Writing Fiction: An Introductory Guide: Recommended Reading
A guide to the craft and business of writing fiction.
Book Lists on Writing
Introduction to Recommended Reading
These book lists will help to get you started on your writing journey. Keep in mind that these are not meant to be exhaustive lists and you may find other books in our catalog or by browsing the shelves at your local library branch. These titles may be available in other formats or languages. Check the catalog for availability.
Recommended Reading contents
General Reading on the Writing Craft - Whether you're new to the craft of writing or a seasoned novelist, these books will help you figure it all out from getting out of writer's block to plotting your novel and writing dialogue.
Writers on Writing - Writers love to talk about the craft of writing and the writing life. If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite novels, or if you're an inspired writer looking for advice, these books will answer all of your impassioned questions.
Writing the Genres - If you're writing genre fiction, you'll find books on this list to help you write paranormal fiction, M/M Romance, science fiction, and others.
Get Your Facts Right - Here is a sampling of books that offer great information on police procedure, body trauma, poisons, and other things writers will need to know to get their facts right.
Editing Your Novel - Make sure your novel is ready to send off to the publisher with these books on editing.
Publishing Your Novel - These books will help you in your publishing endeavors from finding the right publisher to helping you write your query letter.
These books are available at the library!
Click on a title from these lists and you will be taken directly to the library's catalog. There you can either place a hold on the title, or find out where it's located and find it on the shelf, where you can also browse for similar titles. If you need more books than what can be found on these lists feel free to search the catalog for other titles, or use the following Library of Congress call numbers to browse the shelves in person at your local branch library:
Modern English: PE1001-1693
Literary History: PN140-1009.5
Authorship & Craft of Writing: PN140-472 & PN3350-3383
Writing Genre Fiction: PN3427-3448
Borrowing eBooks from the library
Some of the titles on these lists are available in eBook format. If you've not tried our eBook services, these links below direct you to library resources that can show you which platforms we have and how to use them.
Stream & Download - This page will link you to each of the eBook platforms the library uses as well as tutorial videos and FAQs for each.
Frequently Asked Questions about eBooks - How do I access eBooks from the statewide eBook lending program?
General Reading on the Writing Craft
Around the Writer's Block by ISBN: 9781585428717Publication Date: 2012-08-02Bane’s three-part plan, which has improved the productivity of thousands of writers, helps you develop new reliable writing habits, rewire the brain’s responses to the anxiety of writing, and turn writing from a source of stress and anxiety into one of joy and personal growth.
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer by ISBN: 9781950665884Publication Date: 2021-06-01Straczynsky pulls from his more than 30 years of experience writing for film, television, books, and comics. Designed for writers in any stage of their career, his unique, tried-and-true methodologies help storytellers sharpen their work so that it's polished and ready for publication. Part toolbox and part survival guide, this book will be an indispensable guide throughout your entire writing career, offering fresh and practical insights every step of the way.
Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint (Write Great Fiction Series) by ISBN: 9781582973166Publication Date: 2005-03-15Explains how to create three-dimensional and believable characters, develop their emotions, create realistic love, fight, and death scenes, and use frustration to motivate your characters and drive your story.
Conflict and Suspense (Elements of Fiction Writing Series) by ISBN: 9781599632735Publication Date: 2012-01-12Expert thriller author and writing instructor James Scott Bell shows you how to craft scenes, create characters, and develop storylines that harness conflict and suspense to carry your story from the first word to the last. Pack the beginning, middle, and end of your book with the right amount of conflict. Learn how to include inner conflict, tension in dialogue, and balance subplots, flashbacks, and backstory to keep your story moving forward.
Description and Setting (Write Great Fiction Series) by ISBN: 9781582973272Publication Date: 2005-03-15Explains how to establish a realistic sense of time and place, use description and setting to drive your story, keep excess description from cluttering your story, craft effective description and setting for different genres, and skillfully master showing vs. telling.
