Best Books on Writing and Publishing

The books listed below are ones I have read and endorse. They have helped me become a better writer, editor, and/or ghostwriter. This list is by no means exhaustive; I have at least a dozen more on my bookshelf waiting to be read. (So many books, only so much time...)

As a note, these lean towards the craft of writing and publishing, as opposed to the business of such.

In alphabetical order, they are:

Chicago Manual of Style 

by University of Chicago Press Staff

According to my mentor, there are only two absolute rules in the publishing industry: MS Word and Chicago style. Everything else is preference, opinion, and tradition.

So, the most recent edition (currently, the 16^th) is a must-have on every writer’s, editor’s, and ghostwriter’s desk.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation 

by Lynne Truss

This book is worth the read just for the sheer humor. Truss has declared war on bad punctuation and illustrates correct usage (for both British and American English) in not-soon-to-be-forgotten stories.

The Elements of Style 

by William Strunk and E.B. White

Everyone swears by The Elements of Style because it’s worth swearing by. The authors created a gem: compact and highly valuable. The guide succinctly explains why and how to use a number of language elements, from prepositional phrases (and when to set them off with commas or not) to gerunds.

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction 

by William K. Zinsser

Zinsser’s guide is really a classic. The content and style of the book itself demonstrates how to effectively write clear, compelling nonfiction. Whether writing the next Great American Novel or simply this week’s blog post, his book provides insight and structure on how to do it right.

Secrets of a Ghostwriter: World’s First Step-by-Step Guide to the Theory, Skills, and Politics of Ghostwriting 

by Claudia Suzanne

There are a few other books on ghostwriting out there, by Suzanne’s book is the only one that truly breaks it down into the science (and art) that it should be. The book is currently a textbook for her course, Ghostwriting Certification Training, which I took last year. I devoured the book as I received it - it completely changed my ghostwriting practice. She plans to publish an edition of the book for general purchase later this year. Every ghostwriter needs a copy.

Style: Towards Clarity and Grace 

by Joseph M. Williams

This is the only book I’ve ever read that breaks down what distinguishes bad writing from decent, and good writing from great. The other books on this list give great examples and examine many of the elements of good writing, but Style is the only one that dissects paragraphs, sentences, and phrases to help the reader understand exactly what makes one version of a sentence better than another.

This Business of Books: A Complete Overview of the Industry from Concept Through Sales 

by Claudia Suzanne

Suzanne’s book was the first to explain to me what the publishing industry looks like from the inside out. The book is an excellent resource for getting the “complete overview of the industry” - understanding what goes into writing/ghostwriting a book, pitching it to an agent or small publishing house, working with a publisher vs. self-publishing vs. vanity press, the marketing and distribution efforts, etc. It’s a great guide for anyone needing to get a handle on all the steps and options in getting a book to market.

The Writer’s Art 

by James J. Kilpatrick

The book itself is an excellent resource, ranking up there with Style and On Writing Well. It was one of the very first books I read on the craft of writing and is still one of my favorites.

But what sets this book apart is the sense of honor, for lack of a better word, that Kilpatrick imparts to his readers. You feel that he truly treats writing as if it were a craft, with Kilpatrick the master craftsman or artisan demonstrating the art of his trade. A must-read for anyone who truly wants to follow in the venerable footsteps of this wordsmith.