I don’t know of any writer who isn’t surrounded by their own personal library—be it physical or digital. There are so many beautiful works out there that have inspired my writing and me as a person in general. I get teased a lot about the number of books that I have and how I treat them.

(Disclaimer if you’re an obsessive book lover…this next part gets graphic.)

When it comes to books that I really like, I annotate the shit out of them. I make notes in the margins on sections, imagery, characterizations that blew me away. I drain my g2 pilot pen’s ink on the pages of books that I love. Some people might shake their head in disapproval, but I feel that is just the writer’s way of reading, absorbing, and showing appreciation.

Today, I thought I would share some of those books that I’ve scribbled to death with you and share why I keep them in my personal library.

Short Story Anthologies I Can’t Live Without

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

• A stunning display of prose with character development that leaves you feeling haunted. I return to these stories whenever I’m in need of a reminder of how to write well rounded characters, develop relationships, and develop my writing skills, specifically for short form writing.

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

• This book is a fascinating exploration of the speculative. I return to these pages whenever I’m in a creative dry spell and need inspiration, especially if I’m working on a story that deals with the scientifically fantastic.

Freakish Fiction That Inspires Me

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

• As with most of Hendrix’s books, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires is a brilliant display of horror and humor. When I first read this book, Hendrix’s humor struck a chord in me and became a source of inspiration.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

• This book was truly chilling and made me wary of mushrooms. More than that, though, this story provides a unique social commentary on the colonization of Mexico—a commentary that’s beautifully and horrifically woven into its dark and damp pages. It has a special place in my library, as it’s the kind of story I would like to write.

Non-Fiction That Blows My Mind

Atomic Habits by James Clear

• This may seem like a random book for the library of a fiction writer, but it’s helped me better understand habit formation and how to implement it when it comes to my writing process. If you have trouble being consistent with your writing, I recommend checking out this book (or you know, just writing. Haha.)

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

• Never have I identified more with a book. As queer, Latino writer, I really identified with a lot of the experiences this author had. It made me feel seen. It’s in my library because it’s a reminder of what I hope to do with my writing.

Perfect Poetry

Chokecherry by Lyd Havens

• This book of poetry was written by an acquaintance whose writing is brilliant, talented, and raw. Though I don’t describe myself as a poet, I do enjoy writing poetry. Whenever I’m in need of inspiration, I turn to this incredible writer collection of poetry.

Nostalgia for Death &  Hieroglyphs of Desire by Xavier Villaurrutia

• If you haven’t heard of Xavier Villaurrutia, you probably aren’t alone. His poetry is haunting—discussing death in length. His word smithing is unmatched in my mind. His poetry is written in Spanish, but there are some incredible translations out there.

Again, I am a strong believer that all writers should have a library of books they can turn to for inspiration. We all have those days where the creativity isn’t flowing—days where the stories and the words we write seem to be fighting back. Those are the days I turn to the books I love. What books do you turn to?