[Here are this month’s great recommendations from staff member Christopher Jennings Penders. Click on a title to place a hold. You can find previous Chris Picks through the “What to read” link at the bottom of this page or type “Chris Picks” into the search bar on our homepage.]

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Since I gave up photography a few years ago, I returned to writing, my first creative outlet. I thought I’d share some of my favorite books on the craft. The first two, Still Writing and Dancing on the Head of a Pen are currently my favorites. I have read them multiple times.

Of course, a Ray Bradbury book MUST grace this list. Every book on this list is a must read, if you want to understand the craft of writing and what it takes to be a writer.

Still Writing
Dani Shapiro

Dancing on the Head of a Pen
Robert Benson

Writing Down the Bones
Natalie Goldberg

If You Want to Write
Brenda Ueland

Bird by Bird
Anne Lamott

Becoming a Writer
Dorothy Brande

Zen in the Art of Writing
Ray Bradbury

The Writing Life
Annie Dillard

I vividly remember getting The Writing Life for Christmas when it was published in 1989, so you can clearly see how long writing has been an integral part of my own life.

All of these books have been important to me in one fashion or another and I recommend each one for different reasons.