Dialogue (Write Great Fiction Series) by ISBN: 9781582972893Publication Date: 2004-10-26Explains how to create dialogue that drives the story, weave dialogue with narrative and action, use dialogue to pace your story, write dialogue that fits specific genres, avoid the common pitfalls of writing dialogue, and make dialogue unique for each character.
Keep Going by ISBN: 9781523506644Publication Date: 2019-04-02The world is crazy. Creative work is hard. And nothing is getting any easier! Keep Going gives the reader life-changing, illustrated advice and encouragement on how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself in the face of personal burnout or external distractions.
No Plot? No Problem! by ISBN: 9781452124773Publication Date: 2014-09-16Chris Baty founded National Novel Writing Month, where writers from around the world try to write 50,000 words in a month. This book helps beginners turn their ideas into novels with lots of pep talks from others who’ve gone before.
Plot and Structure (Write Great Fiction Series) by ISBN: 9781582976846Publication Date: 2004-09-22Explains how to create strong beginnings, middles, and ends. Includes plotting diagrams and charts, brainstorming techniques for original plot ideas, thought-provoking exercises at the end of each chapter, story structure models and methods for all genres, and tips and tools for correcting common plot problems.
Revision and Self-Editing (Write Great Fiction Series) by ISBN: 9781582975085Publication Date: 2008-05-05Write a cleaner first draft right out of the gate using Bell’s plotting principles. Get the most out of revision and self-editing techniques by honing your skills with detailed exercises. Systematically revise a completed draft using the ultimate revision checklist that walks you through the core story elements.
Steal Like an Artist by ISBN: 9780761169253Publication Date: 2012-02-28Unlock your creativity. An inspiring guide to creativity in the digital age, Steal Like an Artist presents ten transformative principles that will help readers discover their artistic side and build a more creative life.
Steering the Craft by ISBN: 9780544611610Publication Date: 2015-09-01This book covers the basic elements of narrative: how a story is told, what moves it and what clogs it. Each topic includes examples that clarify and exercises that intensify awareness of the techniques of storytelling.
Writing Diverse Characters for Fiction, TV or Film by ISBN: 9780857301178Publication Date: 2018-04-01We're living in a time of unprecedented diversity in produced media content, with more characters appearing who are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), LGBT, disabled, or from other religions or classes. How to Write Diverse Characters discusses issues of all identities with specific reference to characterisation, not only in movies and TV, but also novel writing. It gives writers the tools to create three dimensional, authentic characters... Who just happen to be diverse.
Writers on Writing
Becoming a Writer by ISBN: 9780874771640Publication Date: 1981-03-01Refreshingly slim, beautifully written and deliciously elegant, Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer remains evergreen decades after it was first written. Brande believed passionately that although people have varying amounts of talent, anyone can write. It's just a question of finding the "writer's magic"--a degree of which is in us all.
Daemon Voices by ISBN: 9780525521174Publication Date: 2018-09-18In over 30 essays, written over 20 years, one of the world's great story-tellers meditates on story-telling. Warm, funny, generous, entertaining, and above all, deeply considered, they offer thoughts on a wide variety of topics, including the origin and composition of Philip's own stories, the craft of writing and the story-tellers who have meant the most to him.
How I Write by ISBN: 9780312354282Publication Date: 2006-09-19This is the perfect reference for anyone looking to improve their writing, and for those fans who are hungry to find out more about just how Janet Evanovich ticks.
If You Want to Write by ISBN: 9780915308941Publication Date: 1987-02-01In her 93 remarkable years, Brenda Ueland published six million words. She said she had two rules she followed absolutely: to tell the truth, and not to do anything she didn't want to do. Her integrity shines throughout her best-selling classic on the process of writing. Carl Sandburg called this book "The best book ever written about how to write." Yet Ueland reminds us that "Whenever I say 'writing' in this book, I also mean anything that you love and want to do or to make."
Letters to a Young Writer (and You Too) by ISBN: 9780399590801Publication Date: 2017-04-04A paean to the power of language, both by argument and by example, Letters to a Young Writer is fierce and honest in its testament to the bruises delivered by writing as both a profession and a calling. It charges aspiring writers to learn the rules and even break them.
