Every single one of these books changed my writing significantly for the better, each in a different way, and I’ve read some of them several times. That’s saying something by the way, since as a rule I never read a book more than once – there are too many good ones out there.

I should probably caution you to take your time reading these, if you’re planning to go through the list. The best way to do it, I think, would be to work your way down from #1, and as you finish each book spend at least a few months practicing and applying the things you learn. Otherwise you run the risk of taking in too much information and forgetting half of it before you get a chance to internalise it.

1. The Elements of Style – Strunk & White
2. On Writing – Stephen King
3. Stein On Writing – Sol Stein
4. On Writing Well – William Zinsser
5. The War of Art – Steven Pressfield
6. The First 5 Pages – Noah Lukeman
7. No One Wants To Read Your Shit – Shaun Coyne
8. The :Emotional Craft of Fiction – Donald Maas
9. The Hero With a Thousand Faces – Joseph Campbell
10. Zen in the Art of Writing – Ray Bradbury