Listmania!
The best books on writing
On WritingOn Writing by Stephen King
Buy new: £6.99 / Used from: £3.99
Extremely readable. Very useful. Don't be put off because he writes genre and you don't.
On Becoming a NovelistOn Becoming a Novelist by J Gardner
Buy used from: £7.66
Inspirational rather then step by step instructional. Terrific though.
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of ScreenwritingStory: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
Buy new: £13.99 / Used from: £10.00
About screenwriting but applicable to novels. The guru of structure. Essential.
The Art of Fiction: Illustrated from Classic and Modern TextsThe Art of Fiction: Illustrated from Classic and Modern Texts by David Lodge
Buy new: £6.99 / Used from: £3.67
Collected newspaper pieces on writing. Something for everyone.
The Writer's Guide to Character TraitsThe Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda N. Edelstein
Buy used from: £7.29
A shrink tells you what makes different types of people tick. Invaluable for character building.
An Introduction to English PoetryAn Introduction to English Poetry by James Fenton
Buy new: £6.99 / Used from: £3.82
The best book on poetry I have ever seen. All the technical stuff you need in understandable form.
Raymond Chandler SpeakingRaymond Chandler Speaking by D Gardiner
Buy new: £12.95 / Used from: £3.89
Not all about writing but the bits that are will help a lot.
The Elements of StyleThe Elements of Style by William Strunk
Buy new: £4.49 / Used from: £1.72
Indespensible little guide to getting grammar, language and style right. Will make anyone a clearer, punchier, better writer.