5 Best Books for Would-Be Writers

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.

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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

Kat Ellis On Combining Your Ideas & Harrow Lake Giveaway!

Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to us like a lightning bolt, through the lyrics of a song, or in the fog of a dream. Ask any writer where their stories come from and you’ll get a myriad of answers, and in that vein I created the WHAT (What the Hell Are you Thinking?) interview. Always including in the WHAT is one random question to really dig down into the interviewees mind, and probably supply some illumination into my own as well.

 Today’s guest for the WHAT is Kat Ellis, a young adult author from North Wales. She writes creepy thrillers, including Harrow Lake, coming this summer from Penguin Random House Children’s. When she’s not writing, Kat can usually be found adventuring in ruined castles and cemeteries, taking photos of weird and wonderful things to inspire her writing.

Ideas for our books can come from just about anywhere, and sometimes even we can’t pinpoint exactly how or why. Did you have a specific origin point for your book?

My love of horror movies is definitely where Harrow Lake sprang from. There are quite a few horror movie references throughout the book, and the story takes place in a town which was used as the set for a horror movie some 20 years ago called Nightjar. But Harrow Lake underwent several massive changes while I was drafting, and it’s only as I look back that I realize the first draft was actually really close to the plot of Nightjar. I guess it’s true that no writing is ever wasted! (That is a lie. I have reams of old drafts that’ll never see the light of day.)

Once the original concept existed, how did you build a plot around it?

I tend to write in layers — I start with the setting before building even a skeletal plot or having any vague inkling of the characters, and then I begin to populate it. I come up with my backdrop, figure out the key markers of the setting (things like the Bone Tree in Harrow Lake where kids hang their lost teeth so the monster won’t get them), then I decide what kind of people would inhabit this place and what they might get up to. The skeleton of the plot tends to come together in the first draft for me, and I flesh it out by going over and over it, adding more layers. 

Have you ever had the plot firmly in place, only to find it changing as the story moved from your mind to paper?

Always. I like figuring out stories as if they’re puzzles, and sometimes it’s hard to see what piece fits where until you’re right in the thick of it. Other times I’ll come up with an interesting character quirk or some new motivation which sends the plot off in an unexpected direction. It’s what I enjoy most about first-drafting (except when I’m on a tight deadline, UGH. Then unruly plots and characters can just get in the bin.) 

Do story ideas come to you often, or is fresh material hard to come by?

Usually, I have 3 or 4 loose story ideas in my head at any one time. Sometimes two of them might merge together. That happened with Harrow Lake, as the original plot merged into the backstory of Nightjar. It also happened with my last novel, Purge, which ended up as a twisty dual narrative that came together pretty neatly (if I do say so myself!) I’ll also happily cannibalize story elements from unfinished projects if I think they’ll work within another story setting.

How do you choose which story to write next, if you’ve got more than one percolating?

In the past, that has depended entirely on which story was calling to me most strongly. Now I decide that together with my editors. I definitely prefer having their input!

I have 8 cats and 1 Dalmatian puppy (seriously, check my Instagram feed) and I usually have at least one or two snuggling with me when I write. Do you have a writing buddy, or do you find it distracting?

5?! That is serious goals. I have 2 cats: Cricket has a designated (fleece-lined) desk drawer to sleep in while I work, and Pilot prefers a cardboard box on the floor next to me. Both are ridiculous, but I wouldn’t be without them.

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Coping with Writerly Self-Doubt (and a Pandemic!)

By the debut group Class of 2K20 Books

(Twitter @Class2k20Books; Instagram @class2k20books)

Writing is an exercise in self-doubt--as several debut 2020 middle grade and young adult authors can attest. In addition to the usual feelings of self-doubt creeping up, many debut authors are also dealing with doubts due to the pandemic--who will come to a virtual launch? Will any books sell? Will I ever sell another book? Can I even write another book? So, how do these writers get through it--and keep on writing? 

