8 Must-Read Books for Would-Be Writers
As an aspiring writer, you have a lot to learn. Even if you've been writing for a couple of years, there's always room for improvement and advancement. And even though the best way to improve your writing skills is to write more, it's not the only way. You should also study the technique and craft by studying other authors and reading extensively.
To help you find the right resources for improving your writing skills, we’ve put together a list of 8 books you have to read as a would-be writer. Make sure to check out all the books on our list and find those that interest you the most.
Let’s take a closer look.
On Writing by Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski is one of the greatest 20th-century writers who left a strong impact on literature and future generations of writers. In his book On Writing, he reflects on the art and skill of writing, by sharing a piece of his personal experience.
The book is a collection of correspondence. He shows us the letters he exchanged with fellow writers, editors, publishers, and his friends.
As an aspiring writer, you should read the book to be able to understand:
the tough journey of becoming the best
the hard moments in the life of a writer
the importance of endurance and perseverance
Bukowski shares a story about how he became one of the biggest writers we've ever had and teaches you the important lessons in the life of a writer.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Who wouldn’t want to get some writing advice from the one and only Stephen King? His book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a memoir and a manual.
In this master class book, King shares his advice on:
the tools every writer needs to use
finding your style
rising after falling
dealing with the challenges of becoming a writer
By sharing his personal experience from the earliest age, King shows that you don’t become a bestselling author overnight and that it takes time and hard work.
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser
William Zinsser's rich career as a writing instructor at Yale, a journalist, literary critic, and editor gave him the resources and knowledge to share with everyone who wants to write in any form or shape.
The book is a practical guide with tons of useful information, advice, and tricks on how to write better and grow as a writer.
In the book, you’ll find:
fundamental writing tips
Zinsser’s writing principles
useful writing lessons
“This book made me realize where I’m standing currently as a writer and what I can do to go further and further every day. I strongly recommend it to all would-be writers," says Mariah Webster, a professional writer, and CV editor who gives help with personal statement.
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
Every writer struggles with creativity and motivation in some moment of his writing career. And, more often than not, beginner writers don’t know how to deal with writer’s block.
Julia Cameron’s self-help book The Artist's Way is an international bestseller dealing with the problem of creativity.
The book shares the author’s methods for recovering creativity, gaining self-confidence, and nurturing the talent for writing. It's a book all young writers should read and learn from.
Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind by Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire
The next book was published in 2015 but it offers insight into the history of creativity in writing. The book analyzes the creative minds of highly creative people such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, John Lenon, Thomas Edison, and many others.
The authors conducted detailed research about the scientific findings regarding creativity and the process of artistic creation. They combined them all and explained the ten attributes of creative people:
Imaginative Play
Passion
Daydreaming
Solitude
Intuition
Openness to Experience
Mindfulness
Sensitivity
Turning Adversity into Advantage
Thinking Differently
The book could be ground-breaking for young artists looking for insight into the very process of creation.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
If you’re looking for some relatable writing materials and stories from the life of a writer, this book should be your top choice. Anne Lamott shares her story of managing the daily struggles in the life of a writer.
The book shares her thoughts and advice on:
finding the time to write
managing the struggles you’ll face
staying true to yourself
Lamott uses humor and wittiness to bring the life of a writer closer to the readers and help aspiring young writers realize what it takes to become one of the best.
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey
Another great book about the life and writing processes of celebrated artists from around the globe is Daily Rituals: How Artists Work.
The book is a collection of peculiar habits and quirks by 161 world-famous artists. Those include Woody Allen, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens, Pablo Picasso, Karl Marx, Agatha Christie, and many others.
The book will share stories about their:
life journeys
goals and aspirations
best tricks and tips
daily rituals
As an aspiring artist, it's important to learn about other artists and how they became the legends that they are.
The Writing Life: Writers On How They Think And Work: A Collection from the Washington Post Book World by Marie Arana
While it’s always a great idea to learn about and from the legends of literature such as Ernest Hemingway, it’s also very useful to listen to what contemporary writers have to say.
In the book The Writing Life: Writers On How They Think And Work: A Collection from the Washington Post Book World, the author gathers and shares tales from more than fifty contemporary literature’s voices.
Every writer shares a different story and teaches about a new aspect of the writing process:
how they discovered they wanted to write
how they organize their days
the biggest struggles and rewards of being a writer
their biggest fears
their biggest triumphs
You’ll find stories to relate to and stories to learn from so make sure to read Arana’s book, which also provides a short biography for each of the writers featured in the book.
Final Thoughts
As a writer, you should constantly look for new challenges, new ways to improve and grow, and fresh resources to learn from. Reading books that are valuable for would-be writers will help you gain new perspectives and acquire new habits in your writing life.
Hopefully, you’ll find the books we’ve shared above worth reading and helpful for you as an artist and young writer.
