There are tons of craft books on the market. Some are classics, others have recently been released. As writers, we should always look to expand our base of knowledge and grow in our craft. So let’s read those how-to books.

The Write Now! group’s Writer’s Book Club launched in July 2012. It’s pretty easy. Several titles are offered for each period. Pick the one you’re interested in.

For this swap, 12 different craft books covering a variety of topics will be offered. You’ll have two months to read the single book of your choice and then send to two partners a two-page letter that includes the title/author of your chosen book, why you chose that one, a summary of the book, what you got (or didn’t get) out of the book and whether you’d recommend it to others. All of this should be in no less than 2 pages.

Already read a book on the list? Please choose something that’s new to you or something that has been a long while since you read. The idea here is to learn and to grow as writers.

If you’d like to read more than one, feel free to do so. One book is the minimum. I’ve included sub-titles where applicable to help as you make your reading selection.

Have suggestions for books in future Writers’ Book Club swaps? Post below!

Selections for The Writer’s Book Club (Jan-Feb. 2013)

• “Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within” by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett (NOTE: Recommended by group member TheWrite1)

• “Telling Lies for Fun and Profit: A Manual for Fiction Writers” by Lawrence Block

• “This Year You Write Your Novel” by Walter Mosley

• “Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English” by Patricia T. O’Conner

• “Lit From Within: Contemporary Masters on the Art and Craft of Writing” edited by Kevin Haworth and Dinty W. Moore

• “13 Ways of Looking at the Novel” by Jane Smiley

• “The Joy of Writing Sex: A Guide for Fiction Writers” by Elizabeth Benedict

• “Writing the Thriller” by T. Macdonald Skillman

• “Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More for 27 Years of the Clarion Writers Workshop” by Kate Wilhelm

• “Writing Creative Nonfiction” edited by Carolyn Forché and Philip Gerard

• “How NOT to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them – a mis-step by mis-step guide” by Howard Mittelman and Sandra Newman

• “How Fiction Works” by James Wood

Recap:

Pick a book and read it.

In a 2-page letter, include the title/author, why you chose it, a summary, what you learned from it and if you’d recommend it.

Snail mail letter to two partners.

Sneak peek on the March-April selections:

We'll be reviewing the books that weren't selected in the first rounds. Go to the group forum to see the full list to date. You can start reading now and get a jump on the swap that will be posted in February or March!

Group membership. Snail mail. International.