Write On!

Write On!

A curated booklist created for the pop-up library for Write On!, Somerville Public Library's bimonthly writing group.


Write On!:  Style/Grammar | Craft | Editing/Publishing | Genre


Style/Grammar

The Elements of Style The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr, and E.B. White

The Elements of Style has become a classic inclusion in English writing resources. A manual intended to help strengthen your style and omit unnecessary writing habits.

Dreyer's English Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer

Dreyer's guide takes on everything under the umbrella of punctuation and grammar; from homophones and passive voice, to comma use and capitalization.

Sin and Syntax Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale

Presenting regular grammar and style ideas in a lens of creative and effective prose, Hale encourages writers to take on advanced syntax goals.

Story Genius Story Genius by Lisa Cron

Story Genius gives you the tools to successfully structure your story, and create a plot blueprint that will drive your writing to completion.

The Sense of Style The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker

This book reconsiders writing and usage guides in the ever-changing 21st century, while also encouraging you to break the rules when logical.

Woe is I Woe is I by Patricia T O'Connor

Woe is I is a bestselling grammar guide written with a witty tone to encourage all levels of writers to understand grammar.

The Emotion Thesaurus The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman

Understanding how to convey your characters' emotions is a huge struggle for writers, and this book lays out ways to do that; showing and not telling emotional response in all intensities.

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Craft

On Writing On Writing by Stephen King

Part memoir, and part lesson, King's On Writing is a fantastically composed balance of advice and personal anecdote.

Bird by Bird Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

In this step-by-step guide to writing, Lamott teaches us what it takes to be a writer, and the art of taking the work "bird by bird."

Daemon Voices Daemon Voices by Philip Pullman

Daemon Voices is made up of 30 or so essays Pullman has written about storytelling. Pullman is a masterful author, and his insight on writing is valuable and enriching.

Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing by Margaret Atwood

Atwood has penned six essays on the subject of writing for this book, covering profound analyses of what it means to write and be a writer.

Why We Write Why We Write edited by Meredith Maran

Essays from twenty well-known authors on what keeps them going, even through the heartbreaks of writing.

Writing Hard Stories Writing Hard Stories by Melanie Brooks

The guidance of many acclaimed memoirists on working through dark times in their lives to create honest and powerful works.

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Editing/Publishing

Writer's Marker 2020 Writer's Market 2020

Writer's Market has always been an essential tool to writers in the publishing process, with revised and updated editions coming out yearly.

The Forest for the Trees The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner

Lerner leans on her years of editing experience to give her advice to writers looking to publish and address their publishing anxieties.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers will teach you how to turn your manuscript into a publishable work with expert editing techniques.

The Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing Yourself The Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing Yourself by Susan Bell

A look into editing as a way of enhancing your work, The Artful Edit will fundamentally change how tedious and scary editing can seem.

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Genre

Poemcrazy Poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Woolridge

Poemcrazy is a delightful guide to expressing yourself through poetry, for new poets and experienced poets alike.

Writing Better Lyrics Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison

Pattison's guide to writing lyrics will take you through the elements of what makes a great song, and teach you to write a hit.

Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir by Beth Kephart

What does it mean to write a memoir? How do you put the truth to paper successfully and efficiently? This book asks and answers essential questions for aspiring memoirists.

The Art of Comic Book Writing The Art of Comic Book Writing by Mark Kneece

The Art of Comic Book Writing encompasses the key steps to creating a comic, from the outlining process onward.

The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script by David Trottier

The Screenwriter's Bible will teach you the Do's and Dont's of writing and formatting a script, screenplay, or teleplay.

Style/Grammar | Craft | Editing/Publishing | Genre | Return to Top