Book cover for Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration and the Artistic Process Here is a selection of books offering inspiration, motivation and practical advice to create a writer’s life.

Light the Dark: Writers on Creativiity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process, Joe Fassler, editor|
Creative inspiration from Stephen King, Junot Diaz, Elizabeth Gilbert, Amy Tam, Roxane Gay, Neil Gaiman and 40 other published authors. Solid advice and general motivation.

Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo by Grant Faulkner
From the executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), this book offers insight and advice for writers at various stages of their careers. Get started, keep going, and mentor other writers.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Gilbert digs deep into her own generative process to share perspectives about creativity. Tackle what you love and face what you fear in your writing.

Fearless Writing: How to Create Boldly and Write with Confidence by William Kenower
Washington author Kenower offers tips for overcoming procrastination, writer’s block and other obstacles.Book cover: The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Part memoir, part guidebook. This has become one of the standards’ on many published authors’ bookshelves (and for good reason).

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Another timeless standard for writers. Lamott offers inspiration coupled with practical advice. Her approach will help you turn off your inner editor and get a first draft done.

The Hidden Machinery: Essays on Writing by MargotLivesey
Through close readings, arguments about craft, and personal essay, Livesey delves into the inner workings of fiction and considers how our stories and novels benefit from paying close attention to both great works of literature and to our own individual experiences.

The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass
Veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor Donald Maass shows you how to use story to provoke a visceral and emotional experience in readers.Book cover for "The Writer's Journey" by Christopher Vogler

Telling Stories: The Craft of Narrative and the Writing Life by Lee Martin
Helpful and practical techniques for demystifying the writing process and provides tools for perfecting the art of the scene, characterization, detail, point of view, language, and revision.

The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez
Rethink the hero’s journey from the perspective of a storyteller. Provides new insights and observations from Vogler’s pioneering work in mythic structure for writers.