Recommendations based on Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Printby Renni Browne

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

    by Stephen King
    A series of personal reflections on the art of writing, and the power of story-telling.

    "Long live the King" hailed Entertainment Weekly upon the publication of Stephen King's On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is ... (Goodreads)

  2. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

    by William Zinsser
    Comprehensive guide to writing nonfiction, covering craft, style, and technique.

    On Writing Well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get ... (Goodreads)

  3. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

    by Anne Lamott
    A witty and honest guide to writing and life, encouraging writers to embrace imperfection and find their own voice.

    A newer edition of this title can be found, here., "Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Elements of Style

    by William Strunk Jr.
    A practical guide to written English, providing guidance on grammar and style.

    This style manual offers practical advice on improving writing skills. Throughout, the emphasis is on promoting a plain English style. This little book can help you communicate more effectively by ... (Goodreads)

  5. Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them

    by Francine Prose
    An exploration of how to appreciate and create literature with an analytical eye.

    In her entertaining and edifying New York Times bestseller, acclaimed author Francine Prose invites you to sit by her side and take a guided tour of the tools and the tricks of the masters to ... (Goodreads)

  6. Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

    by Natalie Goldberg
    A guide to writing as a spiritual practice, encouraging writers to let go of their inhibitions and write from the heart.

    For more than twenty years Natalie Goldberg has been challenging and cheering on writers with her books and workshops. In her groundbreaking first book, she brings together Zen meditation and writing ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Case for Christ

    by Lee Strobel
    A former atheist journalist investigates the evidence for Jesus and becomes a Christian.

    In 1980, Lee Strobel is an atheist journalist and investigative reporter for the, Chicago Tribune, . He and his wife Leslie have a daughter named Alison and are expecting their second child. After ... (Wikipedia)

  8. Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds

    by Joy Adamson
    The true story of how a lioness was raised and released back into the wild.

    There have been many accounts of the return to the wild of tame animals, but since its original publication in 1960, when, T,he, New York Times, hailed it as a “fascinating and remarkable book,”, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

    by John Berendt
    A journalist's exploration of a mysterious murder in Savannah, Georgia.

    A sublime and seductive reading experience. This portrait of a beguiling Southern city was a best-seller (though a flop as a movie). ~ Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty, ... (Goodreads)

  10. Kisses from Katie

    by Katie Davis
    A young woman's journey of faith, service, and love in the slums of Uganda.

    What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disobey and disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s ... (Goodreads)

  11. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

    by Atul Gawande
    An exploration of the human experience of mortality and the importance of end-of-life care.

    In, Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending Medicine has triumphed in modern ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence

    by Gavin de Becker
    Examining how fear can be used to protect oneself from violence, and how it is a valuable tool.

    True fear is a gift. Unwarranted fear is a curse. Learn how to tell the difference. A date won't take "no" for an answer. The new nanny gives a mother an uneasy feeling. A stranger in a deserted ... (Goodreads)

  13. Lucky

    by Alice Sebold
    A young woman's story of survival and resilience after being violently attacked.

    In a memoir hailed for its searing candor and wit, Alice Sebold reveals how her life was utterly transformed when, as an eighteen-year-old college freshman, she was brutally raped and beaten in a ... (Goodreads)

  14. Cleopatra: A Life

    by Stacy Schiff
    Biography of Cleopatra VII, the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt.

    The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer brings to life the most intriguing woman in the history of the world: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. Just Kids

    by Patti Smith
    Chronicles of two young artists in New York City, finding friendship and inspiration in each other.

    In Just Kids , Patti Smith's first book of prose, the legendary American artist offers a never-before-seen glimpse of her remarkable relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the epochal ... (Goodreads)

  16. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

    by Susan Cain
    An exploration of the power of introversion, examining the implications of modern society's emphasis on extroversion.

    The book that started the Quiet Revolution, At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike ... (Goodreads)

  17. Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

    by Seth Godin
    A practical guide to successful leadership, emphasizing the importance of connection with others.

    A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes, be they religious, ethnic, ... (Goodreads)

  18. Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need

    by Blake Snyder
    Step-by-step guide to writing a successful screenplay, using the "Save the Cat" approach.

    This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat! ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

    by Julia Cameron
    Exploring the power of the creative spirit and unlocking the potential of the inner artist.

    The Artist’s Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international bestseller, millions of readers have found it to be an invaluable guide to living the artist’s life. Still as vital ... (Goodreads)

  20. The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle

    by Steven Pressfield
    A guide to overcoming procrastination and other inner obstacles to unleash creativity.

    A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere,, The War of, Art, is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. The Knowledge of the Holy

    by A.W. Tozer
    A profound exploration of the attributes of God and the importance of knowing Him.

    This timeless gift breathes a spirit of devotion for all Christians, from those who are newly arrived to those who are committing themselves anew to Jesus Christ., The Knowledge of the Holy, by ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

    by Elizabeth Gilbert
    Overcoming the fear of creativity and living an inspired life.

    Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Gilbert offers insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us ... (Goodreads)

  23. A Room of One's Own

    by Virginia Woolf
    Examining gender roles and societal expectations with an eye to achieving independence and creative freedom.

    A Room of One's Own is an extended essay by Virginia Woolf. First published on the 24th of October, 1929, the essay was based on a series of lectures she delivered at Newnham College and Girton ... (Goodreads)

  24. Wild at Heart Revised and Updated: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

    by John Eldredge
    A guide to help men discover their true purpose and become the wild, passionate men of God they were meant to be.

    God designed men to be dangerous, says John Eldredge. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk. ... (Goodreads)

  25. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

    by Erik Larson
    Exploration of Lusitania's fateful voyage and its lasting impact on World War I.

    #1 New York Times Bestseller,From the bestselling author and master of narrative nonfiction comes the enthralling story of the sinking of the, Lusitania, On May 1, 1915, with WWI entering its tenth ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. The Vow

    by Kim Carpenter
    A true story of a couple's love and commitment tested by a tragic accident that leaves the wife with no memory of her husband or their life together.

    Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else

    by Michael Gates Gill
    A wealthy advertising executive loses everything and finds redemption working at Starbucks.

    In his fifties, Michael Gates Gill had it all: a big house in the suburbs, a loving family, and a top job at an ad agency with a six-figure salary. By the time he turned sixty, he had lost everything ... (Goodreads)

  28. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know

    by Malcolm Gladwell
    Examines how we interact with strangers and why we often misunderstand them, leading to tragic consequences.

    Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Outliers, offers a powerful examination of our interactions with strangers – and why they ... (Goodreads)

  29. Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right

    by Jamie Glowacki
    A practical guide for parents to successfully potty train their children, with humor and empathy.

    Jamie Glowacki—potty-training expert, Pied Piper of Poop, and author of the popular guide, Oh Crap! Potty Training —shares her proven 6-step plan to help you toilet train your preschooler quickly and ... (Goodreads)