WRITING TIPS: The 5 Books Every Writer Needs

I once groused to the writer and actor George Savino that I possessed too many books – more books, even, than fit at the time into my many bookcases. “I know why we keep books,” George explained quietly. “It’s so we can display them as Knowledge Trophies.” Since George’s bulls-eye observation I have done a better job of giving away finished books, and while I still have a long way to go I also now pass along George’s advice when I am invited into college classes to discuss writing. “There are only five books every writer needs to keep,” I announce somewhat dramatically, but it always grabs the students’ attention. “’The Elements of Style’ by Strunk and White because it’s the best grammar and style book you’ll ever read. ‘The Art of Fiction’ by David Lodge because it’s the best book on form you’ll ever read. ‘Reading Like a Writer’ by Francine Prose because she dissects the tools every wordsmith uses to construct a story – words, sentences, paragraphs, narration, character, dialogue, details and gesture. ‘The Creative Writer’s Survival Guide,’ by John McNally (pictured here) because he provides sound, practical, candid advice without bravado or romance on what it takes and what it means to be a working writer. And a touchstone book – a book that will remind you why in the hell you fell in love with writing. For me, “The Thin Man,” by Dashiell Hammett, does the trick. No story starts faster. No story is more tightly written.