1. For the new writer: The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus. There's a chapter called The Comic Throughfare. It's an amazing simplistic breakdown of exactly what makes a fabulous plot!
2. Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain. It's packed full of information and a slow read, but I've reread it now several times as it is that good.
3. Make Your Words Work by Gary Provost. One of my all time favorites that addresses the impact of a word's placement.
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus
Random House Webster's Handy Grammar, Usage & Punctuation
WORDS INTO TYPE by Prentiss Hall--3rd Ed.
STORY by Robert McKee (this is a screenwriting book, but it applies to novels, novellas, and short stories, as well)
SHOW, DON'T TELL by William Noble
STORY STRUCTURE ARCHITECT by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, PH.D
