The Best Takeaways From Books on Writing

From Stephen King to Elizabeth Gilbert, these are books that have something to say to everyone who loves putting pen to paper

Mary Gallagher
6 min readAug 12, 2019

You may be like me — when you start something new you have to devour everything available on the subject. You read all the books, watch all the YouTube videos, and seek out all the gurus and kindred spirits you can find.

Ask me about beekeeping — I only did it for a couple of years but I read a lot of books and watched some amazing videos. Yoga? Yes, got the books on that too. Canning? Gardening? Raising goats and chickens? Check, check check!

It’s no surprise that there are a lot of books written on the art and craft of writing — and I’ve read those too. Writers want to get better at writing and the great writers want to share what they’ve learned because they understand how hard it is to be a beginner. We can glean much from these generous writers.

In no particular order, here are a few books that have impacted me as a writer. I have also included Medium writer reviews when applicable!

On Writing, Stephen King

My takeaway: Avoid -ly words — they weaken your writing. If you need an -ly word, you need a better verb. This…

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Mary Gallagher

I cut the stress, slowed down, and learned the art of intentional living. When you declutter your soul, you make room for what matters. @The Decluttered Soul