great writing can change the world.
And even if your ambitions are less grand, strong writing skills will help you and your business achieve your goals.
You are reading: Writing books for beginners
Each of the books listed in this article will help you become a better writer in some way. however, a vague goal is better.
That’s why the books below are grouped by specific writing skills and the areas they’ll help you improve. these include:
- motivation of the writer
- grammar and style
- organization
- examples of excellent writing
- generating ideas
- speed
- and understanding of the business.
Not only will this resource help you improve your craft, but it will also show you how to harness the skill of writing in so much more. let’s get started.
best writing books for beginners
You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins
Part memoir, part manual, goins offers some of the most user-friendly reading for aspiring writers.
The book explains what it means to be a writer, as the author worked to discover it for himself. One of the main messages is that it is essential to prioritize the skill and practice of writing. In the early stages, nothing is more important than putting words on a page.
If you’re a writer, the author also covers how to get your work in front of more people, from the basics of building an audience to harnessing that attention for better writing opportunities.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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bird by bird by anne lamott
lamott is a skilled writer with a streak of irreverence towards the standard rules of the trade. this makes it both an entertaining read and a practical guide to good rule breaking.
Much of lamott’s advice revolves around the belief that the best writers are the most conscientious. they pay attention, ask questions, listen carefully, and capture the moments most people miss.
This book is useful for writers who are not clear about the style or genre they would like to write because it espouses experimentation above all else.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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the life of writing by annie dillard
This short book is a treasure trove of inspiring content.
Although new writers won’t find step-by-step instructions on the craft, Dillard offers a cohesive, engaging, and sometimes intimidating look at the process of creating great writing.
One of the general messages included in the book is a call not to hold back. at every opportunity, a writer must empty himself and his ideas onto the page.
The fear of running out of ideas or stories is a normal part of the process, but is easily overcome by following an input (read) and output (write) schedule.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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zen in the art of writing by ray bradbury
As one of the most prolific writers of the last century, Bradbury is a voice every writer should read at least once.
her guide for writers encourages creatives to get lost in their work, not let logic stifle creativity, and let ideas take them to unexpected places (instead of always trying to control the process).
The author’s advice focuses on narrative fiction, but also includes sections on non-fiction and poetry. Regardless of the genre you choose, this resource will help you unleash your creative process.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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on the writing of stephen king
there’s a reason nearly every writing resource list mentions this book by stephen king: it’s so good.
On Writing is an intensely practical book, told through the lens of the king’s life stories and filled with concrete examples of how to transform forgettable sentences into remembered treasures.
In addition, the author has the ability to turn his knowledge into motivational pieces so that readers not only leave the book understanding how to write better, but also want to commit to practice.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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writing the bones by natalie goldberg
Although writing can be an applied skill, it also has emotional and psychological aspects.
goldberg captures these deeper elements of writing in his book to help writers communicate more fully through their words. To the author, great writing is the product of tackling difficult topics head-on and then inviting others to join you on the journey.
A technique mentioned in the book that many new writers find useful is to write with a pen and paper instead of a computer and keyboard. this tactile element can help connect the writer to their topic while avoiding crashes sometimes caused by a blinking cursor.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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best books to improve writing style
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus
You must learn the rules of writing before you can break them.
the blue book is an accessible guide that summarizes and simplifies the rules that most of us forget or never learn in English class. From how to use a comma correctly to choosing the right pronouns, this guide is packed with actionable information.
What makes this resource more useful is its collection of activities, examples, and quizzes. Although this book requires some work to finish, you will come out the other side a stronger writer.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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steven pinker’s sense of style
pinker is a psychology professor at harvard and writes about how language and the brain are connected. one would expect a style guide from such a writer to be dry or academic.
See Also: 13 Picture Books for Teaching Phonological Awareness and Phonics – Tejeda&039s Tots
Instead, Pinker delivers a love letter to the craft that explores not only what makes good writing, but also why our brains recognize it as such.
Throughout the book, one of the most valuable practices is how the author reverse-engineers what great writers do into specific passages so new writers can try the same moves in their work.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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the style elements of william strunk jr. and e.b. white
This brief guide is a rule book for good writing, with most principles explained in one page or less.
brevity, clarity, and purpose drive this resource. if you struggle with long or unclear sentences or aren’t sure how your style should fit your topic, this is a must read.
It is recommended to pick up a physical copy of this book, as having it close at hand will be exceptionally helpful during the editing phases.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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best books on writing organization
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
save the cat began as a book on screenwriting principles. then, due to its immense popularity, it became a 7-part series spanning multiple genres and formats.
This post on how to write a novel is useful for both fiction and non-fiction writers, as it teaches the building blocks of storytelling. it accomplishes this feat by outlining ten genres and showing readers how even the most creative pieces follow pre-made formulas.
This resource will not only help you organize your writing, but also help you complete projects faster.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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take off libbie hawker’s pants
hawker’s book is a simple guide to writing stories people want to read.
This resource focuses on book-sized writing projects, but all of the author’s advice can be applied to smaller projects by simply truncating the individual elements.
One of the main points of the book is that more detailed outlines make writing faster. the more time you spend figuring out how your ideas connect, the easier it will be to write.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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on writing well by william zinsser
This book is the gold standard for writing great non-fiction.
Nonfiction isn’t just about true stories, it’s also about ideas, plots, and data. these elements are as essential as the plot or the characters in fiction, and learning to master them is crucial.