First, it’s important to understand that writing is an artistic process, and because of that, it’s also one that is fraught. “Self-doubt and imposter syndrome is the hardest part of being an artist, for me. When I write, I’m in love with my work, but when I re-read, I think of an audience who may not like what I have to say, and I become filled with self-doubt,” says Kath Rothschild, author of the forthcoming WIDER THAN THE SKY. KayLynn Flanders, author of SHIELDED, attests that “coming up with the actual words and knowing how imperfect they are? That’s hard.” And Lorien Lawrence, author of THE STITCHERS, cannot count the times self-doubt has crept up during the writing and revision process! 

How do these and other debut authors cope with self-doubt in the time of quarantine? They suggest three things to keep in mind. 

Trust Your Process

Lorien Lawrence suggests there are several ways to combat that self-doubt, but one is to trust your own writing process. “One of the hardest things about being a writer is keeping your eyes on your own paper. This is especially true with the writing process: do what works for YOU, not what works for your friends, CPs, or the plethora of people giving advice on Twitter.” And Andrea Contos, author of the forthcoming THROWAWAY GIRLS, says: “I’m learning to jump in without hesitation, and trust that the story will get where it needs to be. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gotten ⅔ of the way into a manuscript, only to discover something I added to the beginning--without really knowing why--ended up being absolutely crucial to the end.” Trusting that the story will come is a key piece of continuing to write in tough times. 

For KayLynn Flanders, getting the words--or really, any words--down on the page is enough to give her confidence for another day of writing. “You can’t edit a blank page, so I power through it as best as I can.” All the debut authors in the Class of 2K20 Books agree that the first step must be to get your first draft written. It can even be, as several authors call it: a steaming pile of garbage that you will need to spend a long time—longer than you think—revising. But we revise, and we get better. But to do that, the words have to be on the page. 

Be True to Yourself and Your Path

Getting out of the self-doubt rut can be difficult--but honoring your own path is one way. “It’s important to look within your own experiences, and what comes naturally to you as a writer,” says Tanya Guerrero, author of HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE SEA and the forthcoming ALL YOU KNEAD IS LOVE. When we allow ourselves to be guided not by an imagined audience, but by our own deeply honest and sometimes painful truths, we can access real stories that will resonate with us and hopefully, with readers, too. “Self-doubt can, at its worst, keep me from writing what I want to write--often more edgy scenes or more honest portrayals of what it was, for me, to be a teen,” says Kath Rothschild. 

It’s also essential to focus on our own well-being and our own writing projects, and tune out the drone of others. “It’s so incredibly easy to compare your journey to someone else’s. Query request rates, how quickly you get an agent, how many offers you get, whether you get a book deal and then how many starred reviews you get and what your book’s marketing budget looks like. There’s a never-ending list. That’s why it’s so important to remember that every writer has a different path, and none are more valid than the next. Focus on your own work and your own journey and trust that you’re where you need to be,” says Andrea Contos, and KayLynn Flanders (who is also an editor) agrees. “Every path to publication is different, and it’s easy to get caught up in thinking that something that worked for someone else is how it has to happen for you. But comparison is a thief of joy—keep your eyes on your own paper, and celebrate every milestone you meet, every success you see!”

Have a Support System 

In the writing community, there are generally three writing support groups. There are betas, readers who will read your work and tell you what they think, there are critique partners (CPs) who will exchange manuscripts with you and you can tell each other what your think, and there are critique groups, or small groups of authors usually within the same genre who exchange manuscripts regularly. Have as many of them as you can to deal with self-doubt and keep going. “I’m really fortunate to have connected with my MG Squad, Shannon Doleski, Lorien Lawrence and Janae Marks almost right after we joined our debut group. We bounce ideas off of each other, share writing samples and talk craft. Those moments are invaluable, because there are moments filled with self-doubt, and it’s great to be able to get advice or feedback when those moments arise,” says Tanya Guerrero. Lorien Lawrence and Janae Marks, author of FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON, both agree that friendly writer accountability is essential. 