Only as Good as Your Word by ISBN: 9781580052207Publication Date: 2007-08-31In this funny, moving, and revealing book, Susan Shapiro recounts her obsessive quest for success as a professional writer and the beloved mentors who saved her life--and career--along the way.
On Writing by ISBN: 9780679642701Publication Date: 2002-09-24Writers have always been looking to Eudora Welty to answer the profound questions of what makes a story good, a novel successful, a writer an artist. The answers are presented here in seven concise chapters discussing the subjects most important to the narrative craft, such as place, voice, memory, and language. But even more important is what Welty calls “the mystery” of fiction writing—how the writer assembles language and ideas to create a work of art.
On Writing by ISBN: 9780684853529Publication Date: 2000-10-03Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have.
Scratch by ISBN: 9781501134579Publication Date: 2017-01-03A collection of essays from today’s most acclaimed authors—from Cheryl Strayed to Roxane Gay to Jennifer Weiner, Alexander Chee, Nick Hornby, and Jonathan Franzen—on the realities of making a living in the writing world.
Ursula K. Le Guin by ISBN: 9781941040997Publication Date: 2018-04-03In a series of interviews with David Naimon (Between the Covers), Le Guin discusses craft, aesthetics, and philosophy in her fiction, poetry, and nonfiction respectively. The discussions provide ample advice and guidance for writers of every level, but also give Le Guin a chance to to sound off on some of her favorite subjects: the genre wars, the patriarchy, the natural world, and what, in her opinion, makes for great writing.
The Way of the Writer by ISBN: 9781501147210Publication Date: 2016-12-06The Way of the Writer is both a literary reflection on the creative impulse and a utilitarian guide to the writing process. Johnson shares his lessons and exercises from the classroom, starting with word choice, sentence structure, and narrative voice, and delving into the mechanics of scene, dialogue, plot and storytelling before exploring the larger questions at stake for the serious writer. What separates literature from industrial fiction? What lies at the heart of the creative impulse? How does one navigate the literary world? And how are philosophy and fiction concomitant?
Why We Write by ISBN: 9780452298156Publication Date: 2013-01-29Anyone who's ever sat down to write a novel or even a story knows how exhilarating and heartbreaking writing can be. So what makes writers stick with it? In Why We Write, twenty well-known authors candidly share what keeps them going and what they love most—and least—about their vocation. Includes Isabel Allende, David Baldacci, Jennifer Egan, James Frey, Sue Grafton, and more!
Write Away by ISBN: 9780060560423Publication Date: 2004-03-02Write Away is a clear and concise guide to fiction writing, but it also opens a window into the life of Elizabeth George. It reveals the inspiring personal story of how the distinguished author came to be published and how she meticulously researches and crafts her novels.
Zen in the Art of Writing by ISBN: 0795350511Publication Date: 1990-02-01Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing.
Writing the Genres
How to Write a Mystery by ISBN: 9781982149437Publication Date: 2021-04-27From 70 of the most successful mystery writers in the business, an invaluable guide to crafting mysteries--from character development and plot to procedurals and thrillers. This handbook helps authors navigate the ever-shifting publishing landscape--from pacing, plotting, the business side of publishing, to the current demand for diversity and inclusivity across all genres, and more.
Man, Oh Man by ISBN: 9781937909413Publication Date: 2013-06-01This definitive guide to writing M/M Romance takes you step by step through the writing process with help and insight from the genre’s top publishers, editors, reviewers, and writers. Learn everything from how to find fresh ideas and strong hooks, to promoting and marketing your published work, even if you self-publish.
Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror by ISBN: 9780399165559Publication Date: 2014-02-20Offers a full toolbox of advice and exercises for speculative fiction writers hoping to craft an engaging alternate reality, flesh out an enthralling fantasy quest, or dream up a bloodcurdling plot twist, This collection of storytelling secrets from top genre writers--including winners of Nebula, Hugo, Edgar, and Bram Stoker awards--is essential for any writer looking to take a leap beyond the ordinary.
