Which books do we recommend to our professional writing students? Here's our pick of the best.

Books about writing

 Becoming a Writer Dorothea Brande - all you need to know about writing fiction.

We, Me, Them and It, John Simmons - a must for business writers.

Telling True Stories,The Nieman Foundation at Harvard University - a guide for non-fiction writers.

How Novels Work, John Mullan - clear and intelligent discussion from someone who knows.

On Writing, Stephen King - learn all about a writer's life.

A good read

Gilgamesh, Derrek Hines - not just because it's by one of our tutors.

Gold Coast, Elmore Leonard - master of plot and character.

An Ice Cream War, William Boyd - brilliant on place and viewpoint.

Giving Up the Ghost, Hilary Mantel - memoir on writing and ghosts.

As Good as it Gets, Mark Andrus - a cracking read, even as a screenplay download the script here.