I read these books one after another over many months. For me, the books I read first had the greatest impact. There’s value in all the books below, but toward the end of my reading frenzy, the information sounded familiar, and it showed in my writing. While I’m not riding the query-go-round, many of you might be and these books will address this process. These aren’t listed in any particular order.

Techniques of the Selling Writer
by Dwight Swain

Writing the Breakout Novel
by Donald Maass

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
by Donald Maass

The Successful Novelist: A Lifetime of Lessons about Writing and Publishing
by David Morrell

Writer’s Guide to Character Traits
by Linda Edelstein

Elements of Fiction Writing – Characters & Viewpoint
by Orson Scott Card

The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition
by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Elements of Fiction Writing – Scene & Structure
by Jack M. Bickham

Setting (Elements of Fiction Writing)
by Jack M. Bickham

Word Painting: A Guide to Write More Descriptively
by Rebecca McClanahan

Creating Character Emotions
by Ann Hood

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
by Renni Browne and Dave King

Novelist’s Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes
by Raymond Obstfeld

The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes
by Jack M. Bickham

The First Five Pages: A Writer’S Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile
by Noah Lukeman

The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life
by Noah Lukeman

Goal, Motivation and Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction
by Debra Dixon

Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life
by Elizabeth George

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Anne LaMott

On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft
by Stephen King

Elements of Fiction Writing – Conflict, Action & Suspense
by William Noble

The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition
by Christopher Vogler

Fiction Writer’s Brainstormer
by James. V. Smith Jr

Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) (Write Great Fiction)
by James Scott Bell

No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells
by Alice Orr

I Know What You’re Thinking: Using the Four Codes of Reading People to Improve Your Life
Lillian Glass, Ph.D.

The Power of Body Language: How to Succeed in Every Business and Social Encounter [POWER OF BODY LANGUAGE -OS]
by Tonya Reiman

Cause of Death : A Writer’s Guide to Death, Murder and Forensic Medicine (Howdunit Series)
by Keith D. Wilson, M.D.

The Novel Writer’s Toolkit: A Guide to Writing Novels and Getting Published
by Bob Mayer

On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
by William Zinsser