5 Books I Constantly Refer to as a Creative Writing Major
So… you're interested in writing, or perhaps already a writer. Maybe you're stagnant with your writing process or are an aspiring writer but don't know where to start. Books may be the answer to all your problems. Especially: books on how to write.
I am a current second-year at university who is studying creative writing. The nature of my course encourages me to "read widely" both for my practice and academic essays. This has introduced me to many different books on writing and the writing life that I refer to almost daily. So without further ado, let me introduce you to them!
[Small disclaimer: I study in England and am from the States. This list will include books from both countries; however, British works will fall into the majority.]
1. Key Concepts in Creative Writing
Matt Morrison
This is a glossary of almost every aspect of creative writing. Think creative writing 101. It covers things as small as plot and character to broader concepts such as different genres and the writer's life. The author also includes 'further reading,' which is fantastic for understanding particular topics.
2. The Handbook of Creative Writing
Edited by Steven Earnshaw
This book is a collection of essays written by practicing authors going more in-depth on specific aspects of creative writing. It’s broken into sections (theory / craft / poetry / scriptwriting / and the writer’s life). It has fewer topics than the book previously mentioned, but it's a perfect guide when struggling with a certain part of the craft or to quell burning questions about writing.
3. Bird By Bird
Anne Lamott
While the last two recommendations have been more textbook-esque (the last one being nearly the size of a typical textbook), this reads like your standard nonfiction book. Lamott shares tips on basics such as character, plot, and dialogue. Later, writing advice such as where to begin/end and how to beat typical writing issues such as perfectionism. This book is fantastic for finding advice on the topics you
struggle with within your writing and for the writer's life. Lamott pours her personality into this novel, making it such an easy read and helpful at the same time.
4. How to (Not) Write a Novel
Howard Mittelmark & Sandra Newman
This book reads like a casual nonfiction book, similar to Bird by Bird. It also carries lots of character as they break down different parts of the novel and gives you tips on what to avoid. They organize this novel into several sections ranging from plot, style, and worldbuilding. They further break each topic into mini-parts, giving specific scenarios to avoid (with examples). I read this early into my first year, which helped give me a baseline on what to avoid, but I still refer to it now during my editing process. This book really helps the reader lift their stories off the page.
5. The Elements of Style
Strunk and White
This is a highly nuanced book. However, it can be a fantastic reference for new authors to understand basic rules and practices. Strunk and White lay out what they believe makes a perfect book while giving rules and examples. The nuance comes from writers who disagree with some of the rules or think they should be broken. When discussing this book at university, professors argued that it was essential to first understand these rules, so you can go about intentionally breaking them. I use this book as a resource during editing to make sure each decision was intentional.
There are many other books that cover more specific aspects of writing! Search "books on [aspect of writing]" this should give you articles with lists of recommendations.