Everyone could do with a little self-improvement — writers included.
In writing, one constantly deals with comments and criticisms on how to improve their work, but how does one begin to improve their mind in a way that reflects in their work?
Whether you’re a veteran novelist or an aspiring author, here are 21 of the best self-help books for writers you should consider reading for inspiration and enrichment, which will be reflected not only in your writing but also in your life.
1. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
From a New York Times bestselling author, this collection of wisdom and musings digs deep into the creative process and lifestyle of one writer’s experiences. Even though it was only recently published in 2015, Big Magic has received accolades from critics and readers alike. Gilbert inspires the writer’s heart with insights into the mystery surrounding creativity and offers advice on how to harness that power to help one live their most creative life.
2. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
If you can get past the occasional curse words laced throughout this New York Times bestseller, you’ll find a funny and feisty read that will inspire you to pursue a better life. While not specifically geared toward writers, this blunt guide will help you begin a personal transformation through understanding who you are, embracing things you cannot change and changing what you do not like. The spirited author who is a world traveler and motivational coach shares her insights through personal stories, unique advice and personal exercises to help any reader in their journey toward improvement.
3. Writer’s Doubt: The #1 Enemy of Writing (And What You Can Do About It) by Bryan Hutchinson
At one point or another, every writer will doubt their own abilities. In this relatable guide, the award winning blogger and author shares how seasoned and novice authors can overcome self-doubt in this reminder that fear does not have to define your art.
4. Commit: How to Blast Through Problems and Reach Your Goals through Massive Action by Linda Formichelli
In this short e-book, the author encourages not only writers, but any individual with a dream to stop wishing and start accomplishing. Drawing inspiration from the common goals shared by millions of people, she provides “actionable advice” and real world examples to help anyone succeed. At only 73 pages, the book is a quick read, but it is also a powerful reminder that you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to throw everything you’ve got to make it happen.
5. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
We are our own worst enemies and in this guide, the author shares powerful insight into how we can recognize and take down the barriers within ourselves that stand between us and our dreams. More than anything, this book will help readers channel the power of creative energy to unlock their potential and overcome their fears.
6. Writing Down Your Soul: How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within by Janet Conner
Everyone seeks to understand their inner consciousness, but writers especially can use the voice within to create successful content. The key to this, according to this popular spiritual writer and speaker, is to write every single day. In this book, Conner tells the tale of her personal struggles with domestic abuse and how writing with her inner voice helped her break through and survive difficult situations in life. This book is a great tool for authors looking to express their true selves when pen meets paper.
7. The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
From one of the acclaimed creators of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, this 10-year bestseller explains how to increase confidence, overcome daily challenges, realize ambitions and live with passion and purpose. Having sold over 500,000 copies throughout the years, the book is filled with principles and practices from some of the most successful individuals around the world which will help anyone striving for a successful life, including writers.
8. Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel
Inspiration comes from within and cannot be found by only reading self-help guides. Rather than telling you how to be inspired and creative, the creator of this self-explorative journal simply gives you a push in the right direction. This interactive journal will help nurture creativity, mindfulness and motivation through prompts, questions and quotations from other writers and artists, and gives space for writers to jot down their own ideas or musings.
9. Author Unleashed: Simple Strategies to Write Your Book – Fast by Courtney Kenney
For those who have always wanted to write a book but didn’t know where to begin, this book provides the guidance on how to start your own novel and actually finish it. Filled with strategies, tips and personal stories, the author aims to inspire you to write consistently and get your stories published. This is the first half of a two-part series. The follow up manual, Author Unleashed: Simple Strategies for a Successful Book Launch, was launched earlier this year.
10. How to be a Writer in the E-Age: A Self-Help Guide by Catherine Ryan Hyde and Anne R. Allen
In a rapidly changing industry, it’s easy to get lost while trying to keep up. This guide by an Amazon bestselling author and an award-winning blogger will help any writer establish their careers in the midst of a digital age. The manual provides insight into this new age of publishing and explains how writers can plan for, market and publish their piece. Not only a “how-to” instruction guide, this book encourages authors to be a better writer and build their platform without losing everything.
