Books that are Must-Haves for Writers

[Misplaced]

Each book probably doesn't need its own thread, so I figured I start a universal one.

I just finished reading a fantastic little book that was recommended to me. It's a bible for writers as far as I'm concerned:

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White

Everything you need to know about proper grammar, punctuation, proper use of words and several notes on developing your style is packed into this tiny little thing. I will be referencing this book for the rest of my writing days!

Any other book recs for writers?

[Aquarius]

Sin and Syntax It teaches you the rules so you can artfully break them.

[entkayjay]

A book.. and online, yay!

Thesaurus.com

The older I get, the more I need it!

[Honeybee]

Generally, I don't like books where writers write about writing, but an exception is: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

[Aquarius]

From the Elements of Writing Fiction series: Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card.

[entkayjay]

This is not a book. Although it has been. (And probably is, if the Thesaurus of Phrases is the same thing.)

The Six Main Classes of Words

When I was a kid, I was so taken with words and etymology that I would read the dictionary and the thesaurus. Sad, I know.

But my grandmother got me a set of my own, and included with that was a book of phrases, which absolutely fascinated me. The link above is the closest I can come to it -- probably the same thing, but I, like Samuel T. Cogley, like the feel of a book in my hand. There's nothing like it for browsing for curiosity.

Anyway, take a look.

[Misplaced]

I'm adding On Writing by Stephen King to my list of "must-haves." I'm not a fan of horror, but I will say that Stephen King is a very skilled writer.