“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” — Jim Rohn
Reading is a wonderful way to educate yourself on numerous topics. Quality authors take their years of study and hard-earned life lessons and condense them down to the most beneficial, offering them up in an easy-to-read format. What a privilege it is to read. Books can change you, your freelance business, and your life.
But with so much information in the world today it’s hard to know where to start. Here are five must-read books for writers to increase your productivity, improve your skills in both fiction and non-fiction, and learn how to edit your work, and run your writing business.
5 Must-read books for writers
1. ‘Everybody Writes’ by Ann Handley
Ann Hadley is a marketing genius and the Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs.
This book is perfect for anyone in content creation. It’s an enjoyable read with a witty style and warm tone. It outlines the golden rules for writing and provides actionable tips on issues specific to creating marketing content.
In the author’s own words:
“I wrote this book because I couldn’t find what I wanted–part writing guide, part handbook on the rules of good sportsmanship in content marketing, and all-around reliable desk companion for anyone creating or directing content on behalf of brands.”
2. ‘The Miracle Morning for Writers’
This one is all about the ritual. Setting yourself up for writing success starting with how you begin your day. This book takes Hal Elrod’s miracle morning formula for success and combines it with Steve Scott’s writing habit techniques. Hal Elrod’s books are some of the highest-rated on Amazon and Steve Scott’s writing habits have helped him land on the Wall Street Journal bestsellers list.
Learn how to manage your writing time from these top writers.
In this book you will find:
- How to find the time to write
- How to sell more books
- How to eliminate writer’s block
- Overcoming limiting beliefs and more
3. ‘On Writing Well’
If you are in the business of non-fiction writing, William Zinsser gives practical tips with a beautiful style that shows his respect for the English language. Zinsser began his career on the New York Herald Tribune in 1946 but has continued to write and teach, staying relevant with his craft.
With over a million copies sold, this is a book to come back to again and again to improve your writing skills. In this book, you will learn some keys to writing well, yes, but Zinsser also works to increase your confidence in your writing abilities in a way that will endear you to your readers.
If you love practical advice with lots of examples to help with your writing and communication style check out this book.
Zinsser will help you:
- Remove the clutter from your writing
- Lead the reader through your piece
- Understand various non-fiction forms
- Improve your attitude about writing
4. ‘Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive, and Others Die’
Why do some ideas take off while others never get off the ground? And can you increase your chances of hitting on one of those successful ideas?
Although this book isn’t specifically about writing, authors Chip and Dan Health offer a wealth of knowledge about the psychology of why certain ideas “stick.” It deconstructs some of the most successful examples of ideas that have taken root in our consciousness as a society.
It also guides you through practical tips on crafting your messaging, like:
- Identifying core ideas
- Simplifying them
- Finding the story underneath
- Using analogies and metaphors
- Following the “inverted pyramid”
- Applying the “Velcro Theory of Memory”
- How to make people feel good
The techniques and strategies you’ll learn from this book will maximize the impact of your writing, and therefore your success.
5. ‘How to Write Seductive Web Copy’
In the copywriting business? Henneke Duistermaat knows how to turn boring copy into seductive copy that entices readers and keeps them hungry for more. This is a practical guide to homepage copy, about pages, blog writing and more.
Duistermaat teaches how to:
- Start with your ideal reader
- Write a comprehensive list of benefits and features focusing on the problem that they solve
- Optimize web text for easier reading
- Edit your draft to make your work more appealing
You will also learn some copywriting mistakes to avoid and some headline writing formulas.
Each one of these books will help you sharpen your skills, connect with your readers, and grow your career, whether you are writing a novel, website copy, or an email. Keep reading. Keep writing.
Looking to expand your content marketing strategy? Easily hire freelancer content writers.
