The following books have been recommended by our members as excellent books for writers. Inclusion on this list does not imply agreement with theological viewpoints or lack of them, nor does it indicate approval of all contents of every book.
Please notify mphemister@cox.net if you see a title that is out of print.
Best Words, Best Order, a series of essays on poetry by Stephen Dobyns, 1996, St. Martin's Press.
Building Believable Characters by Marc McCutcheon Writers Digest Books
The Children's Writer's Word Book by Alijandra Mogilner. Writers Digest Books. Something every writer for children should use AFTER their first draft.
The Christian Writer's Book, A Practical Guide to Writing by Don M. Aycock and Leonard G. Goss, Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1996 Very informative. Worth getting just for the style guide in the back of the book, which includes which Biblical and religious terms to capitalize.
A Christian Writer's Manual of Style by Bob Hudson and Shelley Townsend. Zondervan
Christian Writers' Market Guide 1998 by Sally E. Stuart. Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Pub., 1997.
Comedy Writing Workbook by Gene Perret, published by Sterling Publishing Co.
The Complete Guide to Christian Writing and Speaking, edited by Susan Titus Osborn, various authors. Promise Publishing Company, 1994 --General information about Christian writing and speaking.
The Copywriter's Handbook by Robert W. Bly. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1985.
Creative Nonfiction by Philip Gerard. Cincinnati: Story Press, 1996.
Discovering the Writer Within by Ballenger, Bruce and Barry Lane. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1996.
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. New York: McMillan Publishing Co., 1979.
Freeing Your Creativity: A Writer's Guide by Marshall J. Cook. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1992.
Guidebook to Successful Christian Writing, edited by June Eaton, various authors, Christian Writers Institute, 1990 --Top writers, editors, publishers show you how to get ideas, write query letters, and slant your manuscripts for the Christian magazine and book market.
Handbook of Commonly Used American Idioms by Adam Makkai, Maxine T. Boatner and John E. Gates. USA: Barron's Educational Series, 1991.
How Does A Poem Mean by Miller Williams and John Ciardi, published by Houghton Mifflin. Be sure it's the second (1975) edition.
How To Be Funny by Steve Allen, published by Prometheus Books
How to Get Happily Published by Judith Appelbaum. New York: HarperCollins Pub., 1992.
How to Get Your Teaching Ideas Published by Jean Stangl. New York: Walker and Company, 1994.
How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1985.
How to Write & Sell Your Life Experiences by Marjorie Holmes. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1993.
How To Write And Sell Your Sense of Humor by Gene Perret, published by Writer's Digest books, (currently available under a new name by a different publisher)
How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query & Cover Letters by John Wood. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1996.
How to Write Fast (While Writing Well) by David Fryxell. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1992.
How To Write Irresistible Query Letters by Lisa Collier Cool. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1987.
Ideas & Research by Marshall Krantz. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1996.
Illustrated Reverse Dictionary by John Ellison Kahn, ed. Pleasantville, NY: The Reader's Digest Association, 1990.
An Introduction to Christian Writing by Ethel Herr. Sunnyvale, California: Cathedral Builders' Press (731 Lakefair Dr.), 1995.
Inside Religious Publishing, A Look Behind the Scenes, edited by Leonard G. Goss and Don M. Aycock, Zondervan, 1991 General information about Christian writing.
Just Open A Vein ed. by William Brohaugh, 1987, Writer's Digest Books (but still, I think, in print) has articles by thirty-seven noted writers, many of them quite helpful in giving new&127; perspectives.
Leads and Conclusions by Marshall J. Cook. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1995.
Magazine and Feature Writing by Hiley Ward. Mountain View, California: Mayfield Pub. (1240 Villa Street, Mountain View, California 94041), 1993.
Make 'Em Laugh by Steve Allen, published by Prometheus Books
The Nuts & Bolts Writer's Manual by Loma Davies. Fort Lauderdale: Cassell Pub., 1991.
On Writing Well by William Zinsser. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994.
poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge
Religious Writers Marketplace by William H. Gentz and Sandra H. Brooks. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993.
Structure & Flow by David A. Fryxell. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1996.
The Travel Writer's Handbook by Louise Purwin Zobel. Chicago: Sorrey Books, 1997.
Turning Life Into Fiction by Robin Hemley. Cincinnati: Story Press, 1994.
WRITE HIS ANSWER - A Bible Study for Christian Writers by Marlene Bagnull. Check her web page for more information: www.writehisanswer.com.
The Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats by Dian Dincin Buchman & Seli Groves. This is an EXCELLENT book for beginners and others to use as a guide for writing guery letters, book proposals, cover letters, etc.
1997 Writer's Market by Mark Garvey, ed. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1997.
Writer to Writer by Bodie and Brock Thoene. Minneapolis: Bethany House Pub., 1990.
Write To Discover Yourself by Ruth Vaughn. New York: Doubleday & Co., 1980.
Writing Articles from the Heart by Marjorie Holmes. Writers Digest Books
Writing on Both Sides of the Brain by Henriette Anne Klauser. San Francisco: HarperCollins Pub., 1986.
Writing the Natural Way : Using Right Brain Techniques to Release Your Expressive Powers by Gabriele Lusser Rico. Published by J P Tarcher
Writing With Power : Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process by Peter Elbow
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury. Nothing about Zen in it, but it is a great book for writers.
