Novel & Short Story Writer's Market: 1,900+ Places to Get Your Fiction Into Print by Anne Bowling; Vanessa Lyman
Inside this handbook, fiction writers will find completely updated market entries for book publishers, magazines, literary agents, contests and script houses, plus brand new information on e-publishers, including interviews with industry experts, editors of e-magazines and more.

Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman
Every novelist dreams of it -- writing the book that rockets to the top of the best-seller lists. Now, they can see how it's done, up close, in a book by an agent who has sold manuscripts that turned into hits. Here Albert Zuckerman covers the essential elements of the blockbuster novel and shows writers how to put them to work in their books. Zuckerman covers the subject thoroughly, from creating outlines and building larger than life characters to injecting suspense and more. His instruction is decisive, direct and clear and is supported with examples from Gone With the Wind, The Godfather and other blockbusters.

Careers for Your Characters: A Writer's Guide to 101 Professions from Architect to Zookeeper by Raymond Obstfeld; Franz Neumann
Creating realistic, well-developed characters that readers can believe in is one of the biggest challenges authors face. "Careers for Your Characters" makes it easier than ever by providing detailed descriptions for the 99 most written-about professions--everything from ad executives to waiters.

The Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda N. Edelstein
From serial killers to business tycoons to politicians, "The Writer's Guide to Character Traits" profiles the mental, emotional and physical qualities of dozens of different personality types. Featuring a highly accessible format, writers can mix and match the traits of specific personality types to create original, complex characters. Unique personality styles and types are profiled including psychopaths, cult members, overachievers, addicts, amnesia victims, social climbers, career criminals and philanthropists. In addition, this guide includes sections on child personality types; physical disorders that influence personality; and outlines of typical and atypical human development.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Your Romance Published by Julie Beard
Takes the budding romance novelist through the entire process of developing story ideas, editing, finding publishers, and marketing.

Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything You Need to Know about Creating & Selling Your Work by Meg Leder; Writer's Digest; Jack Heffron
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is a compilation of the best articles and interviews from Writer's Digest magazine, books and annuals. Aspiring authors will find articles on the craft, art and process of fiction writing from such well-known authors as Sue Grafton, Richard Russo, Janet Fitch, Octavia Butler and Terry Brooks. They'll also glean a wealth of knowledge and advice from interviews with Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, John Updike, Terry McMillan, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Clancy and more! It's a comprehensive fiction-writing guide that tackles everything from crafting a story and using descriptive language to breaking through writer's block and getting an agent.

The Writer's Digest Sourcebook for Building Believable Characters by Marc Mucutcheon
Six novelists reveal their approaches to characterization in this guide, which comes with a questionnaire to help writers probe their characters' backgrounds, beliefs, and desires and a "thesaurus" of physical and psychological traits to aid in character development.

Making Shapely Fiction by Jerome Stern
A deft analysis and appreciation of fiction what makes it work and what can make it fail. Here is a book about the craft of writing fiction that is thoroughly useful from the first to the last page whether the reader is a beginner, a seasoned writer, or a teacher of writing. Jerome Stern maintains that learning to write spontaneously is the first step to writing well. You will see how a work takes form and shape once you grasp the principles of momentum, tension, and immediacy. "Tension," Stern says, "is the mother of fiction. When tension and immediacy combine, the story begins." Dialogue and action, beginnings and endings, the true meaning of "write what you know," and a memorable listing of don'ts for fiction writers are all covered.

Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular by Rust Hills
Now a classic in the field, this practical guide to writing explains the essential techniques from character and plot to flashback and foreshadowing. A resource book for both beginning and seasoned writers.

Creating Fiction: Instruction and Insights from Teachers of the Associated Writing Programs by Julie Checkoway
Learn how to revise and edit from Jane Smiley, find ways to evoke time and place from Richard Russo, and explore tone and emphasis with Charles Baxter. Their sage advice, along with essays from 21 other contributors from the Associated Writing Programs, assure that "Creating Fiction" will engage and delight readers at any level of experience.

Master Class: Scenes from a Fiction Workshop by Paul West
The acclaimed novelist and author of The Secret Life of Words re-creates his last writing seminar in which fifteen students reflect on the art of writing great fiction as they discuss one another's work and shares their insights into the creative writing process.

Letters to a Fiction Writer by Frederick Busch
A collection of inspiring letters from some of our most renowned and respected fiction writers on the craft of writing and the writing life. Contributors include Lee K. Abbott, Charles Baxter, Ray Bradbury, Raymond Carver, Shelby Foote, John Gardner, Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, Tobias Wolff, and Flannery O'Connor, among others.

