Inspiration: Books on Writing

Feeling both cursed and blessed with the drive to write, the work at times feels insurmountable while I'm simultaneously drawn to get it down. But inspirational reading - with advice on confronting writer's block, rejection slips and general 'what the %@#$ am I doing?' self-doubt - can propel the process forward.

 

Here are some favorites from my bookshelf: 

 ~ Word: On Being a [Woman] Writer, edited by Jocelyn Burrell

~ The Writer on Her Work, edited by Janet Sternburg

~ Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir, edited by William Zissner

~ Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide, edited by Mark Kramer and Wendy Call
~ Turning Life into Fiction, by Robin Hemley
~ Travel Writing, by Don George
~ Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott

~ A Cup of Comfort for Writers: Inspirational Stories that Celebrate the Literary Life, edited by Colleen Snell

The last on that list I was wary of, as I'm not a chickensoupy-style afficionado. However, I found it at Eureka Books, 'a classic antiquarian bookstore' (photo above) that lines its shelves with quality works. Sure enough, it's a savory read.

Dear Reader:
What books (or bookstores) inspire you to fill some shelves with the weight of your words?