Seattle Writes: Our Favorite Writing Books
Librarians at The Seattle Public Library created this list of our favorite books about the craft of writing. (September 2022)
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Never Say You Can't Survive
"Celebrated speculative fiction writer Anders blends personal stories with practical genre fiction techniques in this ... manual for how 'to write your way out of hard times." -Publishers Weekly
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Refuse to Be Done
In a fresh approach to writing process, Bell suggests a three-draft model to novel completion, from tactics for the initial draft, to a second draft of outlining, modeling and rewriting, to a third draft of final revisions and polishing.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Murder your Darlings
"Written in his usual easygoing, conversational, and encouraging style, [Clark's] latest is a compilation of writing advice from more than 50 of his favorite books about writing." - Kirkus
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Mastering the Process
"Mystery author George demonstrates her own cardinal virtues of writing--careful organization and meticulous attention to detail--in this skillful guide to creating a novel.... Writers looking for practical insights will find this book to be of great merit." - Publishers Weekly
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Writing Down the Bones
Goldberg looks to the practices of Zen mediation to provide guidance and direction for the writing process.
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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The Art of Memoir
"Karr delivers a thorough look at the writing process and the challenges inherent in telling one's story and accepting the subjective nature of memory." - Publishers Weekly
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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On Writing
"Generous, lucid, and passionate, King offers lessons and encouragement to the beginning writer, along with a warts-and-all account of a less-than-carefree life." -Kirkus
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Bird by Bird
"Paragraph by paragraph, this humorous, insightful, no-nonsense approach will remind novices why they are writing: to tell the truth, to live from the heart, and to share their gift with others. A writer's guide that is bound to teach and inspire by example." - Kirkus
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Steering the Craft
Award-winning speculative fiction writer Le Guin's guide focuses on more intermediate and advanced techniques, such as point of view and the sound and rhythm of language, including examples and exercises.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Breakout Novelist
Experienced literary agent Maass provides examples, strategies, and writing exercises to create compelling fiction, covering topics such as character, setting, description, plot, theme, tension, suspense, and more.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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