6 Best How-To Books for Writers

By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughton  

Part of the How They Do It Series (Contributing Author)

JH: With the holidays coming up fast, you might be looking for gifts for the writers in your life. Or looking for things spend your gift card money on come January. Either way, here's a great selection of writing books that will go with any writer's shelf.

Countless best-selling authors have told me that in their early years, before they were published, they relentlessly studied the craft of writing. I've had hundreds of writing books recommended to me. Here are the very best of them all, the books I always keep within arm’s reach of my writing desk.

Fun (And Useful) Gift Ideas for Writers

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

The holiday season is upon us (and with Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa falling all about the same time, too), and friends and family are no doubt asking for gift ideas. It's easier for us to find gifts for our fellow writers (after all, we love anything writing related), but if you know some folks who need a little help, here's an idea guide you can send them.

While the more mundane gifts, such as a new laptop, iPad, or writing software, are handy to have, it's fun to add a few items that speak to the writer in all of us.

Here are some of my favorite must-haves for writers:

I’m Dreaming of a Write Christmas! A Gift-Giving Guide for the Writer in Your Life

By Tiffany Reisz, @tiffanyreisz

It’s almost Christmas, Writing Writers. And Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Since I’m about to start my Christmas shopping this week, I decided to put together a Christmas gift-buying guide specifically for writers. If you’re on this blog you're either a writer or you want to be a writer. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas you’ll find an awesome idea to give the writer in your life (or give yourself – after surviving NaNoWriMo, you’ve earned a reward).

The following items are all things I own and use and can endorse wholeheartedly. And no, the companies mentioned did not pay me to pimp their products.