Writing is a craft learned over years of writing, reading, and studying. I have many of the books below on my shelves and refer to them often. There are plenty more to choose from, but why don’t you start with these sixty. They oughta keep you out of trouble for while.

Grammar, Format & Style:

• Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss, Gotham Books, 2006
• Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, Chuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest Books, 2009
• The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law 2013, Associated Press, Basic Books, 2013
• The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition, University of Chicago Press, 2010
• The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style, Edited by Robert Hudson and Shelley Townsend, Zondervan, 2004
• The Describer’s Dictionary: A Treasury of Terms & Literary Quotations (Treasury of Terms and Literary Quotations), David Grambs, W.W. Norton & Company, 1995
• The Elements of Editing: A modern guide for editors and journalists, Arthur Plotnik, MacMillan Publishing Co., 1988
• The Elements of Grammar: The essential guide to refining and improving grammar, Margaret D. Shertzer, Barnes & Noble Books, 2001
• The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition, William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, Longman, 2008
• The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide To Character Expression, Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, 2012
• The Little Style Guide to Great Christian Writing and Publishing, Leonard G. Goss and Carolyn Stanford. Goss, B & H Publishing Group, 2004
• The Thinker’s Thesaurus, Peter E. Meltzer, W.W. Norton & Company, 2010
• Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer, Roy Peter Clark, Little Brown & Company, 2008

Motivation/Inspiration:

• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott, Anchor/Random, 1995
• Journaling: A Spirit Journey, Anne Broyles, Upper Room, 1999
• The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life, Julia Cameron, Tarcher, 1999
• The Writer’s Idea Book 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Develop Great Ideas for Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Screenplays, Jack Heffron, Writer’s Digest Books, 2012
• Writing for the Soul: Instruction and Advice from an Extraordinary Writing Life, Jerry B. Jenkins, Writer’s Digest Books, 2006

Writing for the Christian Market Resources:

• 2014 Christian Writers’ Market Guide: Your Comprehensive Resource for Getting Published, Jerry B. Jenkins, Tyndale House Publishers, 2014
• Everyday Biblical Literacy: The Essential Guide to Biblical Allusions in Art, Literature and Life, Stephen J. Lang, Fall River Press, 2009
• The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style, Edited by Robert Hudson and Shelley Townsend, Zondervan, 2004
• The Complete Guide To Christian Writing and Speaking, Susan Osborn, ACW Press, 2001
• The Little Handbook to Perfecting the Art of Christian Writing: Getting Your Foot in the Publisher’s Door, Leonard G. Goss and Don M. Aycock, B & H Publishing Group, 2006
• Writers on Writing: Top Christian Authors Share Their Secrets for Getting Published, Various Authors, Editor James M. Watkins
  Wesleyan Publishing House 2005

Writing Fiction:

• Idea Sparking: How to Brainstorm Conflict in Your Novel, Michelle Lin, My Book Therapy, 2012
• On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King, Scribner, 2010
• Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success, K.M. Weiland, Pen For A Sword Publishing, 2011
• The First 50 Pages: Engage Agents, Editors and Readers, and Set Your Novel Up For Success, Jeff Gerke, Writer’s Digest Books, 2011
• Write Great Fiction – Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints, Nancy Kress, Writer’s Digest Books, 2005
• Write Great Fiction – Dialogue, Gloria Kempton, Writer’s Digest Books, 2004
• Write Great Fiction – Plot & Structure, James Scott Bell, Writer’s Digest Books, 2004
• Writing Fiction for Dummies, Randy Ingermanson & Peter Economy, For Dummies, 2009
• Writing the Breakout Novel, Donald Maass, Writer’s Digest Books, 2002

Writing Non-fiction:

• On Writing Well: 30^th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, William Zinsser, Harper Perennial, 2006
• Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers’ Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University, Mark Kramer & Wendy Call, Plume, 2007
• Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction–and Get It Published, Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunato, W.W. Norton & Co., 2002

Market Guides:

• 2014 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, Alice Pope, Writer’s Digest Books, 2013
• 2014 Christian Writers’ Market Guide: Your Comprehensive Resource for Getting Published, Jerry B. Jenkins, Tyndale House Publishers, 2013
• 2014 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market, Lauren Mosko, Writer’s Digest Books, 2013
• 2014 Poet’s Market, Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest Books, 2013
• 2014 Writer’s Market, Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest Books, 2013
• Christian Writer’s Guide, Kindle Edition, Mary Harwell Sayler, 2013  
• Literary Market Place 2013, Information Today, 2012
• Successful Syndication: A Guide for Writers and Cartoonists, Michael Sedge, Allworth Press, 2000

Queries & Proposals:

• Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS, Terry W. Whalin, Write Now Publications, 2005
• Bulletproof Book Proposals, Pam Brodowsky and Eric Neuhaus, Writer’s Digest Books, 2006
• How to Write a Book Proposal, Michael Larsen, Writer’s Digest Books, 2011
• How to Write a Great Query Letter, Noah Lukeman, Amazon Digital Services, 2009

Agents, Editors & Publishers:

• 2014 Guide to Literary Agents, Publisher: Writer’s Digest Books, 2012
• Agents, Editors, and You, Michelle Howry, Writer’s Digest Books, 2002
• How Do I Decide: Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing,Rachelle Gardner w/Michelle DeRusha, R.L. Gardner Publishing, 2013
• How to Land (and Keep) a Literary Agent, Noah Lukeman, Amazon Digital Services, 2009
• Successful Syndication: A Guide for Writers and Cartoonists, Michael Sedge, Allworth Press, 2000

 Marketing & Platform:

• Likeable Social Media, Dave Kerpen, McGraw Hill, 2011
• Online Marketing for Freelance Writers: The Complete Bundle: Search Engine Optimization for Freelance Writers, Content Marketing for Freelance Writers, The Essential Guide to Social Media Marketing [Kindle Edition], Jenna Inouye, Amazon Digital Services, 2013
• Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, Michael Hyatt, Thomas Nelson, 2012
• Social Media Just for Writers: The Best Online Marketing Tips for Selling Your Books, Frances Caballo, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012
• The Book Marketing Bible: Essential marketing strategies for self-published and first-time authors, or any writer looking to skyrocket sales, Norm Shriever, Amazon Digital Services, 2013
• The Writers Handbook of Online Promotion, Mary L. Ball, Life Inspiring Books, 2013
• Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, Seth Godin, Portfolio, 2008