How To Write A Damn Good Novel II by James N. Frey is a great book. Frey builds onto what he taught in How To Write A Damn Good Novel (one) and actually contradicts some of what he wrote in that first book. He says he has grown as a writer and realized some of his original points were not entirely accurate. Both books are great, but How To Write A Damn Good Novel II is essential for writers who want to be published—and who have read the first one. I got a lot out of this book and really think it’s a great addition to your collection. It’s a fast read packed with valuable advice. The chapter on character and the one on re-dreaming the dream are exceptionally useful.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown and Dave King is an invaluable book for writers. It is packed with concrete examples of how to make your work of a professional quality. It helped me become a published author with a growing list of short stories and novels.

How To Write A Damn Good Novel by James N. Frey is one of my favorite books on writing. The principles he teaches are incredibly powerful. They helped me so much as I wrote my first novel, which was subsequently accepted for publication. James N. Frey's advice is very insightful. I applied it to my own writing and made my books and stories much better. It's a quick read and worth adding to your collection--especially if you want to break into writing.

The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman is a very practical guide to writing a good book. The advice he has is right on and helped me break into publishing. I applied his ideas to my first novel and it got the attention of several editors. This is a book that will really pay off.

Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham is a book that really helped me become a professional author. He lays out a great model to help with structuring scenes and creating an exciting novel. I’ve applied his advice to my novels and found that they’ve become much stronger. His idea about organizing your scene in the Goal/Conflict/Disaster format is brilliant. This book has really helped me as I constructed the outline for my current novel, Medusa’s Daughter.

Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card is a definitive guide to the different forms of point of view (POV). Card describes each type of POV and their variations, and explains the strengths and weaknesses of each. I believe this is an incredibly important guide to beginning writers and even veterans wanting to gain more knowledge about certain types of POV.

Beginnings, Middle & Ends by Nancy Kress helps you start your book with a bang and then keeps the action going to the end. Too many books lag in the middle, or start slow. If you follow the advice presented, your novel will be much better. Her advice on hooks is worth the cover price. I liked the book a lot and have referred back to it several times as I went from newbie writer to published writer. I’ve constructed my novels and short stories with this book in mind and editors have liked what they saw so far. Thank you Nancy Kress!

Comma Sutra: Position Yourself for Success with Good Grammar by Laurie Rozakis, Ph.D. is a hilarious and practical guide to good grammar. I don’t think there are any other books on grammar as funny as this one. Having good grammar and knowing how to use punctuation is essential to anyone who wants to make a good impression. As a professional writer and copy editor I found out that I had certain deficiencies with my grammar and punctuation. This book helped me improve in several areas. It’s a quick read and easily referenced. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a need to improve their writing skills. It makes a great gift as well, as both the gift giver and receiver will enjoy a laugh together.

How To Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card spells out the history of sci-fi and fantasy and gives advice on how to continue the tradition with your own work. Card has read so many old books that it boggles my mind! I wish I’d read as many books as he has. He’s also written some great books, so he knows what he’s talking about. This book was one of the first books I read about writing when I started my career as a fantasy author. It definitely helped me get published and gave me valuable information about the genre that I love.

The Key, How To Write Damn Good Fiction Using The Power of Myth by James N. Frey is an excellent book. It was exactly what I was looking for when I was writing my novel, Medusa’s Daughter, a love story set in ancient Greece. The Key spells out what myth based heroes are like—basing his points on dozens of examples of myths to back up his assertions. I found the practical advice brilliant and very applicable to my own work. Frey has really helped me become a published writer and understand the power of myth.