5 Books Every Writer Should Read

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One thing all writers have in common is a love of words, so it makes sense that if you want to improve your writing, you would seek out the words of others. And while I personally prefer reading fiction to non-fiction (give me a creepy horror/thriller any day), there are certain guides and books I come back to on the regular to keep my writing skills in check.

No matter whether you’re an aspiring author or a published professional, these five books are worth adding to your shelf.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

In order to be a great, or even good writer, you need to know the basic rules of grammar, syntax, and style. Gotta learn the rules before you break them, right? I was first introduced to this book about 12 years ago, and have kept it handy on my desk ever since.

A must-have for any writer, William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s The Elements of Style is a practical and succinct guide that will help you master the English language. It clearly outlines the principles of usage and composition, how to structure simple yet powerful sentences, and offers specific examples on how to improve your writing.

Penguin Guide to Punctuation by R.L. Trask

If you often find yourself confused by colons and semicolons, hate hyphens, or can't quite come to grips with commas, the Penguin Guide to Punctuation is the book for you.

This handy little guide is is small in size but really packs a punctuation punch. It covers all the basic punctuation rules, as well as some more advanced topics, and offers multiple examples of good and bad usage throughout. It takes a complex topic and makes it utterly readable, which in itself is an impressive feat by the author.

On Writing by Stephen King

Having recently replaced my battered old copy I can safely say On Writing by Stephen King is one of the best books for aspiring writers to read. King says it himself: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”

On Writing takes an autobiographical look into the life of one of the world’s most successful authors, so you know it's jammed with juicy insider info. King shares his advice on writing, drawn from his own experiences, covering all the tools you need to succeed in the writing trade. It's part memoir, part masterclass.

It Was the Best of Sentences, It Was the Worst of Sentences by June Casagrande

Highly entertaining and informative, It Was the Best of Sentences, It Was the Worst of Sentences is full of examples of good and bad writing. Delving into topics like how to structure a sentence and how to write with clarity, each chapter details why some sentences are awesome, and some inherently suck. "Conjunctions that Kill" is a personal favourite.

Author June Casagrande covers all the basics before hitting you with the hard stuff like dangling participles, misplaced modifiers and copular verbs. Yet the language is lighthearted and topics are discussed thoroughly and humorously, making it a (mostly) enjoyable read. Suggest reading this one a little at a time, to give yourself a chance to digest the information.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

If you're stuck in a rut, Bird by Bird will inspire you to start writing again, I promise. It’s full of advice on how to find your voice, how to overcome writer’s block, and how to become better at writing in general.

It’s a book about falling in love with the craft of writing, and the importance of perseverance in the face of rejection. I particularly love Lamott's thoughts on bad first drafts and how to recognise when you've finished a piece of writing.

What are your favourite writer resource books and guides? Let me know in the comments!

~ prb