I have taught writing to adults for over half of my life—starting in my twenties, when I looked so young that my students once mistook me for a confused kid having wandered into the wrong room! I love love love seeing writers find their writing voice—and the only way to do so is simply to do it. Writing and communicating well is an art, a delight, a form of self-expression, and a way of being in the world—and it is VERY easy to learn with a good teacher. All of these books inspire me because their writers are excellent, encouraging, practical teachers.
Each time I read it, I am reminded that the creation of art is a sacred ritual; that the beautiful process is what creates the beautiful product; that the showing up matters most; and that when we choose art-making as a vital part of our lives, we will do a brave thing each day we go to greet our project.
A succinct, engaging, and practical guide forsucceeding in any creative sphere, The War ofArt is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul.
What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do?
Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid theroadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dreambusiness venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?
Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy thatevery one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer thisinternal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success.
The author’s charming and disarming Lamott-isms (“bird by bird” as a way to describe baby steps; “sh**tty rough drafts” as a way to forgive ourselves for writing imperfectly; pretending the inner critic is a mouse in a jar, then turning down its volume) give writers the permission to be, simply, human.
A classic, warm book that always brings me back to the page.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An essential volume for generations of writers young and old. The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this modern classic will continue to spark creative minds for years to come. Anne Lamott is "a warm, generous, and hilarious guide through the writer’s world and its treacherous swamps" (Los Angeles Times).
“Superb writing advice…. Hilarious, helpful, and provocative.” —The New York Times Book Review
For a quarter century, more than a million readers—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott’s hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom…
Nature writer Sharman Apt Russell tells stories of her experiences tracking wildlife—mostly mammals, from mountain lions to pocket mice—near her home in New Mexico, with lessons that hold true across North America. She guides readers through the basics of identifying tracks and signs, revealing a landscape filled with the marks…
Ferocious, sparse, wise, and dedicated to the lifelong love affair between an author and her work. This book is full of paradoxes: it grounds the process…and elevates it.
It is about writing…and also it is about flying planes, fishing, chopping wood, and a thousand other beautiful metaphors that Dillard describes in perfect detail without ever over-explaining. A perfect book for writers.
"For nonwriters, it is a glimpse into the trials and satisfactions of a life spent with words. For writers, it is a warm, rambling, conversation with a stimulating and extraordinarily talented colleague." — Chicago Tribune
From Pulitzer Prize-winning Annie Dillard, a collection that illuminates the dedication and daring that characterizes a writer's life.
In these short essays, Annie Dillard—the author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and An American Childhood—illuminates the dedication, absurdity, and daring that characterize the existence of a writer. A moving account of Dillard’s own experiences while writing her works, The Writing Life offers deep insight into one…
Impossible to omit this one from a list for writers!
A perennial classic that keeps coming back in new forms—even illustrated! Even if the advice is often dry (as my first writing teacher used to say, its authors tend to “strunk you on the head”), The Elements of Style is solid. No minced words here.
In any century, in any genre, for any class or any project, this book teaches writing well.
You know the authors' names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered.This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to make a big impact with writing.
Homeless following the death of his adoptive parents in a car crash and the subsequent loss of their farm tenancy, Seb decides to enrol as a residential student at the Asklepios Foundation, a College of Natural Medicine, boasting a sanctuary modelled on an ancient Greek healing temple. Spending a night…
The classic and superbly poetic manifesto about the writer’s need for a private space!
I have loved this book ever since I first read it in college. Woolf’s often-quoted adage “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well” has informed my own writerly belief that any book needs its own time, place, and treat to lure the author to it day after day after day.
Writing well doesn’t have to be complicated. A Minimalist Guide to (Mostly) Academic Writing is a warm, accessible guide to understanding persuasive writing and making it your own. Whether you’re a student aiming to excel, a professional sharpening your communication skills, or someone who wishes to write more effectively, this book is your blueprint.
Join award-winning Oxford and Harvard writing instructor Elisabeth Sharp McKetta as she guides you through a simple, adaptable writing process. With insights honed over decades of teaching, McKetta shares valuable lessons that transcend literary genres. This one-stop guide is a step-by-step system for anyone seeking to become a stronger and more confident writer.
The summer holidays have finally arrived and Scout can’t wait for her adventure in the big rig with Dad. They’re on a mission to deliver donations of dog food to animal rescue shelters right across the state. There’ll be dad-jokes, rock-collecting, and a brilliant plan that will make sure everyone’s…
As one reviewer and long-time educator observes, The Coconut Crab "has everything to engage and excite young readers and their teachers: lovable characters, a beautiful setting vividly described, a well-developed adventure story line, and rich vocabulary."
This beloved novel for children and adults was selected by the Community of Literary…