Romancing the Beat by ISBN: 9781530838615Publication Date: 2016-04-02The romance arc is made up of its own story beats, and the external plot and theme need to be braided to the romance arc-not the other way around. Told in conversational prose, Romancing the Beat can be read like you are sitting down to coffee with romance editor and author Gwen Hayes while she explains story structure the way she does with her clients, some of whom are regular inhabitants of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Romancing the Beat is a recipe, not a rigid system. The beats don't care if you plot or outline before you write, or if you pants your way through the drafts and do a "beat check" when you're revising. Pantsers and plotters are both welcome. So sit down, grab a cuppa, and let's talk about kissing books.
The Steampunk Bible by ISBN: 0810989581Publication Date: 2011-05-01Steampunk--a grafting of Victorian aesthetic and punk rock attitude onto various forms of science-fiction culture--is a phenomenon that has come to influence film, literature, art, music, fashion, and more. The Steampunk Bible traces its roots in the works of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells through its most recent expression in movies such as Sherlock Holmes. Steampunk evokes a sense of adventure and discovery, and embraces extinct technologies as a way of talking about the future. While this isn't a book specifically for writers on writing in the genre, it is sure to give you some ideas of where your stories could go, or how the technology in your world works.
Writing Historical Fiction by ISBN: 9781780937854Publication Date: 2013-12-05Includes a short history of the genre, contributions from well-known authors such as Margaret Atwood and Philippa Gregory, and exercises to help the new writer master the craft of historical fiction.
Writing Picture Books by ISBN: 9781440353758Publication Date: 2018-11-13The go-to resource for writers crafting stories for children ages two to eight. You'll learn the unique set of skills it takes to bring your story to life by using tightly focused text and leaving room for the illustrator to be creative. Award-winning author Ann Whitford Paul helps you develop the skills you need by walking you through techniques and exercises specifically for picture book writers.
Writing the Paranormal Novel by ISBN: 9781599631349Publication Date: 2011-03-14Learn how to choose supernatural elements and decide what impact they will have on your fictional world, create engaging and relatable characters from supernatural protagonists and antagonists to supporting players (both human and non-human), develop strong plots and complementary subplots, write believable fight scenes and flashbacks, and create realistic dialogue.
Get Your Facts Right
The Art of Creative Research by ISBN: 9780226179803Publication Date: 2017-02-21Research shouldn't be seen as a dry, plodding aspect of writing. Instead, it's an art that all writers can master, one that unearths surprises and fuels imagination. This lends authenticity to fiction and poetry as well as nonfiction. For some, research means poring over records and combing archives, but for many creative writers research happens in the everyday world--when they scribble an observation on the subway, when they travel to get the feel for a city, or when they strike up a conversation with an interesting stranger. The Art of Creative Research helps writers take this natural inclination to explore and observe and turn it into a workable--and enjoyable--research plan, whether you’re doing in-person or archival research.
Forensics (Howdunit Series) by ISBN: 9781599634418Publication Date: 2008-03-21Award-winning author and TV show consultant D.P. Lyle, M.D., takes each area of forensics-from fingerprint analysis to crime scene reconstruction-and discusses its development, how the science works, how it helps in crime solving, and how you as a writer might use this technique in crafting your plot. Includes: Real-life case files; A breakdown of the forensics system from its history and organization to standard evidence classification and collection methods; Detailed information on what a dead body can reveal-including the cause, mechanism, and manner of death; The actual steps taken to preserve a crime scene and the evidence that can be gathered there, such as bloodstains, documents, fingerprints, tire impressions, and more.
Police Procedure and Investigation (Howdunit Series) by ISBN: 9781582974552Publication Date: 2007-08-08Most everything you see on your favorite crime show is inaccurate! Let Lee Lofland, and his two decades in law enforcement, help you get all your police procedure facts right for your next novel. Detailed information on officer training, tools of the trade, drug busts, con air procedures, crime scene investigation techniques, and more.
