5 Books on Writing, Freelancing, and Creativity That I Want To Read This Year

If you’re a writer, freelancer, or creative pro, the chances are that you’ve been looking for some new books to read. Well, here they are! I’d like to share the five titles I’m excited to read to boost my freelancing career. They range from writing tips and tricks to freelancing advice and creative thinking. Take a look at the list below for some great reads for your wishlist.

7 Stages of… Good Grief! Freelancer Na 'Ko?!

For some independent professionals, shifting from corporate to freelancer is as easy as it sounds. But for others, the process can be a struggle. In any case, this book tells the story of one such journey with seven stopovers along the way.

Freelancing can be lonely sometimes. There are moments when I doubt myself and wonder if freelancing is worth the sacrifice of leaving the corporate world. By reading Karen Fernandez, a.k.a. Raketchick’s story, I hope to be assured and motivated to go further.

Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process

In this book, forty-six novelists share their favorite passage from a novel, song, or poem that inspires them. One way they do this is by asking, “What inspires you?” Incredible stories on life-changing encounters with art emerge. For example, Khaled Hosseini writes how sneaking books into his security guard job helped him learn that nothing he creates will ever be finished.

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

With over a million copies sold worldwide and published 40 years ago, On Writing Well has stood out throughout all these years. Whether you want to write about people or places, business, the arts, or even your memoirs, this book offers fundamental principles and insights from a distinguished writer and teacher. It is an essential resource for writers of all levels looking to improve their writing skills.

Travels with A Writing Brush: Classical Japanese Travel Writing from Manyoshu to Basho

This anthology or Japanese travel writing takes in songs, diaries, tales, and poetry. It ranges from famous writing pieces like Basho’s work to the diary of a girl who longs to return home. With intense poetic experience at its core, this collection sheds light on over a millennium of literary tradition. I’ve been eyeing this book for a year now.

Copywriting: Successful Writing for Design, Advertising, and Marketing

Copywriting is a vital component in any marketing campaign. This book will teach you to create content using the basics of the craft, insightful interviews from leading copywriters, and illustrated case studies of major brands. You’ll learn everything there is to know about creative writing techniques so you can be confident and versatile when it comes time for your turn at bat!

About the author

Carla Martinez-Tensuan is a freelance writer and editor. She specializes in crafting blog content, creative copy, and press releases. She enjoys listening to podcasts, reading books, and baking sweets in her spare time. She lives with her husband in Manila, Philippines.