Here we are again to take another look at my bookshelves. Well, the one bookshelf I’ve been showing this whole time because it’s so deep. This iteration of my bookshelf tour wraps up my nonfiction shelf, I think. It’s possible that the nonfiction books continue on the shelf above it, but I can’t remember.
Well, here is the bookcase we’re currently touring. It’s stacked 3-books-deep.
And we’re reviewing the last row of the shelf at the very bottom. Take a look:
Sitting on top:
How to Be Black by Baratunde R. Thurston
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Disease: The Story of Disease and Mankind’s Continuing Struggle Against It by Mary Dobson
I was thinking to take a look at this one considering all that’s going on with corona.
Stacked: left to right
Read, Reason, Write: An Argument Text and Reader by Dorothy U. Seyler
Another textbook from college, I think, or maybe high school… can’t remember. I should unhaul it.
How English Works: A Linguistic Introduction by Anne Curzan & Michael Adams
And yet another textbook. I’ll keep this one though.
The Chicago Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation by Bryan A. Garner
The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, with Exercises and Answer Keys by Amy Einsohn
Another textbook but this is for work, so is The Chicago Guide above.
Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students by Mignon Fogarty
Understanding English Grammar by Martha Kolln & Robert Funk
Another text book I’ve decided to keep but only because it has sentence diagrams in it. I hate sentence diagrams but I think if I get rid of this book, I’ll never come across them again. I guess that’s a good thing but still…
Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris ★★★★☆
A pretty good read that grammar nerds would like. Mary Norris is a copy editor at the New Yorker. Between You & Me is her memoir.
Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer
Editors on Editing: What Writers Need to Know about What Editors Do by Gerald Gross (ed.)
I should probably unhaul this book now. I got it after college when I was trying to figure out what to do.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by the Modern Language Association
This one I can certainly get rid of. I don’t need to write research papers anymore (thank god!).
English Language Super Review by the Research & Education Association
Yep, will unhaul this too.
Lapsing Into a Comma: A Curmudgeon’s Guide to the Many Things That Can Go Wrong in Print — And How to Avoid Them by Bill Walsh
Easy Guide to Grammar: Clear, Easy-to-Understand Language Includes Grammar Basics, Definitions, and Exercises by Sparknotes
The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. & E.B. White
A helpful little book on writing mechanics, but I prefer this one:
Syle: the Basics of Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams ★★★★★
Quick and easy to read and filled with helpful tips.
100 Ways to Improve Your Writing: Proven Professional Techniques for Writing with Style and Power by Gary Provost
Another helpful writing mechanics book I’ve read. (I now realize I own a lot more writing books than I thought I did, which is really something because I gave away a bunch last year…or the year before that.)
The Describer’s Dictionary: A Treasury of Terms & Literary Quotations by David Grambs & Ellen S. Levine
Now Write!: Fiction Writing Exercises from Today’s Best Writers and Teachers by Sherry Ellis (ed.)
So You Want to Write a Novel: A Direct, Practical, Step-by-Step Guide for the Aspiring Author by Lou Willett Stanek ★★★★★
One of the first novel writing books I read back in high school or college.
Stacked: left to right (continued)
Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly by Gail Carson Levine ★★★☆☆
I remember reading this around the same time that I read So You Want to Write a Novel… Maybe I was in high school then.
The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear by Ralph Keyes
Gotham Writer’s Workshop: Writing Fiction by Gotham Writer’s Workshop
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard ★★☆☆☆
I’ll unhaul this. I didn’t like it.
Why Write: A Master Class on the Art of Writing and Why it Matters by Mark Edmundson
Got it for free, never read it, and I don’t think I will. I’ll unhaul it too.
The Way In: Journal Writing for Self-Discovery by Rita D. Jacobs ★★★☆☆
A good one if you’re looking for tips on how to start keeping a journal and are curious about different types of journals.
Letters to a Young Writer: Some Practical and Philosophical Advice by Colum McCann ★★★★★
One of my favorite writing books.
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser
Another book from college days. I remember hating that I had to read it, lol.
Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande ★★★★☆
An old book (published in the 1930s) but just as helpful today.
