Writing is about persistence, but craft books can enhance your development. I’ve poured through numerous books and put together a list of some of my favorites below. All books can be found at my Bookshop List.
Generating Work
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg: Infused with Natalie’s practice of Zen-Buddhism, this text, which is filled with one-to-two-paged chapters is a lovely way to get started (or reacquaint oneself) to writing. I actually picked this one up again just to get reacquainted with the idea of generating writing. After years of writing to publish, returning to raw writing, writing from curiosity, from a deeper sense of self, breeds boundless possibilities.
General Craft Books
The Writers’ Notebook: Craft Essays from Tin House, Book I and Book II: Both of these books are a fabulous collection of essays from brilliant writers, touching on beginnings, endings, and everything in between. These are great craft books for both fiction and nonfiction writers.
The Art of Series by Graywolf Press: I’ve always loved the work coming out of Graywolf and these texts are wonderful. There are numerous ones, from mystery to subtext. I had a great time reading The Art of Time in Memoir by Birkerts and The Art of Revision by Davies.
Writing Nonfiction
The Situation and the Story by Vivian Gornick: If you are getting started in memoir, this book is a must. Gornick explains the importance of raw life for a personal narrative while also detailing the differences between memoir and essay. I’ve pulled quotes from this book and used them in my Nonfiction classes.
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr: If you’re writing memoir, go to the godmother of the form. Okay, might be speaking in hyperbole, but Karr is the writer for the job. This text beautifully breaks down the components of memoir writing and even tackles the nitty-gritty. My favorite is her extensive reading list at the back of the book.
Naked, Drunk, and Writing by Adair Lara: This was a delightful and easy craft book to sink into, especially with its explanation detailing the differences between essays and memoir. She also includes great writing prompts (some I’ve used in classes).
The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Nonfiction: Writing flash is a whole other monster and it’s best to go to the pros. This book, edited by Dinty Moore, EIC of Brevity, is a great place to start. Flash is so much more than simply writing a thousand words. It takes a different angle, a different approach in order to allow the content to shine.
Revision
Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell: An instructor once told me that all writing is editing, and while I hate that, I know it’s true. This book has been extremely helpful for me as I work on novel revisions, allowing me to make sure each pass brings about marked improvement in the work.
Thank you so much for this! ♥️♥️
Such a well-rounded list! The list itself is a great reminder of what a process writing truly is, with opportunities for honing craft at every millimeter marker along the way. To your point, persistence! Thank you, as always, for your generosity in sharing resources.