There is arguably no more famous Canadian author than Margaret Atwood. Renowned for her distinct style, honest voice, and deeply Canadian view, she is an expert in her field, creating story genius. This is why her writing guide, On Writers and Writing, tops the list of the ten must-listen-to books to help you become an excellent writer. This audiobook is partly biographical, partly a deep dive into the world of writing, and one hundred percent effective in helping new writers find their point of view.
Atwood has a very no-nonsense style. She dives into her craft without apology, analyzing the ins and outs of good writing and the writing process, as well as the setbacks, excuses and writer's block inherent in the creative process. She makes note of a wide variety of accomplished writers, while also being extremely open about her own life, processes, and shortcomings.
This is a great listen for anyone looking to explore what makes writers tick, both for motivation and inspiration. Atwood challenges and pushes listeners to strive for more, ultimately offering her years of writing advice as a stepping stone for writers who may come after her.
This title is perfect for writers whose main focus is publishing and commercial success. Every writer's aim may be a little different, so finding the tools and guides that help you hone your skills and focus your strengths in the right direction is key. This audiobook offers writing tips that first-time and established writers can implement when their ultimate goal is to create a best seller.
James Scott Bell outlines his recipe for success in a clear, straightforward guide based on his own experience as a best-selling author. His mantra is that by following these steps and catering to a certain formula, anyone can take their book from unknown to New York Times best seller material.
Listen along as he talks through the techniques and fundamentals of writing fiction anyone can apply to their writing to bring it to the next level. His long history of creative writing and novel writing experience breaks down the process and explains what both audiences and publishers are looking for when it comes to top sellers.
One of the hardest pills to swallow when learning how to become a better writer is how to take criticism. Tough love and harsh realities may feel brutal, but learning how to accept them, embrace them, and learn from these truths is what will ultimately help you become a good writer and develop strong writing habits.
Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit teaches writers how to separate themselves from their work, take a step back from their piece of writing and view things not from a personal place but a critical audience eye. Learning this vital trick can help writers better see areas where they need to improve, allowing them to receive criticism as constructive, rather than as a personal attack.
This audiobook is truly a must-listen for writers that struggle with the balance between writing, revising and critiquing. Knowing where to make changes in a new book can be one of the toughest skills to master, but Steven Pressfield helps guide writers in the right direction to learn how to improve their art and build up effective writing skills.
Dictate Your Book discusses how speaking your story using a dictation system can help make the writing process smoother, improve your writing life, and allow the process to be more fluid, and natural. This audiobook offers a simple hack which can revolutionize the way writers write, from blank page to finished work.
Reducing your writing time is only one benefit when it comes to improving your writing with dictation. Monica Leonelle not only outlines what dictation is and how to use it, but also addresses a variety of ways to optimize the tool for success. As technologies change and advance, success comes with learning how to not only adapt to these technologies, but have them work to your advantage.
It is especially prudent that this title is in audiobook form, as it highlights the way in which the written word is moving from traditional platforms to spoken forms. If society is shifting more and more towards listening to books rather than reading them, it stands to reason that authors can similarly learn to speak their books.
So you have a story. You’ve lived an interesting life, and you’re ready to share that life with the world. Learning how to take your own lived experiences and translate them into readable content can be exceptionally tricky. Where do you start? What do you include? How to Write, Edit and Publish Your Memoir looks at all aspects of the memoir-writing process from inspiration, to freewriting, how to proofread, and ultimately how to get published.
Knowing how to begin when you’re telling your own story can be one of the hardest parts of writing a memoir. Similarly, deciding what aspects of your life to include, and how much, is daunting. Learning from an expert that walks you through the steps can be a very helpful way to turn your own experiences into a comprehensive book.
Author Carolyn Jourdan pulls from her own experience as a successful memoir writer, but also includes tips and advice from six other memoirists and great writers for a well-rounded perspective on effective writing. Jourdan is careful in this way to provide various avenues, while steering new writers on to the path for success.
Similarly, How to Write Dazzling Dialogue is a perfect tool for writers specifically focusing on upping their dialogue game. Learning how to write effective, fluid, believable, and engaging dialogue is a very specific skill, and novelists can learn a lot from this audiobook.
James Scott Bell uses his expertise to offer advice and tips on how to best approach dialogue writing, based on a wealth of experience and knowledge. Dialogue can be tricky as it needs to come across as natural and authentic while driving the story. Bell helps new writers navigate this balance by offering a guide that includes tips, exercises, and solutions that pay attention specifically to creating well-rounded dialogue.
This is also the perfect subject matter for an audiobook. Oftentimes, the best way to practice dialogue is by hearing it spoken out loud, rather than reading it in print. By experiencing this title through audio, listeners are able to hear the difference between good dialogue and poor dialogue, an active voice or a passive voice, and then apply those changes to their own work.
Many new writers think that writing short stories is so much easier than novels or longer audiobooks, but they are severely mistaken. Short stories are an art all their own, and require a certain set of skills and tactics in order to make them shine. This how-to guide will help anyone hoping to step into the world of short story writing.
The length of a short story is such that every word holds more weight. When your words are limited, each one needs to be deliberate and serve a purpose. This thought can be overwhelming for someone just stepping into the field, but it is an important distinction to make. How to Write a Short Story teaches writers how to harness the power of the story they want to write and condense it down into a few short pages.
Learning a formula or structure in which to write can keep writers on track and help them create the most impactful work. This audiobook will walk listeners through the best processes to become an expert short story writer.
A wide range of authors focus on perfecting the best story, whether in the form of a memoir or a novel. Yet our list of audiobooks on how to be a better writer would not be complete without a guide to perfecting nonfiction writing.
Learning how to write a strong nonfiction book is just as challenging as fiction. Delivering information in an engaging way, and in a tone that best suits the subject matter, is an art form in itself. While each topic can be adapted, a good nonfiction toes the line between being informative and holding the audience’s attention.
Joanna Penn focuses on making each word count. In this audiobook, she shares her experience as a nonfiction writer for ten years. She offers a range of tips and pointers to help you become the best nonfiction writer you can be.
So many people have had the ambition or dream of writing a children’s book, but simply didn’t know where to start. With How to Write a Children's Book, writers will gain the knowledge and know-how to make this dream a reality.
This title is excellent for anyone attempting to navigate the world of children’s literature. While it can seem so simple, children’s books are actually hard work. Establishing the right type of main characters, story structure, and voice, and delivering the right message is much more complicated when it comes to children's writing. Katie Davis and Jan Fields work together to offer knowledge and expertise on how to do both.
Understanding what works and what doesn’t is the best way for new writers to learn how to produce strong content. Covering the pitfalls of writing kids’ books and the obstacles to getting published, this audiobook also arms listeners with tools and solutions to overcome them.
Lastly, no list of writing books would be complete without On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. Considered a master of storytelling worldwide, King has written countless titles, both full novel, novella, and short story. He has an extremely successful writing career, and his works have been adapted into a number of movies and TV series. King’s success as a writer is unprecedented.
In On Writing, King opens up about his writing processes, as well as his own life and writing process, melding a how-to guide with a memoir. This is a must-listen title for any aspiring writer hoping to make their own mark on the world of fiction, and start writing their own masterpieces.
King’s book provides listeners not only with advice, but also with inspiration. This audio guide is straightforward and practical, while also engaging and personal. One of the best books on writing, it is practical and informative while maintaining King's own writing style. King shows listeners how to pull from their own experiences to produce the best possible writing.
