In honour of today being the type of day that makes me want to sit outside and read, I’m offering a list of books I think are essential for every writer. These are books that I own but also have been recommended to me by more than one person. So, it’s not just me recommending them—it’s many writers.

Please note: This is just a list of books about writing, not about the business of writing or about freelance writing (at least, these books are not solely about freelance writing). At some point in the future (I’m not saying when) I’ll post a list of my favourite books about the business of writing. But that’s for another day.

“On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction” William Zinsser

This is a fantastic book about non-fiction writing, with advice everyone can use. Zinsser includes information on leads, endings, memoirs, simplicity in writing, travel writing, and much  more. The book is easy to read and includes humour with the insights. Along with “The Elements of Style,” this is one of the books I hear recommended most often for writers.

“The Elements of Style,” William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

This book is often also referred to as “Strunk and White.” I don’t know that there are too many writers out there who don’t know “The Elements of Style.” It’s a small book, easy to pack around and absolutely vital for writers. The book includes information on grammar (such as apostrophes and parenthetic expressions), principles of composition and a very handy list of words and expressions commonly misused (does anyone actually use ‘hopefully’ correctly anymore?).

“Eats, Shoots & Leaves,” Lynne Truss

This zero tolerance approach to punctuation is informative and entertaining. Truss encourages the editor in all of us to fight against the tyranny of low punctuation standards found on the Internet, in e-mail and in text messages. This is a fantastic book for anyone who has died a little inside at the sight of a misplaced apostrophe, only to feel guilty for judging another’s punctuation so harshly.  I laughed, I cried, I reached for my red pen.

“On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” Stephen King

He starts by citing Strunk and White, always a good sign. King’s book, part memoir and part instruction on writing, is always entertaining and insightful. Bonus points to King because he’s not afraid to say that there are bad writers out there (I’m pretty sure in some of his Entertainment Weekly columns he’s pointed some bad writers out, but I’m not naming names here).

“Stein on Writing,” Sol Stein

(I’ve just spent 30 minutes searching frantically for this book because I KNOW I have a copy but I can’t find it anywhere. If someone out there has my copy of “Stein on Writing” can you send it back to me, please?) This book includes information on first sentences, using all your senses to write, being a credible writer and secrets of good dialogue. I’d share some favourite insights with you, but I’m too distraught over not being able to find my copy.

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list of all the good books about writing. There are many more out there that I haven’t read. Please feel free to add your favourite books on writing in the comments section. I’m always looking for books about writing and would love to have some new ones to read.