Its easy to fall into the trap of looking for the newest and greatest book writing software. Focus on actually writing your book with Microsoft Word. Screen-Shot-2017-07-21-at-9.05.04-AM-650x409.png' alt='The Best Software For Writing Books' title='The Best Software For Writing Books' />LeapFrogs LeapReader Reading and Writing System provides learning development and endless hours of interactive fun for children. MicrosoftWord.png' alt='The Best Software For Writing Books' title='The Best Software For Writing Books' />The 1. Best Books on Writing Ive Ever Read. Regardless how many books Ive written nearly 2. I fear if Im not learning, Im stagnating. My late mother was a convincing example of one who never believed she had arrived. Mom was not only a piano teacher well into her eighties, but she was also a piano student. So its the memory of my mother that spurs me also to keep reading everything there is to readespecially about writing. The books below in alpha order by author represent a fraction of those available. You could read one per day for the rest of your life and not exhaust the resources. But, in my opinion, these are the best books on writing available. Some require wearing your big kid pants due to language, which I have noted. Marie Arana.  The Writing Life Writers On How They Think and Work. This book came from ten years of Ms. Aranas Washington Post Book World column. More than fifty fiction and nonfiction authors share how they discovered they were writers and how they work. I was fascinated by what pleases and annoys them. Arana also profiles each writer. James Scott Bell friend and colleague. Plot Structure Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish. Anything but a dry textbook, this breezy guide is from a former trial lawyer who keeps you entertained while covering basics like how plot impacts structure, the difference between popular and literary fiction, and how to serve as your own book doctor. Brandilyn Collins friend and colleague. Getting into Character Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn from Actors. Calling on her theater training, Collins teaches bringing characters to life the way actors do on stage. She draws on the Method Acting approach to explain and adapt characterization techniques for novelists. Annie Dillard.  The Writing Life. Dillards hauntingly ethereal prose soars even when shes writing about writing. Thats rare. I resonate with her honesty about how grueling the craft can be. This is one of the best books on writing available. Stephen King acquaintance. On Writing A Memoir of the CraftlanguageAt the risk of hyperbole, theres so much to recommend here that I hardly know where to begin. Besides all the practical advice, you get Kings own rags to riches story in his inimitable voice. You learn a ton while being wildly entertained. Dean Koontz.  How to Write Bestselling Fiction mild languageIm not overstating it that this book changed my life. It informed the way I wrote the Left Behind series, which has sold more than 6. I use this as a textbook when I teach writing. Anne Lamott.  Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life languageLamott has you howling with laughter one minute and weeping the next as she recounts, with brutal honesty, the joys and travails of the writing life, single parenting, overcoming addiction, and coming to faith. Donald Maass.  Writing the Breakout Novel Insider Advice for Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level. An agent challenges you to do more than just spin a yarn, but to also think big concept, tackle major themes, and write life changing works. Sol Stein acquaintance. How To Install Hangers On A Silverado. Stein On Writing A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies. Novelist, editor, publisher Stein Day, and writing teacher, Stein is one of the deans of the American literary scene. His career spans decades, and he shares insider stories of famous novelists and their work, as well as everything he learned along the way. I sat under his teaching years ago and still follow his advice. William Zinsser.  On Writing Well An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction. Zinssers background should not be missed. He was a graceful classicist as a writer, and this million seller has been lauded for its warmth and clarity. Zinsser offers sound tips on the fundamentals of writing any kind of nonfiction you can think of. Now, dont read any of those books for writers, untilyouve read the bible of writing books William Strunk Jr. E. B. White, The Elements of Style. Failing to start your reading on writing with anything other than this undisputed classic would be akin to reading the top ten Christian classics while ignoring the Bible. This short paperback is recommended by every writing teacher I know. Ive read it at least once a year for more than 4. Its simple truths cover everything from style and grammar and usage. Make them second nature. If youve read none of the other books on this list, start with Stephen Kings On Writing. A short course in mistakes to avoid while writing, itll remind you why you wanted to be an author. Then, especially if you want to be a novelist, read Dean Koontzs How to Write Bestselling Fiction. You could learn more in just those two books than in an entire college writing course. BONUS If youre ready to graduate to my ultimate reading list for writers, which includes 7 novels and 7 nonfiction titles from which you can pick up skills, you can download it for free by clicking the image below  Whats your favorite book on the craft of writing Share it with all of us in the comments sectionRelated Posts How to Write a Book Everything You Need to Know in 2. Steps. How to Write a Memoir A 3 Step Guide. How to Write a Short Story That Captivates Your Reader.