My Top 5 Books on the Craft of Writing

These five books on writing are the ones I most often recommend.

Books, Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (Japanese, active ca. 1799–1823), Edo period (1615–1868), 19th century, Japan, Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper

Over the years I’ve read more craft books than I can count. Some I assigned in my writing workshops, others I read to help me edit my own work. The five books below are the ones I most often recommend. I’ve listed them in the order they naturally support the arc of a writer’s life: from sparking new ideas to shaping them into essays, and finally, to sharing your work with the world.

Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a book through the link I’ve provided, I will make a small commission. Thank you for supporting my work as a writer and writing teacher. 

1. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (print, e-book)

Best for: Tapping into voice, memory, and writing as a practice

If you’re a fan of The Artist’s Way or an avid writer of Morning Pages, Writing Down the Bones  is for you, especially if you’re exploring creative writing for the first time or use your journaling time for more creative writing. Natalie Goldberg urges you to “keep your hand moving,” let go of judgment, and treat creative writing as a daily ritual. 

Favorite takeaway: “Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about.”

2. Write Yourself Out of a Corner by Alice LaPlante

Best for: Generating new material when you feel blocked or uninspired

With 100 exercises and reflections, Alice LaPlante helps you write scenes without overthinking them. recommend this book to anyone generating their rough draft. 

Favorite takeaway: Constraints—like starting in second person or writing the questions driving you or your characters can lead to surprising depth and direction! 

3. Tell It Slant by Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola

Best for: Learning structure, experimenting with form, and writing true stories

If you're working in creative nonfiction—especially personal essays or memoir—Tell It Slant is essential. It breaks down narrative structure, explores ethical questions, and offers writing prompts for every stage. It’s especially helpful if you’re figuring out how to tell your story—what to include, what to leave out, and what shape your story ought to take.

Favorite takeaway: There are many genres of essays. Some work better than others for the kind of story you want to tell. 

4. The Byline Bible by Susan Shapiro (print, e-book) 

Best for: Turning your ideas into publishable essays and how pitch them to magazines and websites 

This is the book that helps you move from “writing for yourself” to “writing for an audience.” With examples of successful essays and pitches (including one written by my former student!), and step-by-step exercises, Susan Shapiro teaches you how to craft personal essays that editors want. 

Favorite takeaway: You don’t need a huge platform to publish—you need a strong idea, and to know how communicating with editors to sell a good story works. 

5. Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum (print, e-book)

Best for: Navigating the publishing world with sanity and heart

Once you’ve built a writing habit, drafted and revised your work, Courtney Maum’s Before and After the Book Deal offers answers to all the big and small questions that come next—if you’re planning to publish. Full of advice from agents, editors, and writers across genres, this book is essential reading if you want to understand how the publishing world works.

Favorite takeaway: A book deal won’t change your life—but it can deepen it, if you stay connected to why you write in the first place.

Final Thoughts

Not all writing craft books are created equal. It’s helpful to consider which type of book is helpful to the stage of writing you’re in. 

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