My Favorite Craft Books

I get asked all the time what the BEST craft book is for writing fiction.

But how could I ever narrow it down to just one? I have tons of favorites! Which one is the best is really a personal preference.

Below, find some of the books I think are most helpful when drafting and editing. These are in no particular order other than how they’re arranged on my shelf! This post may contain affiliate links.

General Craft

• Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules by Steven James

• Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg

• The Language of Fiction by Brian Shawver

• Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway

• Story Genius by Lisa Cron

• The Art of Fiction by John Gardner

• Understanding Show, Don’t Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy

Grammar and Punctuation

• The Best Punctuation Book, Period. by June Casagrande

• Grammar 101 by Kathleen Sears

• The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus

Setting & Description

• Fixing Your Setting and Description Problems by Janice Hardy

• Description and Setting by Ron Rozelle

• A Writer’s Guide To Active Setting by Mary Buckham

I’ll continue to update this list with other great references for building your craft, so make sure you check back often!