The Top 5 Books on How to Become a Better Writer

Let Lamott, Lafferty, King, Zinsser, and Bradbury teach you how to do it.

Last week, I celebrated my third year as a writer with my family. After dinner, my daughter asked me what the most important lesson I’d learned was and what advice I could share with someone just starting.

Without hesitation, I answered that if I could do it, everybody could. Because no one is born a great writer, writing is a skill you learn and improve with work, perseverance, and resilience. You have to write each day, no matter what.

Some days you’ll feel like avoiding your pen or keyboard, staring for hours at a blank screen or piece of paper, feeling miserable, and wanting to quit because of some rejection note you’ve got.

However, in those moments, you need a group of people to mentor you in your journey. Someone who felt like you once in their career and kept going on.

Professionals who, with their advice, lift you from the ground and encourages you to keep writing. Successful writers willing to share their knowledge and time to give you advice and sometimes kick your butt and inspire you to write a word, a sentence, a paragraph, a page, or a whole book.

She said, “Yes, but those people must be hard to find or charge too much money for their time, courses, or seminars.”

“On the contrary, You don’t need to be famous or a millionaire to have these mentors by your side. All you require is to be humble and accept their teachings without questioning or deciding they won’t work for you before trying them. As for the cost, all you need is the time, a few dollars, or a library card.” I answered.

Therefore, here I share my top five books on becoming a better writer and improving your craft.

1. “Bird by Bird”

“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’” — Anne Lamott, Bird By Bird

“Bird by Bird” By Anne Lamott

This book should be in any writer’s toolbox. Through anecdotes and some funny stories, the author shares their life and craft, from writing “Shitty First Drafts,” creating your characters and thinking of the plot, to knowing when you’re done and how all of this makes you a better writer.

Lamott uses great metaphors to teach us the art of being patient and becoming resilient. There has never been a writer who once in their life didn’t find themselves wondering if the effort was worth it.

No matter what stage of your writing career, this book will help you find a voice, passion, and a great spark of creativity.

2. “I Should Be Writing: A Writer’s Workshop”

You may be asking how I can say writing advice is crap when I asked you to put down money for a book. Well, I admit the phrase is a little harsh, but many people (including myself) have looked at writing advice, realized it wouldn’t work for them, and figured they were doing something wrong, not the writing advice. — Mur Lafferty, I Should Be Writing”

“I Should Be Writing: A Writer’s Workshop” By Mur Lafferty

With the same name as her podcast, where she has interviewed many authors, she now brings you a book about writing. In it, you’ll find a lot to learn with helpful tips and colorful illustrations. “I Should Be Writing” encourages people to get up and write whatever they want rather than constantly berating themselves or submerging in their depression.

Its everyday exercises will help you become a better writer. The prompts and lists of ideas to try in your next writing sessions are included, so never say, “I’ve always wanted to write a story…” again because you should be writing now!

Published on “flexibound,” the book makes the perfect piece to read and to keep by your side and consult again and again.

3. “On Writing”

“If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the tools to write…” “The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor…” “You learn best by reading a lot and writing a lot, and the most valuable lessons of all are the ones you teach yourself.” —Stephen King. On Writing

“On Writing” A Memoir of the Craft By Stephen King

There is no need to introduce Stephen King or explain how his particular genius lies in his ability to imbue everyday life with the most unspeakable horrors.

His bestselling memoir “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” is one of the world’s most popular research tools among writers. From learning the basics to developing style, this is a “must-read” for anyone who wants to be a better writer or wants to read and understand what makes great writing so compelling.

Filled with invaluable information, this book, part memoir, part guidebook, shares the basic tools for every writer. From the start, it is almost impossible to select phrases to choose and highlight for future reference. (To read “Stephen King’s Advice Quotes for Writers,” click here 👈)

4. “On Writing Well”

“The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.” — William Zinsser, On Writing Well

“On Writing Well” By William Zinsser

Since its initial publication in 1976, it has been considered the best book on writing nonfiction. It has sold nearly 1.5 million copies to three generations of writers, editors, journalists, teachers, and students.

It delves deeper into specific genres, composition, interviewing, and other topics. With advice on Simplicity, Style, The Audience, Unity, The Lead/End, Verbs, Adverbs, Adjectives, Mood Changers, and how to stick to your interests and style and grow your craft.

On Writing Well will assist you in writing about locations, people, sports, and businesses.

5. “Zen in the Art of Writing”

“Write a thousand words a day for ten or twenty years in order to try to give it shape, to learn enough about grammar and story construction so that these become part of the Subconscious.” — Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Wriring

“Zen in the Art of Writing” By Ray Bradbury

This time, we’ll seek deep into the mind and thoughts of one of science fiction’s most prolific authors to learn where he found the inspiration for some great stories and the methodology he used to create them.

In “Zen in the Art of Writing.” Ray Bradbury shares tips on finding your motivation, creating your workspace, finding your muse, and creating your characters. And also how to turn words into ideas, ideas into images, and images into stories, filling your readers with emotions, believing in yourself, and most of all, Never take “No” for an answer. (To learn “10 Tips From Ray Bradbury to Help You Become a Better Writer,” click here 👈)

Take Away

No matter where you are in your writing career or your success, there is always room for improvement. These books will help you learn the basics, be more resilient, get inspiration for your next project, find a different perspective on your job, or become a better writer.

Every author on this list felt like you once in their career, but they kept going and succeeded. Besides that, they are willing to share their knowledge and time whenever you need it and be by your side always.

I don’t know about you, but I have all of them near my computer when I write. Sometimes by just looking at the covers, I remember some lesson, or when in doubt, I open one and search for the answer.

Please comment on which are your top five books on how to become a better writer. Maybe you think, what’s the point? I’ve already heard this. Remember what André Gide once said:

“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again.”

— André Gide

© Copyright Jose Luis Ontanon, 2023