Learning to Be a Writer

Recently, I was asked how I learned to write for publication.  The answer, so far, is by reading books. Here is a list of books I've read and recommend:

• Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.
• 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost
• Make Your Words Work by Gary Provost
• On Writing Well by William Zinsser
• The 29 Most Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them by Judy Delton
• Writer to Writer by Bodie & Brock Thoene
• Writing for the Soul by Jerry B. Jenkins
• Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan
• Handbook for Magazine Article Writing by Writer's Digest
• Creative NonFiction by Philip Gerard
• Sell & Resell Your Magazine Articles by Gordon Burgett
• The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them by Jack M. Bickham
• Fiction Writing Demystified by Thomas B. Sawyer
• Don't Murder Your Mystery by Chris Roerden
• You Can Write a Mystery by Gillian Roberts
• Writing Mysteries edited by Sue Grafton
• Writing the Modern Mystery by Barbara Norville
• The Way to Write for Children by Joan Aiken
• The Writer's Guide for Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb
• Guerrilla Marketing for Writers by Jay Conrad Levinson

Here are some books I am reading or going to read:

• Telling True Stories by Mark Kramer
• Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction by Jon Franklin
• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne
• Creating Fiction by Julie Checkoway
• Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
• Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
• Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain
• The Portable MFA in Creative Writing published by New York Writer's Workshop
• Gotham Writers' Workshop: Writing Fiction by Gotham Writers' Workshop
• Fiction Writer's Workshop by Josip Novakovich
• Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
• The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Technique by Donald Maass
• The Power of Point of View by Alicia Rasley
• Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood
• Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by Nancy Kress
• Write Great Fiction - Dialogue by Gloria Kempton
• Description & Setting: Techniques and Exercises by Ron Rozelle
• The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure by Christopher E. Vogler
• Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises by James Scott Bell
• Elements of Writing Fiction - Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card
• Elements of Fiction Writing - Plot by Ansen Dibell
• Picture Writing by Anastasia Suen
• Creating Characters Kids Will Love by Elaine Marie Alphin