AUTHOR RESOURCES

Writing a book requires creativity, discipline, persistence—and eventually, an understanding of how publishing works. These are some of the books, websites, and industry resources we return to and recommend to authors at different stages of the process.

BOOKS WE RECOMMEND

The War of Art — Steven Pressfield
For getting past resistance, procrastination, perfectionism, and the thousand other things that keep us from doing the work. Pressfield himself recommends starting here among his books on writing.

Do the Work — Steven Pressfield
A practical companion to The War of Art about moving a creative project from idea to completion—particularly useful when the initial excitement has worn off and the work gets difficult.

The Artist's Way — Julia Cameron
A classic for reconnecting with creativity and developing a sustainable creative practice. Cameron's “morning pages” practice has become particularly influential among writers and artists.

The Creative Act: A Way of Being — Rick Rubin
Less a book about technique than a book about creativity itself: noticing, experimenting, trusting your instincts, and creating work that feels genuinely your own.

Tiny Beautiful Things — Cheryl Strayed
A master class in voice, vulnerability, empathy, and writing honestly about the complicated parts of being human. Not technically a book about writing—and perhaps all the more valuable to writers because of it.

Brave Enough — Cheryl Strayed
A collection of wisdom on courage, love, loss, resilience, and the difficult work of becoming yourself. A small book to keep nearby when writing—or life—requires a little more courage.

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us — Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
An exploration of the emerging science of neuroaesthetics and how experiences with art can change our brains and bodies. Magsamen and Ross show how creativity and engagement with the arts can support learning, well-being, connection, and our capacity to navigate the world.

WRITING & CRAFT

Reedsy
An excellent starting point for practical information on writing and editing. Its free resources cover everything from character development and self-editing to beta readers and the mechanics of publishing.

Steven Pressfield
Beyond his books, Pressfield offers free material about resistance, creative discipline, and developing the habits required to do sustained creative work.

UNDERSTANDING PUBLISHING

Jane Friedman
Friedman has worked in publishing for decades and writes extensively about agents, publishers, traditional and independent publishing, author platforms, contracts, and the business of being a writer. Her recommended-resources library is particularly useful.

Poets & Writers
Especially useful for literary writers researching magazines, small presses, contests, grants, conferences, and other opportunities. Jane Friedman also identifies its small-press database as a resource for literary novelists, poets, and short-story writers, while cautioning that some listings can be dated.

The Authors Guild
One of the better resources once writing becomes a professional endeavor. Its resource library covers publishing contracts, copyright, literary agents, self-publishing, book marketing, legal issues, and the business of authorship.

Publishers Marketplace
For writers who are further along and want to understand the industry itself: deals, agents, editors, publishers, rights activity, and who is actually acquiring what.