ON WRITING
Books for Writers (and Readers too)

I’m often asked what I would recommend, so this is the beginning of a possibly infinite list. Never too obvious to add the old advice: read, read, read. Thanks to all who made suggestions here.  If you have a favourite book I’ve missed out, do please let me know and I’ll add it to the list.

Getting Published

From Pitch to Publication: everything you need to know about getting your novel published Carole Blake

Write to be Published Nicola Morgan - Nicola Morgan provides fantastic advice for writers on her website.  Approachable, straightforward and very wise! Follow her on Twitter @nicolamorgan.

The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook

Becoming a Better Writer

Zen in the Art of Writing Ray Bradbury

Into the Woods: a 5 Act Journey into Story  John Yorke

Negotiating with the Dead: a writer on writing  Margaret Atwood

On Writing: a memoir of the craft  Stephen King (and if you haven’t read Stephen King, you should)

Why I Write  George Orwell

The Practice of Writing  & Writing Fiction  David Lodge

How to Write (Guardian) Philip Olterman

Bird by Bird: some instructions on writing and life Anne Lamott

The Forest for the Trees: an editor’s advice to writers Betsy Lerner

The Seven Basic Plots: why we tell stories Christopher Booker

The Writing Life: authors speak   British Library audio

The Writing Life    Annie Dillard

Writers’ Groups

Either on a local or regional level (e.g New Writing North) these are extremely helpful with advice, support and company!  Find out what’s available in your area,

Helpful websites/articles

How Publishing Really Works

Help! I Need a Publisher!

Stroppy Author

Brain Pickings: 9 Books on Reading & Writing

Neil Gaiman’s 8 Rules of Writing

Misc

Read William Goldman on screenwriting, Diana Athill on editing (and her life)

Read fairy stories, and above all, and once again, read read read.

For Laughs

 Life in Publishing   Because some days it feels like this

Books About Books

Howards End is on the Landing: a year of reading from home  Susan Hill

Ex Libris: confessions of a common reader &  At Large and at Small: confessions of a literary hedonist Anne Fadiman

Outside of a Dog: a bibliomemoir  Rick Gekoski

The Reading Promise: 3218 nights of reading with my father Alice Ozma

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: a memoir, a history  Lewis Buzbee

The Child That Books Built Francis Spufford

So Many Books So  Little Time: a year of passionate reading   Sara Nelson