The third section of Zinsser’s book covers particular forms of nonfiction writing, such as interviews and memoirs. this is a great place to start for those looking for a subgenre that aligns with their skills and interests.
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best books for modern writing examples
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
amazon contains over 90,000 books in its business & money category. So how do you write uniquely about a topic that’s been covered so many times?
you find what interests you and share it.
housel’s book is a collection of lessons on why people make the financial decisions they do with money and steps to make better decisions.
If you’re looking to cover a well-worn topic, check out this book for hints on how to do it in a refreshingly authentic way.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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outliers by malcolm gladwell
gladwell is one of the most outstanding writers alive today because he does two difficult things well: challenge assumptions and transition seamlessly.
Most of Gladwell’s books deal with topics that people think they know well. but, if he can surprise his readers in some way, he can be sure that they will tell others about what they have read.
Going from one idea to another, whether in a paragraph or on a page, can be tricky. Gladwell does this with ease, often forgoing “proper” transitional phrases altogether. If he wants to learn how to smooth his handwriting, read this title.
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ego is the enemy by ryan holiday
Many of the books on this list explain why brevity and conciseness are important to good writing. vacation embodies these elements.
His books tend to be shorter than most non-fiction books, but what’s remarkable is the amount of information holiday can convey in a single sentence. she can tell stories in a few lines that would take other writers several pages.
For those who want to reduce fat in their writing, this is an author worth studying.
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best books on generating new ideas
Choose Yourself by James Altucher
altucher is a unique character with a habit of turning random ideas into thriving businesses.
In the book, they explain how anyone can turn their brain into an idea machine: write ten ideas a day, every day, about anything. altucher provides dozens of examples to support the argument that the stranger the combination, the more promising the results.
If you’re having a hard time coming up with unique ideas or angles to write about, this resource and practice will help.
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steal like an austin kleon artist
The most prolific creators, writers or not, know how to steal well.
for kleon, this practice is not simply taking what others have done and presenting it as your own. instead, it is understanding how to follow the same processes, pursue the same goals, and evoke the same emotions as the original.
This is an excellent resource for those who want to create as their heroes without copying them.
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the war of art by steven pressfield
pressfield argues that the enemy of creative work is called resistance. And while it takes many forms, there’s always one sure way to get over it: sit back in your chair and write.
Creators will never be completely free of distractions, obstacles, and fears.
then, the solution is to get over it. your best ideas are already there; they just need you to fight for them.
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best books on how to type faster
5,000 Words Per Hour by Chris Fox
Being able to write large amounts quickly is a skill that can benefit any writer. but scribbling mountains of nonsense is useless. the key is to learn to increase speed while maintaining quality.
fox has perfected a system for this purpose. in his book, they explain how to use a few different tools to help achieve incredible levels of production. these include writing sprints, dictation software, and timed flow states.
This short, handy guide is a great resource for both fast typing and good time management.
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hal elrod’s miracle morning for writers
Learning to write efficiently is a product of creating a schedule that supports your writing habit. this book explains how to accomplish this by structuring the first 2-3 hours of your day entirely around writing.
The authors, Hal Elrod and Steve Scott, are enormously prolific with over 50 books published between them. they’ve focused on patterns that work and share them strategically for readers.
A great contribution of this title is that it identifies writing as a holistic activity. therefore, creatives who take care of their mental and physical health will, almost by default, be more productive and creative in their writing.
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this book will teach you how to write better by neville medhora
This short guide (<60 pages) introduces writing basics any writer can use to make their content more engaging.
medhora combines brutal honesty with hilarious humor to communicate some of the struggles writers face, such as readers being selfish, easily bored, and short on time. writing that understands these challenges and resolves them is read.
This resource is also a valuable introduction to the voice and how finding your own can supercharge your writing process.
See Also: Testimonials – Kelsay Books
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best books on the business of writing
Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins
In this book, goins challenges the sentiment that people who choose artistic paths must struggle financially.
Chapter by chapter, the author collects examples of successful artists, writers, and creators and breaks down the business models they use to succeed with their work.
if you want proof that people can be successful as writers without making it to a bestseller list, this is for you.
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perennial salesman by ryan holiday
How do you make something that lasts beyond your life? this is the question that holiday answers with her book by examining the common elements of the classics that are still read today.
Underneath the discussion of durable work is the issue of financing that work. Despite the rare cases of bankrupt artists becoming famous after his death, most of the classic works we still interact with today were popular when they were current.
The more financially successful a project is, the more likely it is to survive. success is not an enemy of creative work, it is the fuel for it.
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how to make a living from your writing by joanna penn
Thanks to the internet, there are now dozens of ways to earn money as a writer. the author derived most of his income from self-publishing books and the availability of those books in multiple formats (digital, audio, paperback).
The book covers a host of alternatives, including ways to monetize a blog or newsletter, how to leverage writing for consulting or speaking opportunities, and the best ways to start freelancing.
Turning your words into revenue is a realistic goal. you just need to know where to start.
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next step for aspiring writers
The books you read will inevitably mark your path as a writer.
They will give you ideas, direction and guidance. but what they can’t do is write for you. that part is up to you.
If you’re looking for a platform where you can start sharing your words with the world, try ghost. is a simple, fast, and powerful publishing tool built with writers in mind.