So you want to be a writer? These five books will help you get started

So you want to be a writer

Everyone has a book inside of them, but how do you start writing yours? These five guides will help

By Ernie Richardson

Ask anyone about their deepest-held ambitions and you’ll often learn that they want to be a writer. It’s a widespread phenomenon that is getting ever more prevalent: people feel they have something to say.

...if you want to keep your readers engaged, committed and hungry for more, it pays to invest some time in finessing your technique.  

The proliferation of self-publishing – via blogs, or print platforms such as Kindle Direct Publishing – makes it easier than ever to get your words in print.

But easy access to an audience is no guarantee of quality. And if you want to keep your readers engaged, committed and hungry for more, it pays to invest some time in finessing your technique.

To help you get started, here are five great books about writing. Read them before putting pen to paper and your output can only be improved.

1) First You Write a Sentence by Joe Moran

Joe Moran is a professor of English and cultural history at Liverpool John Moores University, so should know a thing or two about turning a phrase.

As it happens, he knows a whole lot more than that. First You Write a Sentence is one of the best books in its genre for a generation.

Moran steers clear of technical language and paints a striking picture of the interaction between writing and becoming. The book is as much a work of philosophy as it is a guide to writing, and it’s all the better for that.

Read it in one sitting and you’ll be caught up in the joy of writing. By the end, you’ll be itching to start your own work. That’s the inspirational effect of Moran’s words.

So you want to be a writer2) Write to the Point by Sam Leith

Sam Leith is a former literary editor of The Daily Telegraph, so you can take it for granted that he’s well-read.

He leverages all this knowledge to produce a winning guide to the nuts and bolts of writing. It’s not as sharp or entertaining as his brilliant book about rhetoric (You Talkin’ To Me?), but the advice given is more germane to the written word.

Write to the Point equips you with everything you need to sharpen your syntax and tighten your grammar. So even if you never find time to write that novel, at least your Trip Advisor reviews will be well crafted.

3) Steering the craft by Ursula K. Le Guin

If you want to write fiction, the late Ursula K. Le Guin’s seminal work is a must-read. A prolific author of fantasy, fiction, children’s literature and literary criticism, she knew more than most about the craft not just of writing, but of telling ripping good yarns.

The updated version of Steering the Craft addresses such important topics as the impact of the internet on written communication and the way to convey emotion in prose.

Overall, though, its biggest contribution to the developing writer’s knowledge is in Le Guin’s instinctive understanding of how to construct narratives. Read her insights, and you’ll find it that little bit easier to write your first story.

Brayfield considers the ingredients of books that hit the big time, distilling the elements that keep readers coming back for more.  

4) Bestseller: Secrets of Successful Writing by Celia Brayfield

Not everyone wants their novel to hit the top of the bestseller lists. But if you do, Celia Brayfield’s guidebook is well worth a look.

Bestseller is more than a writing textbook. It’s a guide to writing novels that sell. Brayfield considers the ingredients of books that hit the big time, distilling the elements that keep readers coming back for more.

Apart from the prosaic advice that is found on every page of this brilliant volume, you’ll gain from a down-to-earth approach that uses simple language and resists pretentiousness.

Like the books it focuses on as examples, Bestseller is straightforward, accessible and brilliantly written. It is truly fascinating to spend time with, even if you don’t plan on becoming the next Jack Higgins.

5) Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss

Every writer needs a rulebook. A way of ensuring that the basics are in place. You could choose something dull like Fowler’s Modern English Usage, but Lyne Truss’s witty volume is far more enjoyable.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves made Truss’s name as a writer, and was much mimicked in the years that followed. But no one has her ability to explain the vagaries of language with such a light touch.

This is a rare book of its ilk, in as much as you’ll happily sit and read it from cover to cover. At the end, you’ll be much better informed about the ways to construct decent sentences. And you’ll have a useful reference guide to keep on your desk for whenever a tricky linguistic problem rears its head. Whatever you’re writing, that’s an invaluable tool.

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Published: 29 July 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

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Customer Services Executive
Sector: Customer Service
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB14
About the role

Just Recruitment is recruiting for a Customer Services Executive for a manufacturer based in Sudbury, Suffolk.

As a Customer Services Executive, you will play a key role within the sales and marketing team — delivering exceptional service to both new and existing customers while managing ongoing accounts.

You will answer customer questions, solve problems, and provide information about the company’s products and services — all while building strong relationships and ensuring long-term customer satisfaction.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Assess incoming enquiries from direct communication or the sales team
  • Create quotations and tender documentation
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  • Manage the CRM system
  • Manage the lead generation tools
  • Processing incoming sales orders
  • Liaise with the order fulfilment team for the smooth supply of products to customers
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  • Help project manage key projects and clients

Role requirements include:

  • Must possess excellent communication skills, both oral and written
  • Previous experience in a similar role is preferable
  • Experience within the engineering/manufacturing sector is preferred
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Skills and qualifications to include:

  • A highly capable person with strong planning and scheduling skills
  • Self–driven, results-oriented, and with a positive outlook and a clear focus on high-quality standards
  • An independent person with good organisation and planning skills, who is capable of objectively assessing and improving their own and the department’s performance
  • Must be reliable, tolerant, and be able to work under pressure. The ability to be professional at all times and represent the company in a professional manner is a prerequisite
  • Tenacity and the ability to see things through to the end goal are desired traits
  • Must be able to work alone as well as work within a team
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Technical Sales / Applications Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £26,000 - £34,000 per annum
Location: Tiverton, Devon
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB13
About the role

Just Recruitment is seeking a Technical Sales / Applications Engineer for a leading client in Tiverton, Devon — an excellent opportunity for a graduate, higher apprentice, or experienced engineer to develop their career within a technical engineering environment.

Reporting to the Technical Sales Manager, this role will focus on the promotion and sales of company products to prospective, new and existing customers.

Scope:

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Required qualifications/experience include:

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Procurement Manager
Sector: Purchasing and Merchandising
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB11
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing manufacturing business based on the outskirts of Sudbury, in the search for a talented Procurement Manager to join their expanding team.

Required skills and qualifications:

  • CIPS Qualified - min level 5.
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The key purpose of this role is to lead the delivery of greater strategic and operational value of the procurement function and help to deliver business-critical goals.

This is a hands-on, strategic, and operational role that requires a confident leader with deep procurement expertise and the ability to inspire and develop a team.

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This role includes direct line management of a Procurement Specialist, supporting their development and day-to-day activity management.

Key duties include:

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive procurement strategy aligned with business objectives, operational needs, and sustainability goals.
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Build and nurture key working relationships with Production, Quality Assurance, Finance, Warehousing, Sales and Commercial Teams, Suppliers, Logistics Providers and Regulatory Bodies.

This is an excellent opportunity to drive change within a business — offering a great working environment.

Working hours for this role are Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm, although some flexibility is required.

Please note that due to the location of the business, you must have access to your own transport.

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Sector: Purchasing and Merchandising
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC24
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Duties include:

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Hybrid working will be available after successful completion of the probationary period (min. of 3 days in the office, up to 2 days at home).

 

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Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
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Sector: Public Service and Administration
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC22
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You’ll be working within a busy, fast-paced, team-oriented, customer-focused Sales Office. The main emphasis of the role is to manage customer expectations by organising the pricing of materials to meet project deadlines. Previous experience in processing quotes, sales, purchase orders, and invoices is preferred.

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Key experience required includes:

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Hybrid working is available after successful completion of the probationary period — a minimum of 3 days in the office and up to 2 days working from home

Hours: Monday – Friday (9:00am - 5:00pm).

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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