Top 10 Books on Creative Writing in 2023

Wonderful!!! You are here – At the right place – At the right time – For the right guidance. So, here it is!!!

Creativity is a magical blend of those unspoken words of your imagination structured into a little bit of context and framework. Like Albert Einstein once quoted “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

Creative writing is all about 5 things mainly –

1. Reading: It’s never too much!!!
2. Writing: Putting pen to paper.
3. Researching: To get those facts right.
4. Time investment: 5 mins to an hour, you choose.
5. Originality: Be original, Be you.

After all, words are the most powerful way of communicating, be it with anyone – literally with anyone on Earth. Therefore, how you mould your words, is how you create your authentic piece eventually. As quoted by Gemma Troy “Your words can plant gardens or burn whole forests down”.

For creative writing, you may wish to use the below type of words and you are good-to-go: –

C- Charismatic

R – Rational

E – Ebullient

A-Authentic

T – Tangible

I – Inspiring

V – Vivid

E – Easy-going

You may be at any stage in your life – a student, a housewife, a working professional, etc. and you have a niche skill, but do not know how to proceed or whom to approach. It’s perfectly imaginable, how terrifying it could be to get inside an unchartered territory of creative writing. However, be rest assured that these kick-ass creative-writing courses will not only introduce you to the technicalities and structures of creative writing but also at the end of it, you will get to know the creative “You”. As Jim Rohn has quoted “Your life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by change” – So go for it, take the chance and see your new life unfolding in front of you. With that imagination and a flair for writing, get ready to put your innovative thinking hat on. We’re here to give you exclusive structured courses for your beautiful journey ahead.

Here are the top 10 books from a pool of 100s shortlisted just for “YOU”: –

1. Creating the Creative Writers

Spend just 1 hour a day and become a Creative writer in one month!

This sounds a bit too much to many. But with Creating Creative Writers the impossible becomes possible. Incorporated with all the tips, tricks, strategies, and templates it is a power-packed paperback edition. The certified Creative Writing Specialist Course by Henry Harvin is a popular course and the book is based on the challenges and rewards of learning creative writing. 

After garnering positive feedback, the book has a 5/5 rating on Amazon too. Having incorporated all the enhancements and updates of creative writing, Creating the Creative Writers is a total value for money.

2. Find your voice, a guided journal for writing your truth – By Angie Thomas

Author Angie Thomas whose guided journal of finding your voice was ranked No.1 in New York Times Bestseller, advises her readers to write fearlessly and to write what feels real and true to you. She has shared step-by-step best techniques for creative writing, prompts, and exercises that would give you a direction towards discovering the story ideas, creating striking characters, shaping the storyline, writing an initial draft followed by a final one, and much more. This book is quite raw and is more helpful for novels and fiction writers. This book will ignite the passion of creativity within you and pave the way to bring the unique stories of your mind into a reality.

3. The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing – By Alice LaPlante

One of the recommended books for beginners who wish to explore both fiction and non-fiction aspects of their writing skills. This book takes the writer through each stage in the creative process starting from the niche idea to the final script combining 3 aspects of creative writing viz, process (which includes finding inspiration and penning it on the page), craft (which includes a very specific technique called the characterization) and lastly anthology (which includes learning by going through the masters of the form). This book is a comprehensive guide for both the beginner and the advanced levels. This book debunks all the conventional so-called rules of writing

4. Writing Tools:  55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer – By Roy Peter Clark

Another recommended book for all types of aspiring creative writers – a novel or a blog or a technical report. The author himself has taught creative writing ranging from entry-level writers to prize-winning authors. More than 50 plus tools, not rules have been brilliantly described in this book which are in the form of short chapters in a conversational tone along with practical examples and each chapter is perfectly complete in itself. There are short chapters with a laser focus on specific aspects of writing that are defined with clarity and in a personable, perceivable tone with clear opportunities for applying every strategy and be the best. The book discusses originality with the attitude to develop the correct mindset for creative writing from the start to give a beautiful conclusion. 

5. Complete Creative Writing Course: Your complete companion for writing creative fiction (Teach Yourself – Writing) – By Chris Syke

This is another wonderful book on creative writing recommended for all aspiring authors eager to narrate their tale. This book covers a wide range of genres from science fiction to novels on romance and from comedy to children’s books. It has tips and tricks with exercises for not only unlocking the writer in you but also to improve your writing skills along with information on editing, drafting, re-drafting, and bringing out the finest piece of work. They also have a unique online community for aspiring authors and creative writers to connect with each other and share their experiences to learn from one another and better their work. This book takes the amateur in you to be a full-blown writer from drafting to publication

6. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft – By Stephen King –

This book describes not only the experiences of the author but also, his advice for all aspiring brilliant upcoming writers. This book is partly a memoir and partly a masterclass by one of the bestselling authors of all times. The book is divided into five parts. The first section reflects his life memories. The second section is about what writing is and has compared writing to telepathy. The third section is described as the Toolbox that describes the importance of Grammar, vocabulary, and the style that can be adopted in writing. The Fourth section describes the author’s advice on writing. The Fifth and concluding section includes a short story. The author has covered not only points related to creative writing but also, covered a great gamut of writers and almost covers every aspect of writing.

