What creative writing books would you recommend?

by Adrian Sroka
13th June 2015

I have listed what I strongly believe are ten of the best guides to creative writing.

Aspects of the Novel - E M Forster. (Passage to India, Howards Way, Room with a View).

The Elements of Style (Fourth Edition) - William Strunk j. and E. B. White (Charlotte's Web).

The Art and Craft of Novel Writing - Oakley Hall

How Fiction Works - Oakley Hall.

Learning to Write Fiction from the Masters - Barnaby Conrad. (Each year, Barnaby runs a weekly creative writing course in Santa Barbara).

The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction - Barnaby Conrad.

Sol Stein on Writing - Sol Stein. (Sol and his friends set up the actors’ studio in New York. Sol was a publisher, editor, best-selling author and award winning lecturer on creative writing at American Universities. Famous authors attend his lectures. Sol was also a friend of Barnaby Conrad).

Solutions for Novelists - The Secrets of a Master Editor - Sol Stein.

Characters Make Your Story - Maren Elwood. (Creative writing teacher).

Write the Short Short - Maren Elwood. (For writers of the Short Story).

Check the reviews on Amazon. You can get cheap second hand copies.

Replies

I'd like to add Robert McKee's Story for any screenwriters out there.

I'd also second Lucy's suggestion of Stephen King's On Writing.

I haven't read any of the others listed above to be able to comment, probably because I've read more books on screenwriting than general fiction writing, but thank for for recommending some.

Currently enjoying Jurgen Wolff's book: Your Writing Coach

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Kay
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Kay Marsland
21/06/2015

Thanks, But this isn't for us, Jessica Page Morell

Stephen King's book as well of courss, On Writing

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Lucy
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Lucy Bignall
17/06/2015

I'm a big fan of Ready Set Novel. It is written by the folks behind NaNoWriMo, so it is focused on getting you prepped for that, but there is a good balance between exercises and theory in it.

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Trent
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