Melissa Barton, Writer

I have a fairly large collection of books on writing, most of which have never been very helpful. These are the ones that I refer to frequently, or that have an impact on my writing:

Ideas into Words: Mastering the Craft of Science Writing, by Elise Hancock
ISBN 0801873304
This slim little book doesn’t talk about marketing or selling your writing at all; it talks about crafting a good science story (although the principles are broadly applicable), and does so in a clear, elegant way that makes it a genuinely enjoyable book to read. I reread Ideas into Words periodically to remind myself that science stories are everywhere, and not always obviously science.

A Field Guide for Science Writers, eds. by Deborah Blum, Mary Knudson (1st and 2nd ed.), and Robin Marantz Henig (2nd ed.)
ISBN 0195124944 (1st ed.), 0195174992 (2nd ed.)
This is cheating, because the two editions are actually completely different books, and both are full of excellent essays about writing techniques, finding stories, covering difficult science and environmental topics, marketing, and working on the PR side. Both are invaluable resources for the new science writer. The first edition is out of print, so snap it up if you find a used copy.

Word Painting, by Rebecca McClanahan
ISBN 1582970254
This is the best general book on writing craft that I’ve read. It’s about writing vivid and meaningful description, and is equally useful for the writer of creative nonfiction, fiction, or poetry. A truly inspiring book.

The Renegade Writer, by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell
ISBN 1933338008
It’s kind of a cliched book for my top 5, but this is really a very useful introduction to the business of writing and marketing yourself. Not all of the ideas are “renegade,” but the ones I’ve tried so far have generally been helpful, and it’s a nicely organized quick reference book. I also read the Renegade Writer Blog.

Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments, by Jenna Glatzer
ISBN 097220265X
I find this book to be a nice compliment to The Renegade Writer, and I appreciate Glatzer’s specific examples of how she broke into trades and worked her way up to major consumer magazines.

Not on the List, Thanks to the Internet: Writer’s Market
While I liked the essays and articles on writing and selling in the front, I like not having to buy a new copy every couple years and saving the shelf space more. It’s not a comprehensive index of all publications that use freelancers, but it’s a very good starting place.