Writing Your Life: Putting Your Past on Paper by Lou Willett Stanek
I fell asleep every time I tried reading this book, lol. I think I managed to complete it though, but I don’t remember a thing.
Writers on Writing, Volume II: More Collected Essays from the New York Times ★★★☆☆
I remember liking the book but can’t remember anything else. I should reread it. 🙂
Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction by Tracy Kidder & Richard Todd
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell, illus. by Brothers McLeod ★★★☆☆
Customers do say odd things in bookshops. This is more humor, I guess, but I don’t have a humor section, which makes me realize that I never mentioned how my bookshelves are organized, lol.
Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process by Joe Fassler (ed.)
Advice to Writers: A Compendium of Quotes, Anecdotes, and Writerly Wisdom from a Dazzling Array of Literary Lights by Jon Winokur
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King ★★★★★
Of course, this is one of my favorites.
Characters & Viewpoints by Orson Scott Card
20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them by Ronald B. Tobias ★★★★☆
I’d love to reread this one too.
45 Master Characters: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
Some stats:
Total books in this row = 41
How many I completed = 21
How many I will unhaul = 6
Total shelves so far = 1
Total books so far = 118
How many completed = 51
How many I will unhaul = 8
Hi Zeezee, I love the balance between the writing and editing books. Someone told me that you need to learn to be a self-editor before sending your work to a proofreader. Their job will be to focus on structure and continuous flow of thought. You (generally speaking) should take care of grammar, punctuation, clauses, voice, readability and so on.
Great collection you have here, I would love to have Dreyer’s English and Editors on Editing, might be on the lookout for those. Thanks for putting this post together.
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That person gave you some great advice. It’s doesn’t hurt to have some knowledge of grammar and punctuation. It will improve your writing and make the editor/proofreader’s job much easier.
I’m glad you like the post 🙂
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writing about the art of ….writing …is my favorite genre! It’s interesting to read about how people construct their own writing style and language.
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I agree it’s interesting and very unique to each person.
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I need more books on writing and grammar. I used to be good at grammar but my skills are lacking these days as I’ve fallen to bad habits lol.
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They can make for some dry reading, but Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace was really good for quick pointers.
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I’ll check it out, thanks!
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I thought I’d read quite a few book about writing but it looks like you’ve read far more than I have! I’m also a fan of ‘On Writing’ and I own ‘The Elements of Style’, but you’ve made me curious to try ‘Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace’. I feel like I can never read too many books about grammar too often, because so many of those useful tips and rules seem to evaporate from my brain moments after I’ve read them!
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I feel the same. Lots of rules. I sometimes have to look up some when working to make sure.
Yep! Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace is totally worth it. If you’d like a memoir, Between You & Me was also great (although a little boring at first when the author talks about pencils and dictionaries, but really interesting after that).
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You’re making me want to do another spring cleaning of my own shelves hahaha I love how much non-fiction you’ve picked up. 😀
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Lol! Yes, do it and maybe give a tour too ☺️
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This is such a great post, so well thought out and must have taken ages – huge respect.
Lynn 😀
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Thanks! It takes some time, but I don’t mind because I’m enjoying doing it. Plus I’m reminded of books I didn’t remember I have lol and one’s I need to get rid of.
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I can’t imagine the amount of time and effort it takes to take pictures and organize this post! Love them ❤
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Lol it does take a while, but I’m enjoying doing it.
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Wow, you have a lot of books about writing. I still have all my old college textbooks too, somewhere. It would be fun to track those down😀
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Lol yea, a bit too many of them.
It’s fun to look back on old books. They can help you reminisce about old times.
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Oh my, you’ve got LOADS of books on writing! I’m actually curious about On Writing, sounds like a solid read! 🙂
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Ikr! I didn’t realize there were so many.
On Writing is great. It’s basically an autobio that’s also a book about writing.
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I can’t wait for the fantasy shelves!!! 😀 But General Fiction also sounds very promising!
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Lol! Same here! Can’t wait to show those shelves.
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Another great installment, Zezee! I loved How to Be Black, it’s so good. And King’s On Writing is also sooo good.
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King’s writing book is one of my all-time favs. I love that it’s a combo of autobio and writing tips. My bro also read How to Be Black and loved it.
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