What are your best books on writing?

[Quantum]

I've just started reading a book that I've found really effective:

Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies

I'm going to finish reading it before I revise my short story. After reading the chapter, "Come Right In: First Sentences, First Paragraphs," I finally understood what another writer in my local critique group was saying about my latest short story. She hadn't said it in the same terms, but what she'd identified later on in the story is a narrative hook that should've come at the beginning.

It's better on a pragmatic level than King's much-touted combo memoir and writing advice book On Wrting: A Memoir of the Craft.

Also, these are the ones that I think would improve anyone's writing to the publishable level. I don't think that I even need to bother with any other books until I've internalized all of the techniques in these ones.

* Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies
* Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
* How to Write a Movie in 21 Days
* The Elements of Style

What do you think? What are your go-to books on writing?

[Teresa]

Currently taking a non-fiction creative writing class. Not using a specific textbook though but learning lots!

[Quantum]

Yay! I'm in a local writers critique group.

[Reera, Bookmaster]

It's been a while since I've actually read any help books on writing. The two books that stand out to me are The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler and Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer.

The former was one of my required reading for my screenwriting class back in college. It does a pretty good job breaking down Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" story structure.

The latter is a gorgeous illustrated guide to writing, covering everything from inspiration to revisions. My friend had bought it for me as a gift after I became disillusioned with writing. It's a really colorful and charming book, and the exercises included are quirky.