Body Trauma by ISBN: 9781933016412Publication Date: 2006-10-15Body Trauma explains what happens to body organs and bones maimed by accident or intent and the small window of opportunity for emergency treatment. Research what happens in a hospital operating room and the personnel who initiate treatment. Use these facts to bring added realism to your stories and novels.
Criminal Mind by ISBN: 9781582970790Publication Date: 2002-06-22To help writers create more credible and convincing criminal characters, this guide examines the basics of psychology and law, theories of criminality, and various disorders that can lead to criminal behaviour. It also explores the legal process, forensics, and treatment of offenders and victims.
The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds by ISBN: 9780425232262Publication Date: 2010-02-02Week after week, the hit TV show, Criminal Minds, gives viewers a look inside the psyches of the fictional serial killers tracked by the BAU (Behavioural Analysis Unit). This elite team of FBI agents travels the US assisting law enforcement officials by examining the crime scene, profiling' the perpetrator and aiding in arrest and interrogation. In The Forensic Science of Criminal Minds, Katherine Ramsland reveals how reality differs from fiction and how forensic psychologists actually use their knowledge of human behaviour and motivations.
Forensics by ISBN: 9781119181651Publication Date: 2016-02-29Written by a doctor and former Law & Order consultant, this guide will have you solving crimes along with your favorite TV shows in no time. From fingerprints and fibers to blood and ballistics, you'll walk through the processes that yield significant information from the smallest clues. You'll learn how Hollywood gets it wrong, and how real-world forensics experts work every day in fields as diverse as biology, psychology, anthropology, medicine, information technology, and more. You'll find out how to start a career in forensics--and the education you'll need to do the type of work that interests you the most. Learn what goes on at the morgue as you determine cause of death, and climb into the mind of a killer as you learn how forensic psychologists narrow down the suspect list.
More Forensics and Fiction by ISBN: 9781605423944Publication Date: 2012-04-01This compilation of medical and forensic science questions from crime writers around the world provides insight into medical and forensic science as well as a glimpse into the writer's creative mind. How do hallucinogenic drugs affect a blind person? Will snake venom injected into fruit cause death? How would you perform CPR in a helicopter? What happens when someone swallows razor blades? How long does it take blood to dry? Can DNA be obtained from a half-eaten bagel? D. P. Lyle, MD,answers these and many more intriguing questions. From traumatic injuries to the coroner's office, the questions and answers are divided into five parts, making it a compendium of the incredible information that lies within the world of medicine and forensics.
Putting the Science in Fiction by ISBN: 9781440353383Publication Date: 2018-10-16This book brings together scientists, physicians, engineers, and other experts to help you understand the basic principles of science, technology, and medicine frequently featured in fiction, avoid common pitfalls and misconceptions with technical accuracy, write realistic and compelling scientific elements that will captivate readers, and brainstorm and develop new science and technology-based story ideas. Each article discusses an element of sci-fi or fantasy with an expert in that field. Scientists, engineers, medical professionals, and others share their insights in order to debunk the myths, correct the misconceptions, and offer advice on getting the details right.
The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England by ISBN: 9780670026074Publication Date: 2013-06-27This popular history explores daily life in Queen Elizabeth's England, taking us inside the homes and minds of ordinary citizens as well as luminaries of the period, including Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Sir Francis Drake. Organized as a travel guide for the time-hopping tourist, Mortimer relates in delightful (and occasionally disturbing) details everything from the sounds and smells of sixteenth-century England to the complex and contradictory Elizabethan attitudes toward violence, class, sex, and religion.
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by ISBN: 9781439112908Publication Date: 2011-10-25Through the use of daily chronicles, letters, household accounts, and poems of the day, Mortimer transports you back in time, providing answers to questions typically ignored by traditional historians. You will learn how to greet people on the street, what to use as toilet paper, why a physician might want to taste your blood, and how to know whether you are coming down with leprosy. The result is the most astonishing social history book you're ever likely to read: revolutionary in its concept, informative and entertaining in its detail, and startling for its portrayal of humanity in an age of violence, exuberance, and fear.
