These are books I have found useful in trying to conquer the tantalizing medium that is writing. They are all on my library shelf at home and I regularly refer to them as I write:

Miralees, Edith Story Writing (1972 The Writer) -- A guide to short story writing written by the woman who taught John Steinbeck at Stanford University -- covers topics like substance, time, points of view, repetition, implication, characterization and style.

Browne, Renni and Dave King Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (1993 Harper Collins) -- basically a course in editing and how the writer can her prose more easily sold. The why behind many of the so-called rules most beginning writers hear.

Grant Vanessa, Writing Romance -- among other things one of the best explanations of pace I have seen.

Maass Donald Writing the Breakout Novel (Writer’s Digest 2001) Not for the beginner but with tons of useful advice about how to take your writing to the next level.

Maass Donald Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook (Writer’s Digest Books 2004) Absolutely brilliant exercises for taking your writing to the next level. To get the most out of this book, you need to have completed at least one manuscript.

Riso, Don and Russ Hudson The Wisdom of the Enneagram (1999 Bantam) -- helping to put the WHY into characters without reinventing the wheel.

Walker, Kate 12 point-guide to Writing Romance (2004 Studymates Ltd)A master class in romance writing. Her book teaches the writer to question why.

Waigner Leslie Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies (2004 Wiley Publishing) -- tips on romance writing from a editor of over 25 years experience as well as providing insight into the whole publishing process.

Writers’ And Artists’ Yearbook 2005 (2004 A & C Black) Know your market