by Dorian Martin

As an aspiring writer, it's your job to seek out knowledge, skills, and inspiration. While you may have the essential talent, you need to practice the craft of writing. You have to dedicate enough time to learning, making mistakes, and improving your skills. One of the best ways for you to do it is to look up to other successful authors and soak up the knowledge they're sharing based on their writing experience.

To help you do that, we’ve put together a list of 5 best books that every would-be writer should read and learn from. Let’s break it down together.

1.     On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

There's no need for any special introduction for Stephen King, the best-selling author who's sold more than 350 million copies worldwide and is considered to be one of the greatest contemporary writers.

In his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, King shares both his personal and professional advice, while telling the story of how he shaped his craft of writing.

The book can be seen as part memoir and part a guide for aspiring writers to help them learn about the basic writing tools, shaping their style, finding their stories, and becoming masters of the craft.

He’ll teach you how to write a book that leaves a legacy. The book is truly inspirational and provides practical advice from King himself, which is more than what a would-be writer can ask for.

2.     Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

Published in 1994, Bird by Bird is considered to be a modern classic. Anne Lamott shares her step-by-step guide on how to write and pursue a career in writing.

Julia Geller, a writer and editor at BestWritingAdvisor.com, says: “The author shares her personal anecdotes, using humor and authenticity to bring the life of a writer closer to those reading.“

She shares practical advice, such as:

-        managing a day as a writer

-        finding the time to write

-        finding motivation

-        overcoming the writer’s block

It’s a must-read for all aspiring writers who’re looking for relatable content and real-life stories from a writer.

3.     On Writing by Charles Bukowski

Another master of the art of writing, Charles Bukowski, shares his insight and journey through the art of creation.

In his work On Writing, Bukowski shares his collection of letters to publishers, editors, friends, and fellow writers. By showing us the letters, he's showing us his journey on the road to creating art and becoming one of the greatest writers of all time.

Bukowski’s brutally honest confession shows the readers the ups and downs in the life of an artist, and it sends a message to aspiring writers to find motivation, keep working hard, and never give up.

4.     Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon

Every artist struggles with creativity, and it’s considered to be one of the most common problems writers have to cope with. Luckily, Austin Kleon published this guide with his 10 principles on becoming a true master of your art.

According to Kleon, no work of art is fully original. Instead, artists are influenced and inspired by other works of art, events, things, people, and fellow artists.

But, Kleon teaches the artist to embrace these influences, and find a way to be themselves, find their creativity, and get in touch with their artistic side.

5.     Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey

If you’re looking for a way to learn from the best, look no further. Currey’s book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work is actually a collection of strange, inspiring, and amazing habits of 161 famous artists.

He describes how novelists, poets, playwrights, painters, philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians, navigated their artistic journeys and how they managed to get the work done.

Whether you want to write short stories or novels, you need to read this book.

You’ll be able to read about their:

-        daily rituals

-        obstacles

-        peculiar habits

-        tasks and goals

-        tactics and strategies

Kafka, Karl Marx, Agatha Christie, Woodie Allen, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens, and Pablo Picasso are just some of the 161 artists that you’ll get to read about in this amazing collection of strange habits and brilliant advice.

Final Thoughts

Every aspiring artist needs to find a way to excel and improve every day. Reading the books we've listed above will help you understand the art of writing better and find your own way to become a true artist.

Read the books we’ve shared with you and continue working hard on becoming a writer who is proud of his work.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Dorian Martin is a freelance writer and a blogger with years of experience covering versatile topics. He specializes in art and creativity, helping artists across the globe find their inspiration and develop creatively. He also works as a writer giving coursework writing help and writes guest posts for blogs in the domain of art