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is specific to genre writing, but I feel confident in it since SF and Fantasy are such popular genres right now. Card uses wonderful examples to demonstrate subjects like world-building and character development. Several chapters really would apply to writers of any genre.

5. "Steering the Craft" by Ursula K. LeGuin

LeGuin's credits alone justify her writing a book about fiction writing. Her fiction is tight and polished, and I respect her ability with words. This book exceeded my expectations and helped me focus my own work a little better.

6. "Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True" by Elizabeth Berg

Berg maintains a positive attitude throughout her book. Many writers do focus on their hardships and try to keep new writers realistic, but Berg maintains the attitude that passion is the most important element of writing. I certainly agree!

7. "The Tao of Writing" by Ralph L Wahlstrom

The back cover blurb of this book begins with the line "The creative process doesn't have to be torturous." As someone who has dealt with writer's block and sagging middles in my work, it was an appealing line! Wahlstrom connects the 12 principles of Tao with writing in practical ways. It also includes activities, which is a huge bonus for me.

8. "The 3 A.M Epiphany" by Brian Kiteley

"Epiphany" is entirely devoted to writing exercises - more than 200 of them, in fact. There are sections on nearly any aspect of writing that you could need work on. I suggest doing one every day, just for practice.

9. "Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life"

People laugh when I put this on my list, but the book is great fun. It combines some of the best Peanuts strips featuring Snoopy writing his novel with articles and advice by32 authors. It is heartwarming, funny, joyful, and whimsical.

10. "Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life" by Natalie Goldberg

This is the follow up to Goldberg's successful "Writing Down the Bones" and deals with writing as a practice. Goldberg writes like you are a friend she is sharing her process with, making it a very personal work.

While books on fiction writing can provide insight, inspiration, and exercises that benefit the writer, do not hide in them instead of putting your words on the page. Take the tools offered in these and other writing books and use them to create your own work. Happy writing!

Learn more about this author, K.A. Smith.
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