A Writer’s Bookshelf

No-one knows it all, and as a writer I use several sources of research for my articles and ebooks. Aside from the resources I use to research particular topics, there are also several essential books I need related to the craft of writing. Here are the books on my bookshelf which I couldn’t do without.

Dictionary

My top pick for this is the Collins English Dictionary. It’s an easy to read, clear format. I used to use the Oxford English Dictionary. I switched to the Collins because I was already using their French and Spanish dictionaries, so when it was time to update, it seemed a good idea to complete the set. Another good option (especially if you’re American) is the Merriam Webster Dictionary. I sometimes use the online version of MW if I need to check something when I’m not at my desk.

Thesaurus

Many people rave about Roget’s Thesaurus. I find that hard to use, so my favorite is the Merriam-Webster thesaurus. That’s because it is easy to find the words for which I want to find synonyms. Again, MW online is a good option when on the move.

Usage

Every now and then you need to use a word, punctuation mark or expression, and you’re not quite sure how to use it correctly. When this happens, I have two main sources. I’ve been using the Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors since I started in journalism, and it’s never let me down. For a more fun approach to usage, there’s also a more recent book by R L Trask called Mind The Gaffe. Published by Penguin, it’s a guide to some common errors in English.

Finally, although I don’t use it every day, I also keep a copy of the Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology handy. It’s always useful to be able to find the origin of a word or expression. Just call me a word nerd.

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Sharon on April 11, 2008 | Filed Under Book Reviews

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8 Responses to “A Writer’s Bookshelf”

Syed Kazim on April 11th, 2008 12:46 pm

These books are a must have for every writer who is serious about his writing…

Great post!
Akhil on April 11th, 2008 3:50 pm

At a time when the Internet provides all the information contained in these books, it’s a bit difficult to use them regularly.
Susabelle on April 11th, 2008 5:22 pm

I often write in places where I don’t have access to the internet, so having good resources is important.

What’s on my writing shelf? A dictionary, thesaurus, Spanish-English dictionary (I’m writing a book with Hispanic characters in it right now), a baby name book, and an old white pages.

Those last two might sound odd, but I used them, believe it or not. Often I’m looking for a character name and I just can’t think of anything, and those two are GREAT resources not only for first names but for last names for characters. I couldn’t write without them, I don’t think.
Mitali on April 12th, 2008 5:13 am

Good post!!
Sharon on April 12th, 2008 1:43 pm

Thanks, Syed, Mitali.

@ Akhil: yes, a lot of the info is out on the net, but sometimes you don’t have access and it’s good to have these offline resources too.

@ Susabelle: those are unique resources for finding character names; thanks for the tip.
Joshua on April 12th, 2008 7:56 pm

owning a Merriam Webster’s Dictionary myself, I find it easy to find what I’m looking for. And even though most of my writing is done in my laptop, I find myself searching for word difinitions by book even though my current main source is on the web: dictionary.com.

I should really look up the puncuation book by Oxford you suggested.
Sharon on April 13th, 2008 1:36 pm

@ Joshua: Sometimes it’s just as easy to pick up a book and look for the right word, so I wouldn’t be without a dictionary either.