At some point in every writer’s life there comes a time when you want desperately to know more about the craft.
In fact, I think that most writers are always perfecting their craft and I know many that take seminars on the craft of writing just to hone their skills.
There does come a time when it gets easier. But it never really gets easy.
Here are some books that I’ve found useful and how I’d categorize them:
On Writing in General:
On Writing by Stephen King
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
On Editing
Self-editing For Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
Stretching Your Abilities
The 3 A.M. Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction by Brian Kiteley
Plot and Structure
Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies by Blake Snyder
Save the Cat! Strikes Back by Blake Snyder
The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
All these books are targeted toward screenwriting but they’re equally applicable to writing in general.
Working to Mastery
The Career Novelist: A Literary Agent Offers Strategies for Success by Donald Maass
The Breakout Novelist: Craft and Strategies for Career Fiction Writers by Donald Maass
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great by Donald Maass
FYI, Don Maass is my agent.