re trying to figure out how to structure your story so that romance readers will love it, this is romance writing canon.
The Fantasy Fiction Formula by Deborah Chester, one of New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s teachers, is the perfect choice for any writer just starting out with writing fantasy.
If you need a solid approach to getting started, this nonfiction book offers clear, organized advice that will jibe with your favorite fantasy reads.
While this book is fantasy-specific, it also offers information from the fantasy writer’s point of view about some of the basics of writing, like conflict, viewpoint, and pacing.
Entering the new adult market can be tricky if you don’t know where the line is between young adult fiction and adult fiction. Writing New Adult Fiction by Deborah Halverson is a complete guide that covers everything you’ll need, with special focus on where that elusive line is drawn.
This is a Writer’s Digest book with lots of good-sense advice and plenty of clarity. With lots of sections to break it up, it’s also an easy read and reference.