7. Creative writing for Dummies – By Maggie Hamand

Another recommended book to unlock your creative potential and choose the writing genre that you feel is the best style for you paving the way for being a poet, or a novelist or a travel writer, or a columnist. This book gives you expert insights on both fiction and non-fiction type of work along with taking a journey through the setting, the characterization, the plot, the creative dialogues, the sparkling conversations, etc. This book will give tips and tricks to keep your readers engaged till the end. Also, how to convert your pastime hobby into a professional career is elaborated. This will show you the ways to weave your characters into a fine thread and converge them into a beautiful masterpiece. The author has explained the ways to get started, ways to be in the writing mindset, create your engaging characters with their dialogues, target audience paving into a gripping conclusion.

8. The Writing Life: Writers on How They Think and Work – By Marie Arana

A book that gathers more than fifty of contemporary literature’s finest messages, this book will enthral, attach, and inspire its readers with its amazing tales. One will be hooked once the reading begins. The authors divulge secrets that are professionally hidden. All the “How’s” are answered like first discovery as writers, dealing with the myriad frustrations along with perks and limelight a writer’s life affords. In this book, a diversified group of dignitaries who have wildly varied stories to tell, share this singularly crafty career with their pleasures and peeves adding their deepest fears with insights into the ongoing demands and benefitting rewards. The book has a rare view from the inside with a close examination of concerns of the writers about the creative process. For all budding writers interested in the making of fiction and nonfiction, here is a fascinating indispensable valuable guide to the beautiful craft.

9. The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing – By Tara Mokhtari

Then there is another recommended power-packed book which is a complete manual introducing all the major genres for creative writing. It envisages an updated and an expanded section for digital media with video games and core exercises for getting a hold of the various genres and hybrid forms of writing. The book also has a starting point for a portfolio of work, and a structured series of practical writing exercises. The book bridges the gap between writing and knowledge through a wide range of genres and variant forms. This book covers the majority of the genres such as short fiction, poetry autobiography, screenwriting with performance writing. It breaks the myth that is written around for writers. It references creative texts, scholarly texts, critiques tools, exegesis tools. The book has an in-depth introductory creative writing course and a practical approach for advanced writers on writing critiques of one’s work and a glossary related terms for easy reference.

10. Getting into Character: Seven secrets Novelist can learn from Actors – By Brandilyn Collins

Getting into Character: Seven secrets Novelist can learn from Actors – By Brandilyn Collins Last but not the least, another easy to read, well-organized techniques to develop plot with characters is this book which has 14 chapters with 2 appendices. The method acting theory that theatre professionals have been using for decades has been considered with in-depth seven techniques of characterization that novelists can use in their line of work. The concepts highlighted will help you to understand and psychology of the characters and built on them. These techniques will guide you to create the distinctive characters, build their objectives, nature with powerful dialogues that will move your story forward. It will also help to write convincingly to make the character reach the audience.

11. Becoming a Writer – By Dorothea Brande

A classic best-selling book was written in the 1930s by Dorothea Brande who was a widely acclaimed fiction writer, journalist, and writing instructor. She knew that most writers didn’t need another book on any so-called “technique”. Her simple wise book is designed to help you get over yourself, stop procrastinating and start the process of writing, using methodologies ranging from a simple declaration to write every day at a fixed time. No matter what. This book not only teaches you how to think and perceive the writer’s world but also, gives you useful small tips and tricks for your beautiful journey ahead. The chapters are well constructed in a logical and easy way to understand. If you an amateur in the world of writing, you might want to read this book first before commencing your journey.

Creative Writing Course

Also, another approach would be to enrol in online certification courses that would give you hands-on practical experience in content writing. You can go with Henry Harvin Academy – one of the finest, leading career and competency development organizations that focuses primarily on value creation. Henry Harvin’s course on Certified Creative Writing Specialist (CCWS) certification is Ranked as No. 1 in the industry by BestCourseNews.com and recognized by the American Association of EFL, UK Cert, UKAF, Content Writing Association in India, MSME, and Govt of India. You will get access to 9 in 1 course with 100% Practical Training and focus on experiential learning using popular GCAO Pedagogy with regular boot camps spread over 12 months period with live projects, a guaranteed internship with weekly job support enhancing your interview skills. You can check out all the comprehensive details in the below link. Also, if there are further queries, end-to-end assistance via call or WhatsApp or mail is readily available: –

https://www.henryharvin.com/creative-writing-course

Conclusion

Woah!!! That I guess was pretty extensive and informative too. I hope I have been persuasive enough to bring out the writer in you. As said earlier, anyone and everyone who has an imaginative skill can be a decent writer. To be an excellent writer, you need to develop your inherent niche skills and for that, there are plenty of resources available. Do not be disappointed if you do not get it right the first time. Keep on trying, keep writing, read daily, invest some time and I assure you that, there is no stopping you. You will be stopped only by your own limiting beliefs of being unable to fathom the idea of being a writer. There is so much to explore. The world is very beautiful and there is so much under the sun to write about. Just ask yourself, what is the story that you want to tell to your friends, family, loved ones? You get the answer correct, that is your very own masterpiece. Trust yourself and you will bring out an exquisite piece of work.

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