There are so many books on writing out there, and more coming out every day, that I thought this would be a good resource. I will add a few of these each month or so, so keep checking back. The point of reviews is not to push sales or to thumbs up or down any particular book – the reviews are descriptive, not rated – that means I’ll tell you about the book, tell you what it does, what it would be useful for, the kinds of things it addresses, any strengths or weaknesses I see, how I used the book, and who might find it useful. I’ve also tried to add books that may not be the popular ones you hear about all the time but are hidden gems.

If you have a book you would like reviewed, let me know at and I’ll send you an address to get a copy to me.

Review: Beginnings, Middles, & Ends by Nancy Kress
The Bottom Line: Buy it. This one is a necessity on any writer’s bookshelf. I wish I’d gotten it in hardcover because the pages are already getting dog-eared from use.
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Review: Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card
The Bottom Line: A Maybe. If you have a really hard time building characters or understanding one type of point of view from another, this book will be helpful. Mostly a good beginner book, though I found some parts of it useful.
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Review: Goal, Motivation, Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction, Debra Dixon
The Bottom Line: A must have. Solid basics from an experienced author. Great for beginning writers in particular.
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Review: How to Write Killer Fiction, Carolyn Wheat
The Bottom Line: Maybe. Good for learning the basics of mystery and suspense. Helpful for beginners and less so for experienced writers wanting a more in-depth discussion.
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Review: Style: Ten Lessons and Clarity and Grace by Joseph Williams
Bottom Line: Highly Recommended, this one is great.
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Review: Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama by David Mamet
Bottom Line: Recommended for people who like more artistic, theoretical discussion of writing. If you are looking for a practical, how-to guide, this isn’t it.
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Review: Writing a Romance Novel – for Dummies series, Leslie Wainger
The Bottom Line: Buy it. Wise advice from a trusted, experienced editor on just about everything you need to know about writing and selling romance.
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