Most writers also like to read, especially about the the process of writing and creativity in general. Here are some books which are helpful to writers.

Keep in mind that each author speaks from his or her experience, and each writer's experience is individual. What is helpful to one writer might not be helpful to another. Some writers swear by their writers' groups, and some authors aren't productive unless they have extreme solitude.

These books are designed to get writers back to writing. Don't let reading become a distraction. Go back to the blank page and continue to write. Keep getting the words out even if what comes out seems awful. (Hey,  look at the bright side, if the writing seems that awful, then it can only get better. With practice it will.) There are plenty of exercises in these books to jumpstart blocked writers. Don't let procrastination be an excuse.

These titles are organized alphabetically by author within categories.

WRITING

WRITING FROM THE HEART: Tapping the Power of Your Inner Voice by Nancy Slonim Aronie

WRITING THE WAVE by Elizabeth Ayres

ONE TO ONE: Self-Understanding Through Journal Writing by Christina Baldwin

THE PRACTICE OF POETRY: Writing Exercises From Poets Who Teach edited by Robin Behn and Chase Twitchell

THE ARTIST'S WAY by Julia Cameron

THE VEIN OF GOLD by Julia Cameron

BLESSINGS: Prayers And Declarations For A Heartful Life by Julia Cameron

THE RIGHT TO WRITE: An Invitation And Initiation Into The Writing Life by Julia Cameron

IMMEDIATE FICTION: A Complete Writing Course by Jerry Cleaver

NOVELIST'S ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CREATING PLOT by J. Madison Davis

POETIC MEDICINE: The Healing Art Of Poem-Making by John Fox

FINDING YOUR WRITER'S VOICE: A Guide To Creative Fiction by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall

HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide To Dramatic Storytelling by James N. Frey

ROOM TO WRITE: Daily Invitations To A Writer's Life by Bonni Goldberg

WRITING DOWN THE BONES by Natalie Goldberg

WILD MIND by Natalie Goldberg

HARVESTING YOUR JOURNALS: Writing Tools To Enhance Your Growth and Creativity by Roaslie Deer Heart and Alison Strickland

THE WRITER'S IDEA BOOK by Jack Heffron

THE COURAGE TO WRITE: How Writers Transcend Fear by Ralph Keyes

ON WRITING: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

DOJO WISDOM FOR WRITERS: 100 Simple Ways to Become a More Inspired, Successful, and Fearless Writer by Jennifer Lawler

THE CAREER NOVELIST by Don Maass

WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL: Insider Advice For Taking Your Fiction To the Next Level by Don Maass

LET THE CRAZY CHILD WRITE!: Finding Your Creative Writing Voice by Clive Matson

STORY: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee

ARTISTS & WRITERS COLONIES: Retreats, Residencies, and Respites for the Creative Mind researched, edited, and written by Robyn Middleton, Mindy Seale, Martha Ruttle, Emily Stephens, Stacey Loomis, Nicole Peterson

READING LIKE A WRITER: A Guide For People Who Love Books And For Those Who Want To Write Them by Francine Prose

THE WEEKEND NOVELIST: A Dynamic 52-Week Program To Help You Produce A Finished Novel One Week At A Time by Robert J. Ray

A WRITER'S BOOK OF DAYS: A Spirited Companion & Lively Muse for the Writing Life by Judy Reeves

IF YOU CAN TALK, YOU CAN WRITE by Joel Saltzman

A WRITER'S NOTEBOOK: Daily Exercises for the Writing Life by Caroline Sharp

WALKING ON ALLIGATORS: A Book of Meditations for Writers by Susan Shaughnessy

HOW TO GROW A NOVEL: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them by Sol Stein

STEIN ON WRITING by Sol Stein

THE WRITER'S JOURNEY by Christopher Vogler

CHANGES: Readings For Writers by Jean Withrow, Gay Brookes, and Martha Clark Cummings

POEMCRAZY: Freeing Your Life With Words by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge

And please watch for: THE WRITING GROUP BOOK edited by Lisa Rosenthal to be published by Chicago Review Press in Fall 2003.

Non-Fiction and Memoir

THINKING LIKE YOUR EDITOR: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction-- and Get It Published by Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunato

WRITING FROM WITHIN: A Guide To Creativity And Life Story Writing by Bernard Selling

WRITING YOUR LIFE: Putting Your Past On Paper by Lou Willett Stanek

FOLLOW THE STORY: How To Write Successful Nonfiction by James Stewart

INVENTING THE TRUTH: The Art And Craft Of Memoir edited by William Zinsser

The Experience of Writing

FOR WRITERS ONLY: Inspiring Thoughts On The Exquisite Pain And Heady Joy Of The Writing Life From Its Great Practitioners by Sophy Burnham

THE WRITING LIFE by Annie Dillard

BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott

SURVIVING A WRITER'S LIFE by Suzanne Lipsett

CONVERSATIONS ON WRITING FICTION: Interviews with 13 Distinguished Teachers of Fiction Writing In America by ALexander Neubauer

Children's Books

CREATING CHARACTERS KIDS WILL LOVE by Elaine Marie Alphin

THE ART OF WRITING FOR CHILDREN: Skills And Techniques of The Craft by Connie Epstein

STORY STARTERS: A Creativity Guide for Children's Writers by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

BLOOD ON THE FOREHEAD: What I Know About Writing by M. E. Kerr

IT'S A BUNNY-EAT-BUNNY WORLD: A Writer's Guide To Surviving And Thriving In Today's Competitive Children's Book Market by Olga Litowinsky

HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK AND GET IT PUBLISHED by Barbara Seuling

WRITER'S AND ILLUSTRATOR'S GUIDE TO CHILDREN'S BOOK PUBLISHERS AND AGENTS by Ellen Shapiro

WRITING FOR CHILDREN by Catherine Woolley (aka Jane Thayer)

GUIDE TO WRITING FOR CHILDREN by Jane Yolen

Creativity

FLOW: The Psychology Of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

CREATIVITY by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Journals

Sometimes having a place to write and having specific questions to answer can jumpstart a writer with new ideas, themes, and memories. Some of the books listed below are intended just for casual writers, and some are meant to help a writer (or even a "non-writer") focus and finish a complete text. These enhanced (not just blank or lined pages) journals are a good space to retreat for fun or for constructive relaxation-writing time. A journal is meant to be a place where crossing out lines is productive and encouraged, so don't let the pretty pages stop you from exposing your richest self on the page even if you go back and edit. 

SIMPLE PLEASURES: A Journal of Life's Joys

PEACE: An Illustrated Journal With Quotes

TURNING POINTS: A Journal Of New Directions, With Illustrations And Quotes

THE ARTIST'S WAY MORNING PAGES JOURNAL by Julia Cameron

THE STORY OF US: A Journal Of Your Love Story In 150 Questions by David and Kate Marshall

Marketing Writing

HOW TO WRITE A BOOK PROPOSAL by Michael Larsen

LITERARY AGENTS by Michael Larsen

THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND A PUBLISHED BOOK: 20 Steps to Success by Susan Page

Form and Theory

POETICS by Aristotle

THEORY OF PROSE by Viktor Shklovsky

MODERNIST MONTAGE by P. Adams Sitney