The 5 Essential Craft Books for Fiction Writers
We become better writers by writing, reading, and learning from fellow writers. Writing is an art and the rules are not hard and fast. No matter whether you want to write a bestseller or compose something niche and experimental—a strong foundation in how to tell stories will save you time and frustration. Plus, you’ll see that your frequent frustrations are not about you—they’re common to all writers.
There are loads of books that offer inspiration and technique for fiction writers. Regardless of where you are in your journey as a writer, a healthy dose of intellectual stimulation around the craft of writing will help you evolve and push the boundaries of how to tell a story.
Ready to improve your writing craft with nervous system regulation and intuitive development? Take my course, Time To Write.
In this post, I’ll share my favorite books for every part of the fiction writing process. I’ve also included affiliate links to Bookshop.org; by purchasing from Bookshop, you support me and independent bookstores!
Books on Fiction Writing
The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante
This extremely comprehensive book will teach you a solid foundation of both fiction and non-fiction writing, complete with examples from renowned authors. The author’s fresh take on writing challenges many so-called rules, giving a writer more agency in their own writing while still learning how to tell a story effectively.
Books on Book Editing
Refuse To Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell
A novel may seem overwhelming to write. Just wait until you try to edit a document of 60k+ words! MFA professor Matt Bell outlines three stages of editing, with a mix of conventional and creative methods. When I was working on my most recent novel, I tried his idea of printing out a chapter, cutting the pages apart, and reordering sections, and it was magic. Highly recommend!
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King
There are many common mistakes that set apart the writing of an amateur from a professional. No matter if you’re writing to self-publish or to pitch publishers, if you want your work to be easily comprehended by readers, study this book.
Fiction Writing Critique Books
Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salesses
Getting feedback on your writing is essential, and very few people know how to do it. Even in MFA programs, where critiques are built into the schedule, the feedback from fellow students can be lackluster or even damaging. MFA professor Matthew Salesses offers new ways to think about asking for and receiving feedback that can be used by independent critique groups as well as university programs. He also offers a critique of his own—on prevailing standards of what we consider good writing that are actually culture-specific, not universal.
Making Money by Writing Books
The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman
Everyone wants to know if writing books can make you money. Can writing books make you rich? This book will tell you. Publishing expert Jane Friedman demystifies how the industry works. She includes sections on how to write book proposals and query letters, essential gateways to working with traditional publishers, but also how authors market themselves and earn income outside of writing.
Second edition available in April 2025!
Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer's Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book by Courtney Maum
When I first read author and teacher Courtney Maum’s book, I intended to save the “after the book deal” section for when I had a book deal. At the time of writing, I still don’t, but my curiosity got the best of me and I finished the book. She interviewed fellow authors, editors, and literary agents, and shares much insider knowledge, including benchmarks for how much authors are getting paid, depending on the size of publisher they’re working with. That’s a page I still have bookmarked.
Ready to improve your writing craft with nervous system regulation and intuitive development? Take my course, Time To Write.
