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The Writer’s Bookshelf

writers-bookshelfBy Jill Kurtz
Online Career Tips Contributor

Reference books are cherished resources for the writers I know, whether their work is academic, fiction, organizational, or another type. Having the right resources at hand can help any writing project go more smoothly and greatly improve the result.

I thought I would share my favorite reference resources as well as some recommendations from some writers I know.

Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. Quotes are often misremembered, misstated, and misattributed. This book helps be get them right.

AP Stylebook. This one is essential for anyone that needs to write in news style. If your writing is for academic purposes, the online Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is the go-to resource.

One Word, Two Words, Hyphenated? This is a deceptively slim volume that will get you through all questions about compound words.

A dictionary and/or dictionary.com. I know many people who prefer one dictionary over another, but I am happy to work with whichever is at hand.

The Elements of Style. “A timeless book on writing,” noted Dr. Ron Johnson, a faculty member at American Public University. Originally published in 1918 this is still a classic reference for any student and conscientious writer.

My Soul Looks Back, ‘Lest I Forget: A Collection of Quotations by People of Color. “I can get lost in it,” said Dr. Suzanne Minarcine, faculty director in the School of Business at American Public University. Selected as a Best Reference Source of 1993, this book compiles more than 7,000 quotations by people of color.

That’s six books for my writer’s bookshelf and there is plenty more room. What do you recommend?

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