11. Unleash the Writer Within: The Essential Writer’s Companion by Cecil Murphey
“The best kind of writing occurs when it comes from the heart. It’s called being authentic or transparent,” says Murphey in this thorough and insightful study on the writer as a person. Throughout the book’s pages, the author will help writers answer personal questions such as why do you write, what are your strengths and weaknesses and how can you embrace your own voice and write honestly? Without knowing who you are as a writer, you only make it difficult when you write for others.
12. Writing in Community: Say Goodbye to Writer’s Block and Transform Your Life by Lucy Adkins and Becky Breed
Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. In fact, facing the daunting task of writing alone can fill even the most experienced authors with anxiety. And writer’s block can only make the process worse. That’s why these two writers have teamed up to share the power of group writing. This guide is packed with inspiration and encouragement that will help writers reach their full potential and overcome struggles (like writer’s block) by developing a writing community, which can help with your individual craft. The book also includes writing excerpts from the pair’s own writing group to prove that community is a valuable tool for any writer.
13. Saving Our Lives: Essays to Inspire the Writer in YOU by D. Margaret Hoffman
The first of a three volume series, this collection of essays explores the author’s own experiences as she spent a year writing one essay each week. Throughout this collection, aspiring authors will understand how consistent writing can help motivate and inspire creativity. The author also encourages others to live an attentive life and use those details to fuel their works.
14. The Writer’s Life: Insights from the Right to Write by Julia Cameron
Why do we write and why should we write? These are the questions this highly praised author of over 30 books answers in this narrative on the life of a writer. She explores the various components that create a writer’s life such as time, inspiration, mood and support, and offers insights and notes that can help aspiring authors live the powerful life of a writer.
15. Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
Every writer could use help in developing their technique and although this thorough and renowned instructional manual is geared toward screenwriting, the insights to the art of storytelling is necessary for writers of all genres. In this comprehensive and integrative guide, the author shares concepts and methods to help writers master their storytelling abilities and facilitates personal growth through exercises and lessons. For writers looking to further expand on this skill, the author also offers seminars based on this internationally recognized guide.
16. A Writer’s Space: Make Room to Dream, to Work, to Write by Eric Maisel
From bestselling author and creativity expert, this guide will help all writers construct the appropriate physical and mental space to create. The book provides an in-depth look at the creative process at an individual level, encouraging other authors to recognize their inner muse, realize how to spark creativity and how to use their time and space to make the most of their writing.
17. A Solemn Pleasure: To Imagine, Witness and Write by Melissa Pritchard
Through 15 thrilling and intriguing personal essays, this author shares stories of her life’s adventures that have inspired her to write. By sharing her own stories, she encourages authors to find the answer to why they write. Everyone has a reason for writing, and this highly praised book will inspire writers to find their reason.
18. First You Write: The Worst Way to Become and Almost Famous Author and the Best Advice I Got While Doing It by Joni Rodgers
This mini-memoir visits the author’s experiences in her battle with cancer and how her time in chemotherapy led her to become a New York Times bestseller and celebrity ghostwriter. With her wit and hilarious anecdotes, this author challenges other writers and artists to reflect on what compels them to create and then to just do it.
19. The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates
Having written over 70 books across different genres and having been regarded as one of America’s greatest contemporary literary figures, Oates dives into the subjects most important to writing, including inspiration, memory, self-criticism and “the power of the unconscious.” The author draws on childhood inspirations to lay out advice for young writers and digs deeper into the different stages of a writer’s mind at work.
20. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
In this popular title, this young writer and artist expands on how to
capitalize on creativity. He asserts that creativity is everywhere and it is for everyone and encourages writers and artists alike to take risks, embrace their influences and follow their interests where it might take them.
21. Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark
Another guide for craft improvement, this guide is considered a “toolbox” to help writers improve their works. Written by one of the most influential writing teachers in the United States, this hands-on manual covers everything a writer might need from basic sentence structure to the complex habits of a successful writer. The best part of this book is that it’s written to benefit writers of all levels and styles, from would-be children’s book authors to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists.
What did you think of our list of 21 of the best self-help books for writers? Have you read any others, which should be on this list? Please share in the comments box below!
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[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Sheridan.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Sheridan Block is an award-winning journalist having cultivated her talents in the sandy beaches of Florida and the frost-tipped mountains of Colorado. An aspiring world traveler, Sheridan hopes to one day reach the ends of the world and share her experiences with other through her writing. Her one great love in life is her golden retriever.[/author_info] [/author]