The Time Traveler's Guide to Restoration Britain by ISBN: 9781681773544Publication Date: 2017-04-11Imagine you could see the smiles of the people mentioned in Samuel Pepys's diary, hear the shouts of market traders, and touch their wares. How would you find your way around? Where would you stay? What would you wear? Where might you be suspected of witchcraft? Where would you be welcome?This is an up-close-and-personal look at Britain between the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660 and the end of the century. Why are half the people you meet under the age of twenty-one? What is considered rude? And why is dueling so popular? Mortimer delves into the nuances of daily life to paint a vibrant and detailed picture of society at the dawn of the modern world as only he can.
The Writer's Guide to Psychology by ISBN: 9781884995682Publication Date: 2010-12-01An accurate and accessible survey of modern psychological theory and practice, this reference offers professional writers practical advice for incorporating psychological elements into their work. With easy-to-understand explanations and definitions, this book is an invaluable resource for any writer wishing to add realistic details to scenes that depict psychologists, mental illnesses and disorders, and psychotherapeutic treatments. Designed around the needs of professional fiction and nonfiction writers, this is an easy-to-use resource that includes historical and modern psychological treatments and terms and refutes popularly held misconceptions.
The Writer's Guide to Weapons by ISBN: 9781599638195Publication Date: 2014-12-03Knowing the difference between a shotshell and a slug, a pistol and a revolver, or a switchblade and a butterfly knife is essential for imbuing your story with authenticity. Includes an in-depth look at the basics of firearms and knives: how they work, why they work, what they look like, and how to depict them accurately in your stories. Also includes the biggest weapons myths in fiction, TV, and film, a surefire guide for choosing the correct weapon for your characters, no matter their skill level, strength, or background, a review of major gun and knife laws, weapons safety tips, and common police tactics, "The Hit List," showcasing the most popular weapons for spies, detectives, gunslingers, gangsters, military characters, and more.
Editing Your Novel
The Elements of Style by ISBN: 9780205632640Publication Date: 2008-10-15This compact handbook offers basic principles of composition, grammar, word usage and misusage, and writing style.
Dreyer's English by ISBN: 9780812995701Publication Date: 2019-01-29As Random House's copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. Dreyer's English offers lessons on punctuation, from the under loved semicolon to the enigmatic en dash; the rules and nonrules of grammar, and even helps you brush up on your spelling. Chock-full of advice, insider wisdom, and fun facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to everyone who wants to shore up their writing skills, and mandatory for people who spend their time editing and shaping other people's prose.
Sin and Syntax by ISBN: 9780385346894Publication Date: 2013-08-13Everyone needs to know how to write stylish prose--students, professionals, and seasoned writers alike. Copy veteran Constance Hale is on a mission to make creative communication, both the lyrical and the unlawful, an option for everyone. With its crisp, witty tone, Sin and Syntax covers grammar's ground rules while revealing countless unconventional syntax secrets that make for sinfully good writing.
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by ISBN: 9780805088311Publication Date: 2008-07-08Mignon Fogarty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl, is determined to wipe out bad grammar--but she's also determined to make the process as painless as possible, covering the grammar rules and word-choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. From "between vs. among" and "although vs. while" to comma splices and misplaced modifiers, Mignon offers memory tricks and clear explanations that will help readers recall and apply those troublesome grammar rules. Chock-full of tips on style, business writing, and effective e-mailing, Grammar Girl's print debut, after her successful podcast, deserves a spot on every communicator's desk.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by ISBN: 0060545690Publication Date: 2004-04-13Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. Here at last is a book by two professional editors to teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories. Renni Browne and Dave King teach you, the writer, how to apply the editing techniques they have developed to your own work. Chapters on dialogue, exposition, point of view, interior monologue, and other techniques take you through the same processes an expert editor would go through to perfect your manuscript. Each point is illustrated with examples, many drawn from the hundreds of books Browne and King have edited.- Revision and Self-Editing (Write Great Fiction Series) by ISBN: 9781582975085Publication Date: 2008-05-05Write a cleaner first draft right out of the gate using Bell’s plotting principles. Get the most out of revision and self-editing techniques by honing your skills with detailed exercises. Systematically revise a completed draft using the ultimate revision checklist that walks you through the core story elements.
