Bibliography: Books on Writing

The best writers are readers - that is undeniable.

Whether you are a novice or seasoned storyteller, here are some great books to pick up.

Aristotle, Poetics

Oxford University Press, 2013 A Western classic with influential insights, albeit requiring careful interpretation.

Baxter, Charles, Burning Down The House

Greywolf Press, 2008 A collection of thought-provoking essays on storytelling.

Beinhart, Larry, How To Write A Mystery

Ballantine, 1996 Offers valuable insights applicable beyond the mystery genre.

Booker, Christopher, The Seven Basic Plots

Continuum, 2005 A deeper exploration of storytelling, although it favors classics over modern works.

Boyd, Brian, On The Origins Of Stories

Harvard University, 2009 Explores why storytelling is intrinsic to human evolution, though occasionally dense.

Braine, John, Writing a Novel

Methuen, 1985 An older text with limited relevance; Braine seems to prefer a more spontaneous writing approach.

Burnett, Hallie and Whit, Fiction Writer’s Handbook

Harper & Rowe Perennial, 2001 Somewhat outdated, focusing less on narrative composition.

Burroway, Janet, Writing Fiction

Harper Collins, 1992 A lesser-known but effective guide to writing fiction.

Butler, Robert Olen, From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction

Grove Atlantic, 2005 Offers valuable insights, though the sample stories can be hit or miss.

Campbell, Joseph, The Hero With A Thousand Faces

New World Library, 2008 A classic for understanding archetypal storytelling, not a practical how-to guide.

Cron, Lisa, Wired for Story

Ten Speed Press, 2012 Provides an overview of storytelling concepts, although the tone may be off-putting.

Damrosch, David, What Is World Literature?

Princeton University Press, 2003 Focuses on reading rather than writing, offering a broad perspective on comparative literature.

Egri, Lajos, The Art of Dramatic Writing

Simon & Schuster, 2004 Considered a classic, but some find it vague and imprecise.

Field, Syd, Screenplay

Bantam Dell, 2005 An early resource for screenwriting, though somewhat outdated.

Forster, E.M., Aspects of the Novel

Harcourt, 1985 A transcript of lectures on novel structure, albeit older and imprecise at times.

Gu, Min Dong, Chinese Theories of Fiction, A Non-Western Narrative System

State University of New York, 2006 Explores non-Western narrative systems.

Gottschall, Jonathan, The Storytelling Animal

Mariner Books, 2013 Expands on Boyd's ideas with anecdotal examples, making it accessible to a wider audience.

King, Stephen, On Writing

Simon & Schuster, 2002 A memoir-style book with insights from a prolific author, although it retains some secrets.

Kundera, Milan, Der Vorhang

Fischer, 2008 Offers insightful musings on the mechanics of literature.

Le Guin, Ursula K, Steering the Craft: A 21st-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1998 Focuses on language, style, point of view, and indirect narration.

Lumet, Sidney, Making Movies

Vintage, 1996 A director's perspective on screenwriting and filmmaking.

Maass, Donald, Writing 21st Century Fiction

Writer’s Digest Books, 2012 A more advanced guide with valuable insights.

McKee, Robert, Story

Harper Collins, 1997 A comprehensive resource with a focus on film storytelling.

Plaks, Andrew, Chinese Narrative, Critical and Theoretical Essays

Princeton, 1977 Explores critical essays on Chinese narrative.

Saunders, George, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain

Random House, 2021 Analyzes Russian short stories, offering insights for writers.

Snyder, Blake, Save the Cat!

Michael Wiese, 2005 A concise guide to crafting Hollywood blockbusters.

Steiner, George, The Death of Tragedy

Faber & Faber, 1961 A thought-provoking exploration of tragedy.

Steiner, George, Grammars of Creation

Faber & Faber, 2001 Explores the creative process and language.

Storr, Will, The Science of Storytelling

Harper Collins, 2019 A precise examination of storytelling's significance.

Swain, Dwight, Scriptwriting

Butterworth Heinemann, 1988 Covers various aspects of scriptwriting, including formatting and sales.

Truby, John, The Anatomy of Story

Faber & Faber, 2008 A comprehensive but complex guide to storytelling.

Vogler, Christopher, The Writer’s Journey

Michael Wiese Productions, 2007 A Hollywood-oriented reinterpretation of Campbell's theories.

Wood, James, How Fiction Works

Vintage, 2009 Focuses on language and style in writing.

Yorke, John, Into the Woods

Penguin, 2013 One of the best books on storytelling, providing profound insights beyond a somewhat arrogant introduction.

Have additions? Contact us and send them over. You can also check out the writer book recs.