Bookstore
Amazon carries over 4000 titles books on "how to write."  The tutorial (written by me) and eleven books (written by other experts) listed here, are, in my opinion, the best of the bunch, and the only ones I recommend one-hundred percent.
They can help you shift into "selling" mode as you contact agents, and/or can expand your understanding about plot, structure, characterization, and the mechanics of writing. Three of them will inspire and motivate you to keep on writing, to keep on revising, to keep on submitting queries--in other words--to keep on keeping on!
BTW: When you click on the title and then order the books through Amazon, they reciprocate with a smallish contribution to keep this online academy up and running to continue helping you get what you want: agent, publishing contract, and shelf space at Barnes and Noble.
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Tutorial / Workbook  (ebook)
Learn how to write a sizzling query letter "Sales Pitch" paragraph--often the only one the agent ever reads. 

This unique ebook, a 36-page workbook / tutorial (written by Molli Nickell), can help you effectively introduce yourself and your work to an agent with a sizzling first paragraph.
You'll learn:
  • why your query first paragraph is a make-or-break situation
  • how and why to shift from "telling" to "selling"
  • what agents want you to tell them and how to do this
  • how to write story paragraphs to help you write all the sales documents you need (query, synopsis, and first page)
  • award-winning first paragraphs to study
  • writing exercises to help you write an effective  "sales pitch" paragraph to motivate the agent to read your entire query
  • Cost? $14.95
    (That's less than a movie ticket, gallon of chemically flavored cola, and bucket of trans-fat laden popcorn, and a whole lot more beneficial to your writing career.)
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How to Write a Book Proposal:
Micheal spells out everything you need to know in order to craft a sizzling clear and professional non-fiction book proposal. Detailed explanations about what goes where and why.

What's Your Story?
The absolutely best, most clearly written book dealing with  plot, structure,  characterization, etc., Although written for younger writers, the easy-to-understand information is applicable to writers of all ages. (I've worn out two copies and have given away dozens to adult clients.)

A Dash of Style:
Persnickety and enormously talented agent and teacher, Noah can help you grasp punctuation mechanics to improve your manuscript from mundane to fabulous

Writing Picture Books:
A multi-published author, Ann teaches at UCLA and SCBWI conferences. Although Writers' Digest totally screwed up on the design, you'll glean invaluable information from this book written by the best teacher I know in this genre.

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook:
Modeled after Donald's on-site seminars, it's useful and practical. (If you can attend one of his seminars, do it! Time and money well spent!)

Excuses Begone! How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits:
The title says it all. Wayne can help you clear your inner closet of doubts and excuses so you can achieve the desires of your heart, including becoming a published author.
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The First Five Pages:
Another winner from Noah. He shares information about the importance of and how to craft your first five pages, often the only ones ever read. If they don't motivate the agent to ask for more . . adios! 

Blockbuster Plots:
Easy-to-understand process for structuring any book, Martha teaches story structure for writers of MG to adult fiction. DVD of her class is a useful learning tool for you and/or your writing group.

The Artist's Way:
Fabulous motivational and inspirational study book for your writers' group. Julia's mind expanding exercises can help you identify and release blocks to boost your writing (and life) to new levels.

The Little Engine That Could:
All writers need this B12 shot of motivation to keep chugging along the track toward the ultimate goal of publication, and to ignore thoughts of quitting that may crop up along the way.

The Writer's Journey:
Christoper teaches structure using detailed and /intellectual explanations regarding the inner worlds and motivation of all characters in the story. Lots of book and movie examples.