Books on writing! From poetry to prose, from literary to genre, a collection of writing reference books that give you writing rules and then teach you how to break them. Also includes writing theory!
created by mack_clev
last updated February, 2026
Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose (FSG Classics)
Flannery O'Connor
Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew
Ursula K. Le Guin
The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers
John Gardner
Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style
Benjamin Dreyer
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)
Lisa Cron
How To Write a Page Turner: Craft a Story Your Readers Can't Put Down
Jordan Rosenfeld
The Elements of Style
William Strunk Jr.
Writers on Writing: A Bread Loaf Anthology
Robert Pack
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
Natalie Goldberg
By Cunning & Craft: Practical Wisdom for Fiction Writers
Peter Selgin
Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
Matt Bell
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Stephen King
Zen in the Art of Writing
Ray Bradbury
Putting the Fact in Fantasy: Expert Advice to Bring Authenticity to Your Fantasy Writing
Dan Koboldt
Thrill Me: Essays on Fiction
Benjamin Percy
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Anne Lamott
The Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being a Writer: Everything You Need to Know About Craft, Inspiration, Agents, Editors, Publishing, and the Business of Building a Sustainable Writing Career
Kevin Larimer
Claims for Poetry
Donald Hall
The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms
Mark Strand
Creating Characters: The Complete Guide to Populating Your Fiction (Creative Writing Essentials)
The Writer's Digest
The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface
Donald Maass
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