What Editors Do by ISBN: 9780226299976Publication Date: 2017-10-06Peter Ginna gathers essays from twenty-seven leading figures in book publishing about their work. Representing both large houses and small, and encompassing trade, textbook, academic, and children's publishing, the contributors shed light on how editors acquire books, what constitutes a strong author-editor relationship, and the editor's vital role at each stage of the publishing process. This collection treats editing as both art and craft, and also as a career, exploring how editors balance passion against the economic realities of publishing.
Publishing & Marketing
The Business of Being a Writer by ISBN: 9780226393162Publication Date: 2018-03-16The Business of Being a Writer offers the business education writers need but so rarely receive. It is meant for early-career writers looking to develop a realistic set of expectations about making money from their work or for working writers who want a better understanding of the industry. Writers will gain a comprehensive picture of how the publishing world works--from queries and agents to blogging and advertising--and will learn how they can best position themselves for success over the long term.
The Author's Toolkit by ISBN: 9781621534822Publication Date: 2015-10-13Learn how to develop and research fiction and nonfiction ideas, find a "hook" to attract reader interest, organize a plot and delineate characters, format for print and ebook readers, find an agent, understand literary contracts, market and promote a finished book, and obtain backing such as crowdfunding.
Social Media for Writers by ISBN: 9781599639260Publication Date: 2015-12-01Maximize the Potential of Your Online Brand! Over the past decade, social media has transformed from a fad into a necessity for writers. But for the inexperienced author, trying to make sense of--much less master--the available platforms can be a frustrating experience. Whether you're just starting to create an audience or looking to refine your online presence, Social Media for Writers will equip you with the essential tools you'll need to succeed including how to set up your platform, create an online fan base, and create quality content readers will flock to.
Show Your Work! by ISBN: 9780761178972Publication Date: 2014-03-06Kleon shows you how to take that critical next step on a creative journey: getting known. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, "Show Your Work" offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, and productive. It’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.
How to Write a Book Proposal by ISBN: 9781440348211Publication Date: 2017-09-05If you want to publish a book, you must present it to agents and publishers with a knock-your-socks-off proposal. Nailing your proposal requires an understanding of how publishers work and how to brand yourself, build a platform, and structure your book. Includes examples of successful proposals, ways to customize your proposal, strategies for proposals in the Digital Age, effective structures for narrative writers, and a list of the "Top Ten Proposal Killers".
The Writer's Guide to Queries, Pitches and Proposals by ISBN: 9781581157437Publication Date: 2010-09-28This indispensable resource provides writers with successful approaches to such topics as how to craft a query letter, create a nonfiction or fiction book proposal, approach newspapers with a column or syndication idea, get corporate freelancing jobs, and win a writing grant. Interviews with experts in a variety of fields and dozens of new examples of successful pitches, queries and proposals enliven and illustrate the text.
Blogging for Writers by ISBN: 9781599638966Publication Date: 2014-12-17Today, a blog is one of the most powerful tools a writer has at his or her disposal. Whether you want to connect with a potentially huge new readership or showcase your work and get published, a well-written, well-presented blog is essential. Packed with tips, advice, and inspirational stories from successful writers who blog, Blogging for Writers is an accessible guide that teaches everything you need to know to create a blog that you'll enjoy writing--and one that readers will return to again and again.
Bloggers Boot Camp by ISBN: 9780415737142Publication Date: 2014-04-28Bloggers Boot Camp shows you how to blog for success. It teaches you how to find a niche, find your unique voice, and how to hold a conversation with an audience. It provides information on all the right tools for the blog, and it offers best ways to promote your blog and content for maximum success and a profitable life.