Janae Marks introduces a fourth writing community support group: accountability buddies. Marks was working on her second book when she was struck by self-doubt. “I worried whether the second book would ever be good enough, but I also doubted whether I could actually complete the work during a distracting and terrifying global crisis. What helped me a lot was getting an accountability buddy. As I worked on my revisions, I sent chapters to another author friend, who quickly read for me, provided some feedback, and told me to keep going! I don't know that I could've hit my deadline without her support!” 

Critique groups, partners, and buddies can keep you focused on what’s important. Amanda Sellet shares an essential piece of advice from her CPs: “Of the many, many pieces of wisdom my local writer friends, Tessa Gratton and Natalie Parker, have shared, the one I come back to most often of late is this: If you’re not leveling up your craft, what’s the point? Meaning, don’t get so caught up in all the noise about the business side of publishing that you forget what really matters: growing as a writer, and doing your best work.” Of her critique group, Cathleen Barnhart, author of THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS DO, says: “Our once-a-month Sunday morning meetings are vital for me, and the feedback, support and commiseration of the group has carried me through so much.”  And Amy Noelle Parks, author of THE QUANTUM WEIRDNESS OF THE ALMOST KISS, recommends creating a smaller group within a larger one--for her it was the Class of 2K20 within the Roaring 20s debut group, but that might also look like a small local group within the larger SCBWI community. “As an introvert,” Parks says, “the hundreds of people in the 2020 debut group felt completely overwhelming. Having this smaller group of people who I can learn from has been invaluable.” 

And keep going, even if it’s virtual! A.J. Sass, author of the forthcoming ANA ON THE EDGE, finds that having a routine which involves regular meetings (virtual at the moment) with other writers is incredibly helpful. “I meet weekly with a group of writers, with the aim of making progress toward our writing goals. We also leave time to talk about our uncertainties and doubts. Writing can be isolating, so it’s comforting to know that you're not alone when you’re feeling stuck, or even doubting your ability to get through a particular scene. Lean on your writing friends. And offer support when they need it as well.” And Kath Rothschild also recommends having a weekly standing Zoom date with a CP or CG to commiserate. “My writing group, the Panama Math and Science Club, meet every week for an hour for a writing check-in, and once a month to critique over Zoom. Each time I’m reminded of why we all write--and must continue to do so.” 

But in addition to having a strong writing community, it’s essential for many authors to have a familial and extended community support system—whether in person or via FaceTime or Zoom. Amanda Sellet, author of BY THE BOOK: A NOVEL OF PROSE AND CONS attests to the importance of family support: “A few months shy of my debut, my little sister, who is an incredibly busy lawyer and mom, worked with a friend to design a t-shirt featuring a slogan from my book (#WWJAD, as in ‘What Would Jane Austen Do?’).”This type of celebratory support is important at every step of the writing process. KayLynn Flanders agrees: “My husband encourages me when I get discouraged, learns publishing lingo and practices so he can freak out with me when I get good news. My kids help me brainstorm ideas and inspire me and play while I write. I could never have accomplished what I have without them.”

Family can even help you remember why you should prioritize writing in the first place. Cathleen Barnhart, was offered a part time job after she had decided to focus solely on writing. “I went off to a writing conference with my sister, Amanda. I told her that I was planning to take the teaching job, and she asked me a whole bunch of questions to help me see that doing so was a bad idea. That summer, I finished my novel, and in the fall, I started sending it to agents.” And Kath Rothschild will always remember what her dad told her when she asked him if she should study law. He said: “what about writing?” 

In this tough time, creatives’ self-doubt can be more triggered than usual. The Class of 2K20 hopes these strategies to trust your process, be true to your own stories, and to seek and accept support help you get back to the keyboard!  

To support the Class of 2K20 books, follow them on Twitter and Instagram!

(Twitter @Class2k20Books; Instagram @class2k20books)