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There are hundreds of books on craft for writers, but there are far fewer books that deal with the mental aspects of writing. From my work with thousands of writers, I’ve found that the biggest challenge we face isn’t talent. It isn’t technique. It’s mindset.
And mindset isn’t just a challenge that inexperienced writers face. Recently, I spoke to a writer who has published ten books. She said that every time she sits down to start a new book, it’s like she’s never done it before. The same fear. The same doubt. The same creeping voice that whispers: What if this time you can’t do it?
As I’ve been doing research for my book The Writer’s Mind: Why We Struggle (And How to Write Anyway), I’ve read pretty much every book on mindset for writing there is out there. Here, I bring together the best ones that I’ve found along with why I loved them.
Writing Down the Bones – Natalie Goldberg
This is a classic on writing as a spiritual practice. It’s sold over two million copies since its initial release in 1986. It has since become a foundational book for many writers, blending writing advice with insights from Zen practice. Zen emphasizes being in the moment and letting go of judgment, which helps you reduce self-censorship and tune into your thoughts and feelings without distraction. I also write about Zen and Chan meditation in my book. As a technique, it’s fantastic in helping you get out of your own way.
The War of Art – Steven Pressfield
If you look at the reviews, you can see that this one’s a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it book. Many writers I’ve talked to have found it inspiring, but others have found it a bit hard-nosed and religious. Not surprisingly, given his other books, Pressfield uses a lot of military imagery. He personifies the inner critic as a universal enemy called Resistance. Some readers find his tone too militant. He talks about professionalism like it’s a battlefield, and he doesn’t have much time for your excuses. If you like tough love, then you might love this book. Certainly, it’s sold over a million copies, so Pressfield has a lot of fans.
My favorite quote: “Remember our rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”
Bird by Bird – Anne Lamott
First published in 1994, this book is part craft book, part personal reflection. This book masterfully blends writing advice, life philosophy, and anecdotes from her own experience as a writer, mother, and human trying to make sense of things. Probably the single most quoted idea from this book is her idea of a “shitty first draft.” It’s a philosophy that I definitely follow and encourage others to follow. I always think of my first draft as a zero draft and make sure I leave in all the typos, so it really is shitty. It gives you permission to be messy. To be bad. But to write anyway. When you only see the finished product, it’s easy to think that great writers just write cleanly from the start. This book is great for shattering that illusion.
My favorite quote: “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft.”
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
This book is like a manifesto for the creative life. I love Gilbert’s honesty in this book. She talks candidly about her own fears, doubts, and failures. It can be an incredible relief to understand that other people share your struggles.
My favorite quote: “Your fear will always be triggered by your creativity, because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcome, and fear hates uncertain outcome.”
The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
First published in 1992, The Artist’s Way has become one of the most influential books on creative recovery and nurturing your inner artist. It provides you with a 12-week course for creative recovery, so it’s less a book you read in one sitting and more of a journey you commit to. Cameron’s become famous for the structured exercises like morning pages and artist’s dates. Morning pages, three pages of longhand stream-of-consciousness writing done every morning, have helped many writers process their thoughts and emotions, but they definitely don’t work for everyone. If you’re feeling stuck and if you feel you have the time to commit to this process, then The Artist’s Way could be a great fit for you. Writer’s might also appreciate her more recent book, Write for Life.
My favorite quote: “We often resist what we most need.”
The Successful Author Mindset – Joanna Penn
Joanna Penn is a legend in the self-publishing community. Here, she draws on her own extensive experience to create a collection of the mindset issues that writers experience. She presents each issue as one chapter and then offers an antidote. That makes this a really handy reference book that you can keep coming back to. Penn is not just a writer but also an entrepreneur who has built a thriving business around her books, podcast (The Creative Penn), and courses. She’s truly inspirational, and her vulnerability in this book is inspiring.
The Writer’s Mind – Chris Banks
Coming in Spring 2027, published by Hay House (North America) and Ebury (UK). This is the book I’m currently writing. I wanted to provide a more scientific way for writers to understand their minds. My book discusses how success only expands as far as your mindset allows, and so if you change and you grow your inner world, your outer world will grow too. Writing is hard, but it isn’t hard because you lack talent. It’s hard because your brain is working against you. That powerful tool is not well equipped for the challenges of a modern writer. It’s wired for survival, not creativity, and it’s being hijacked by the constant stimulation of the digital world. The Writer’s Mind shows you how to build awareness of your current thought patterns, understand how they might be sabotaging you, and develop new thought patterns. Once you understand how your mind works, you’ll never write the same way again.
