If there’s one thing a writer is, it’s a reader. In most cases, a voracious reader.

There will be no exception with me.

I allow myself as many novels as my budget and shelf space (or library card) allow—mostly women’s fiction, commercial, literary—because reader is an important bullet-point within my job description. Because I need to know what’s out there and what my competitors and colleagues are all about, I do all I can to learn from others, their styles, formats, voices, by absorbing and studying their works.

Not to mention, I just plain love to read.

But there’s more. I know it’s crucial to read non-fiction books on the craft of writing, too. Written by other writers, literary agents and various professionals, these books teach, shape, inspire, guide, explain, and so much more.

I’ve put together a list of the books I keep next to my desk for quick access. If you’re a writer—no matter your level—and don’t have these titles, consider changing that.

Well-known must-haves:

On Writing by Stephen King. Part autobiography, part how-to, “this memoir of the craft” is (much like his fiction) very popular.

Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style (reference, fourth edition). “No book in shorter space, with fewer words, will help any writer more than this persistent little volume,” raves The Boston Globe

The Grammar Devotional by Mignon Fogarty. “Quick and dirty” daily tips for successful writing from she who is known as Grammar Girl.

The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman, NY literary agent. (Also by Lukeman though not on my shelf, The First Five Pages)

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. “Some instructions on writing and life.” This is the book all writers, regardless of niche or genre, talk about.

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass of the Donald Maass Literary Agency. “Insider advice for taking your fiction to the next level.”

Extras, found at random:

The Penguin Dictionary of American English Usage and Style by Paul W. Lovinger. “A readable reference book, illuminating thousands of traps that snare writers and speakers.”

How Fiction Works by James Wood. “…a scintillating and searching study of the main elements of fiction, such as narrative, detail, characterization, dialogue, realism, and style.”

Essentials of English (fifth edition) by Hopper, Gale, Foote and Griffith. “A practical handbook covering all the rules of English grammar and writing style.”

And just for fun:

The Bantam Book of Correct Letter Writing, copyright 1948, based on Lillian Eichler Watson’s Standard Book of Letter Writing. “How to write clear, successful, effective and interesting letters for all occasions.”

Fondling Your Muse, Infallable Advice From a Published Author to the Writerly Aspirant; A Hands-on Guide to Writing Your Very Own New York Times Bestseller; Charmingly Articulated and Unquestionably Authoritative Fame-Inducing Processes. All by John Warner, editor of McSweeney’s

i before e (except after c): old school ways to remember stuff by Judy Parkinson

Are there any craft books that you could think to add to my list? Which obscure titles about the craft are in your personal library? Take an inventory and start your own reference list, which you can share with your writer friends.

Janna Qualman is a freelance and women’s fiction writer. You can visit her blog at Something She Wrote.