( October 8, 2007 ) - Sure you have a great dictionary and the ever-helpful thesaurus, but as a writer, what else is in your reference library? It goes without saying that books are an important part of any writer's life. Here are a few titles that would make great additions to a writer's library:

The Right to Write by Julia Cameron: This book is a great motivational tool for writers of every age and every stage of proficiency. It's a book, too, for those who've always wanted to try their hand at writing but who haven't found the courage. The point of Cameron's book is not to teach you to technique but rather to conveys that everyone has the right to express themselves, the right to put words on paper. For sheer inspiration, there isn't a better book out there.

Schott's Original Miscellany by Ben Schott: From chemical abbreviations to medical shorthand, from directions on how to tie a bow tie, to colleges of the Ivy League, to Q words that have no U, every single page boasts something interesting. For fiction writers, it's a perfect reference to turn to when looking for something to inspire a story, or for when you need the perfect detail to bring a story to life.

The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood: Filled with prompts and pictures, in addition to inspirational passages detailing the author's own experiences with style, rejection, and the writing life overall, this book is a treasure trove of jump-starters for fiction writers. Add to that the passages with advice on all aspects of writing, revision, and the world of publishing, and you have a book that's a must-have for any fiction writer.

The Chicago Manual of Style: Put out by the University of Chicago Press, The Chicago Manual of Style is considered by many to be the definitive guide to style, grammar and the like. From proofreading symbols to proper use of commas, if you have a question about style, you'll find the answer within these pages. If you buy just one book for your reference collection, let it be this one.

No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Chris Baty: Writing a novel in 30 days may sound like sheer craziness, but for advice on developing momentum in your writing, nobody gives it like Chris Baty, the founder of National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo to the initiated). And even if you aren't interested in speed-writing a novel over the course of 30 days, this is still a great book for you, a fun approach to writing quickly and without censoring yourself.

The truth is that bookstores these days are packed with shelf after shelf of books on the craft of writing. From grammar guides to books meant to motivate, there's something for everyone. The above suggestions are simply that. Suggestions. For the right books to add to your own collection, there's no better way to find them than by browsing the bookstore yourself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa is an author on http://www.Writing.com, which is a site for Writers.