books 4 writers
Here are some books I think are particularly good on writing craft; just the titles and the authors, because editions come and go:
The Art and Craft of Fiction by Michael Kardos. Absolutely the best introductory text on fiction writing in existence. Approachable, concise, smart.
Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway. A much-used, much-loved intro text. Really good.
Deepening Fiction: A Practical Guide for Intermediate and Advanced Writers by Sarah Stone. Definitely deepening.
The Story and Its Writer by Ann Charters. More an anthology than an advice/craft book, but a really fine one.
Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann. My oh my, do I love this book. Genuine inspiration on every page.
The One-Hour MFA (Fiction) by Michael Kimball. This tiny paperback full of pithy advice can be had very inexpensively, but it's also serialized by the author here at RealPants
The Artful Edit: on the Practice of Editing Yourself by Susan Bell. She gets into the nitty-gritty and does it really well.
The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing & Life by Marion Roach Smith. Want to write memoir? This small book is all you need to get started.
Writing Life Stories by Bill Roorbach. Likewise, this one is all you need for embarking on memoir. Terrific. Inspiring.
The Writer's Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life by Priscilla Long. This book is really special--it is exactly as its title promises. Full of wisdom, great ideas, practical help.
Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose. Very insightful and wise. What does it really mean to "read like a writer'? You'll know after reading this book.