At this week's Bunko breakfasts, lots of folks asked me my writing process both for this latest book and for the others.  In the course of these conversations, I recommended a handful of books, which I've decided to fashion into an Official List.  

Herewith, my five favorite books on writing:

1. THE WAR OF ART by Stephen Pressfield.  I’ve read this several times -- even though (because?) its message is so simple.  Pressfield says that the forces of Resistance conspire to stop you from writing.  Overcome this pernicious force -- and you must do it every single day -- you’ll succeed.  Succumb to it -- which is really, really easy to do -- and you’re toast.   The most intelligent kick in the butt I've ever received. 

2.  BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott.   When they both were kids, Lamott’s brother had to write a report about birds.  He waited.  And waited.  And agonized.  And delayed.  Then the night before the paper was due, he hadn’t written a word.   Lamott's dad gave his son some advice:  Take it bird-by-bird.  An insightful (and very funny) book.

3.  UNDERSTANDING COMICS by Scott McCloud.  As a dedicated prose-head, I used to have a bias against visual storytelling.  Once I read this, I realized I was a fool.  McCloud’s book, which I recommend in AWNM as well, explains how the grammar, semantics, and structure of comics -- all in comic form.  Brilliant.

4.  THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by William Strunk and E.B. White.  Call me fuddy-duddy, but I think this 50-year-old book is terrific.   You’ll recoup the book’s price many times over by heeding just one of its many lessons: Omit needless words.

5.  ON WRITING WELL by William Zinsser.   I read this maybe 25 years ago, but two of its lessons have stuck with me.  Lose the adjectives and adverbs.  Read your drafts aloud.  I still try to do both.