10 Writing Books

Okay, there aren't yet 10 (I need to leave myself some growth room here), but these are my favorite books about fiction writing. So far:

1. The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers, by John Gardner. (This one will always be #1, I bet.)

2. Word Painting: A Guide to Write More Descriptively, by Rebecca McClanahan.

3. Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft, by David Morrell.

4. Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School, by the Gotham Writers' Workshop.

5. The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction, by Stephen Koch.

6. Novel Shortcuts: Ten Techniques that Ensure a Great First Draft, by Laura Whitcomb.

7. The Art and Craft of Writing Historical Fiction: Researching and Writing Historical Fiction, by James Alexander Thom.

8. Conflict & Suspense, by James Scott Bell.