The Law (in Plain English) for Writers (Fifth Edition) by ISBN: 9781621536284Publication Date: 2018-04-03Readers will discover how to succeed in every area affecting a writer's livelihood, such as submissions, dealing with agents, taxes, permissions, royalties, alternatives to mainstream publishers, copyright, book and magazine contracts, and how to prevent disputes. Includes issues such as privacy, and defamation law, copyright law, copyright protection and infringement, business of writing, and internet resources.
How to Self-Publish Your Book by ISBN: 9780757004650Publication Date: 2019-06-01Let publishing expert, Jan Yager, walk you through the daunting process of self-publishing. Part one takes you through the initial manuscript preparation--setting your goals, writing, sequencing, editing, proofing, and creating a business plan. Part two focuses on the actual production of your book: the importance of cover and interior design, producing physical books and e-books, and creating an audiobook. Part three provides information on how to market and sell your book. Includes a resource guide for self-publishing service providers, including complete self-publishing companies as well as freelance editors, proofreaders, printers, distributors, marketers, and publicists.
The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published by ISBN: 9780761160854Publication Date: 2010-11-04This nuts-and-bolts guide demystifies every step of the publishing process: how to come up with a blockbuster title, create a selling proposal, find the right agent, understand a book contract, and develop marketing and publicity savvy. Comprises interviews with hundreds of publishing insiders and authors, such as Seth Godin, Neil Gaiman, Amy Bloom, Margaret Atwood, Leonard Lopate, plus agents, editors, and booksellers. Includes sidebars featuring real-life publishing success stories, sample proposals, query letters, and a resources and publishers directory.
A People's Guide to Publishing by ISBN: 9781621062851Publication Date: 2018-12-04The author draws on interviews and 22 years of experience to show readers how to launch their own traditional-format book publishing company in a shifting industry. If you're going into self-publishing you may find this interesting and insightful, otherwise, it's really meant for someone looking to start a full publishing company with employees.
Writer's Market* by ISBN: 9781440354359Publication Date: 2018-09-04Includes listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents--as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections. These listings feature contact and submission information to help writers get their work published. Beyond the listings, you'll find all-new material devoted to the business and promotion of writing. Discover the secrets to ten-minute marketing, how to make money covering live events, and seven steps to doubling your writing income. Plus, you'll learn how to do video effectively, create a business plan for success, and so much more. This edition includes the ever-popular pay-rate chart and book publisher subject index! *Because we catalog this title as a "subscription" you cannot place a hold on a specific edition unless you speak to a librarian. (On the catalog page, click "Availability by location" on the left and scroll down the popup window to find the latest edition.)
Novel and Short Story Writer's Market* by ISBN: 9781440354373Publication Date: 2018-09-11Features hundreds of updated listings for book publishers, literary agents, fiction publications, contests, and more. Each listing includes contact information, submission guidelines, and other essential tips. This book teaches you how to: break down the anatomy of a great short story, learn how to create an antagonistic setting and incorporate conflict into your fiction, discover the important elements of complexity and how to use those elements to develop your story. Gain insight from best-selling and award-winning authors, including George Saunders, Kristin Hannah, Roxane Gay, and more. *Because we catalog this title as a "subscription" you cannot place a hold on a specific edition unless you speak to a librarian. (On the catalog page, click "Availability by location" on the left and scroll down the popup window to find the latest edition.)
Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market* by ISBN: 9781440354403Publication Date: 2018-10-16Includes more than 500 listings for children's book markets, including publishers, literary agents, magazines, contests, and more. These listings include a point of contact, how to properly submit your work, and what categories each market accepts. This edition also features interviews with accomplished authors such as Melissa de la Cruz, Leigh Bardugo, E. Lockhart, and more. More than a dozen debut authors of picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult fiction explain their personal paths to success and publication. Also encompasses advice on how to navigate social media, blogging, and more to enhance your chances at writing success. *Because we catalog this title as a "subscription" you cannot place a hold on a specific edition unless you speak to a librarian. (On the catalog page, click "Availability by location" on the left and scroll down the popup window to find the latest edition.)
