As I’ve been adding the finishing touches to my first nonfiction book about writing historical fiction, I’ve been thinking about the writing books that have inspired me over the years. There are too many to name in a short blog post, but here are a few I go back to again and again.
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
This little book is the cream of the crop as far as writing inspiration goes. I read this book for the first time many moons ago for a creative writing class and I was blown away by Goldberg’s simple yet profound message about what writing truly means.
Goldberg doesn’t mention bestseller lists. She doesn’t mention selling x number of books. She doesn’t speak about publishing really at all. She talks about writing from the heart, about writing your truth. Mainly, she talks about the importance of writing practice.
More than anyone else, Natalie Goldberg has shaped the way I view writing, and I use many of her tips when I’m teaching writing.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Like Writing Down the Bones, Bird by Bird is one of those books that has shaped the way I view writing. I love Lamott’s sense of humor. I love her honesty about how writing is difficult for her. Many writers tend to write about writing as if it’s something magical that happens when you wave a magic wand.
No, it really isn’t. It isn’t for me, and it isn’t for any other writer I know. Lamott is one of the few people who have been honest about that.
I also appreciate Lamott’s honesty about the fact that publication isn’t going to change your life magically overnight. That is another fallacy that writers continue to have.
The Art and Craft of Novel Writing by Oakley Hall
I just checked on Amazon, and this gem from 1989 seems to be out of print but there are second-hand copies available. If you’re interested in learning about how to write fiction, I cannot recommend this book enough. Do get your hands on a copy if you can.
The Art and Craft of Novel Writing has been the single most influential book on how I construct my novels, historical or contemporary.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is well known in writer and artist circles, as it should be. I read this one a few years ago when I was in the middle of a creative slump, and it did indeed help me find my way again.
The book isn’t specifically about writing, and the lessons can apply to any art as well as life in general. Cameron’s idea for artist dates allowed me to reconnect to my love for coloring and I even started dabbling in art journaling. Like Writing Down the Bones, The Artist’s Way is about spirituality as much as it is about creativity.
Honorable mentions go to How To Write and Sell Your First Book by Oscar Collier and On Writing by Stephen King.
All of the books I’m recommending are oldies but goodies, but in all the years I’ve been writing I haven’t found anything better.
I just started reading Bird by Bird and thus far I’m loving the humorous tone! I like books (such as Stephen King’s On Writing) that combine bits of personal memoir/writing advice, and I can’t wait to finish this one. Thanks for this post – always interesting to read fellow writers’ favorite writing books 🙂
I’m so glad you found the post useful, Carly. Anne Lamott has a wonderful sense of humor. I’ve read many of her books and they all make me laugh out loud. I agree–it is always fun to see what other writers find inspiring!
On Writing by Stephen King.
On Writing by Stephen King is definitely one of my favorites, Reg. As Carly said in her comment, he does a great job combining memoir with writing inspiration. There are so many wonderful writing books out there!