Mastering Point of View by Sherri Szeman
Guides writers through the difficult process of choosing point of view and provides straightforward instruction for using it well. Includes examples from notable writers.

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass; Anne Perry
Using real-life case studies, the author shows novelists how to create a powerful and sweeping sense of time and place, develop larger-than-life characters, sustain a high degree of narrative tension, and explore universal themes that will interest a large audience of readers.

Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything You Need to Know about Creating & Selling Your Work by Meg Leder; Writer's Digest; Jack Heffron
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is a compilation of the best articles and interviews from Writer's Digest magazine, books and annuals. Aspiring authors will find articles on the craft, art and process of fiction writing from such well-known authors as Sue Grafton, Richard Russo, Janet Fitch, Octavia Butler and Terry Brooks. They'll also glean a wealth of knowledge and advice from interviews with Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, John Updike, Terry McMillan, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Clancy and more! It's a comprehensive fiction-writing guide that tackles everything from crafting a story and using descriptive language to breaking through writer's block and getting an agent.

The Stuff of Fiction: Advice on Craft by Douglas Bauer
The Stuff of Fiction is a collection of lively essays by esteemed novelist Douglas Bauer on the tools of the fiction writer's craft. Based on his popular lectures as a core faculty member in the Bennington Writing Seminars, individual chapters examine the components of successful stories, from creating the first sentence to crafting a fitting ending. Bauer's primary focus is on three critical elements of fiction writing: dialogue, character, and dramatic event. He sees dialogue as an overheard conversation that has an inherent intimacy and power that should not be squandered by the writer. He discusses the challenge of creating characters that are psychologically complex, both flawed and sympathetic. He cautions new writers against overloading their stories with highly dramatic events--or avoiding them altogether.

Fiction Writer's Brainstormer by James V. Smith, Jr.
A right-brain reference for fiction writers, screenwriters, copy writers, and others, this book covers a wide variety of techniques to stimulate creative flow. The author supplies provocative brain teasers and provides information on polishing drafts into professional, salable works.

How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
Card's Hugo award-winning classic teaches how to produce market-ready stories based on worlds readers will want to explore.

The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers by Ayn Rand; Tore Boeckmann; Leonard Peikoff
In 1958, Ayn Rand, already the world-famous author of such bestselling books as Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, gave a private series of extemporaneous lectures in her own living room on the art of fiction. Tore Boeckmann and Leonard Peikoff for the first time now bring readers the edited transcript of these exciting personal statements. The Art of Fiction offers invaluable lessons, in which Rand analyzes the four essential elements of fiction: theme, plot, characterization, and style. She demonstrates her ideas by dissecting her best-known works, as well as those of other famous authors, such as Thomas Wolfe, Sinclair Lewis, and Victor Hugo. An historic accomplishment, this compendium will be a unique and fascinating resource for both writers and readers of fiction.

How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
Card's Hugo award-winning classic teaches how to produce market-ready stories based on worlds readers will want to explore.

The Spooky Art: Thoughts on Writing by Norman Mailer
Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2003 by Anne Bowling (editor)
On Writing by Eudora Welty
Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing by Margaret Eleanor Atwood
Careers for Your Characters : A Writers Guide to 99 Professions from Architect to Zookeeper by Raymond Obstfeld, Franz Neumann
The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah T. Lukeman
Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver
The Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction by Michael Seidman
45 Master Characters : Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters by Victoria Schmidt
Hooking the Reader: Opening Lines that Sell by Sharon Rendell-Smock
On Writing by Stephen King
Fiction Writer's Brainstormer by James V. Smith, Jr.
The Writer's Digest Sourcebook for Building Believable Characters by Marc Mucutcheon
Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda N. Edelstein
Description (Elements of Fiction Writing) by Monica Wood
Dialogue (Elements of Fiction Writing) by Lewis Turco
Plot (Elements of Fiction Writing) by Ansen Dibell
Setting (Elements of Fiction Writing) by Jack M. Bickham
Conflict, Action and Suspense (Elements of Fiction Writing) by William Noble
Building Better Plots by Robert Kernen
Creating Fiction by Julie Checkoway
The Writer's Tool Box: How to Write Fiction and Non-Fiction That Will Sell by Patrika Vaughn
Writing the Short Story by Jack M. Bickham
Writing Fiction Step by Step by Josip Novakovich
Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew by Ursula K. Le Guin
Story Starters: How to Jump-Start Your Imagination, Get Your Creative Juices Flowing, and Start Writing Your Story or Novel by Lou Willett Stanek
Dynamic Characters by Nancy Kress
Six Walks in the Fictional Woods by Umberto Eco
Telling Lies For Fun & Profit by Lawrence Block, Introduction by Sue Grafton