For Writers

These books have been recommended by successful authors and / or have been helpful to me personally. I hope you enjoy building your library.


Writing Classes I Recommend:

Online Workshops – Dean Wesley Smith
In-Person Workshops – Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
WMG Lecture Series – Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Writing Classes – Holly Lisle


Books on Craft:

Beginnings, Middles and Ends – Nancy Kress

Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint – Nancy Kress

Description & Setting – Ron Rozelle

Write Great Fiction: Dialogue – Gloria Kempton

The First Five Pages – Noah Lukeman

How to Grow a Novel – Sol Stein

Immediate Fiction – Jerry Cleaver

Plot & Structure – James Scott Bell

Sin & Syntax – Constance Hale

Stein on Writing – Sol Stein

Story – Robert McKee

Techniques of the Selling Writer – Dwight V. Swain

The Writer’s Journey – Christopher Vogler

Word Magic for Writers – Cindy Rogers

Word Painting – Rebecca McClanahan

Writing Dialogue – Tom Chiarella

Writing for Emotional Impact – Karl Iglesias

Writing the Breakout Novel – Donald Maass


Books on Writing Romance:

The Art of Romance Writing – Valerie Parv

How to Write Romances – Phyllis Taylor Pianka

Improve Your Romance Writing Skills – Geneviéve & Michael Montcombroux

On Writing Romance – Leigh Michaels

The Romance Writer’s Handbook – Rebecca Vinyeard

Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies – Leslie Wainger

Writing the Great American Romance Novel – Catherine Lanigan

Writing Romance – Vanessa Grant

Writing Romances – Edited by Rita Clay Estrada and Rita Gallagher

You Can Write a Romance – Rita Clay Estrada and Rita Gallagher


Books on Editing and Marketing:

Book Proposals That Sell – W. Terry Whalin

Revision & Self-Editing – James Scott Bell

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers – Renni Brown and Dave King

The Sell Your Novel Took Kit – Elizabeth Lyon


Links for World Building / Magic / Fantasy:

30 Days of World Building – Stephanie Cottrell Bryant

Magical World Builder’s Guide – Stephanie Cottrell Bryant


Writing Plays:

Writing for Theater and Film – Carina Jaramillo


Writing / Publishing Tools:

Scrivener – the most versatile writing software I’ve found.

Vellum – when you’re ready to create beautiful books.

Affinity Designer – graphic arts software; for beautiful cover creation.