Writer
Writer Needs
Writer
Aspiring Writers
A fundamental resource for writers, editors, and students since
1959, the slim volume known simply as "Strunk and White" distills
the combined wisdom of Cornell University English professor
William Strunk Jr. and legendary New Yorker writer E. B. White.
Though there are other books on the market that delve more deeply
into matters of grammar and style, this is the best single source for
anyone who desires a pithy, lively guide to the essentials of effective
writing. In prose that is itself a paragon of clarity, the authors
indicate how to apply the basic principles of grammar and
punctuation, how to properly construct a sentence and a paragraph,
how to use words and expressions in their proper form and context,
and how to avoid the mistakes and mannerisms that make for
turgid, pretentious, or simply unintelligible writing. Even
professionals who have achieved expertise in the art of written
communication will want The Elements of Style nearby at all times
for support and inspiration.
From the Publisher
You know the authors' names. You recognize the title. You've
probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the
classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. The revisions to the
new edition are purposely kept minimal in order to retain the book's
unique tone, wit, and charm. A new Glossary of the grammatical
terms used in the book provides a convenient reference for readers.
The discussion of pronoun use is revised to reflect the
contemporary concern with sexist language. In addition, there are
numerous slight revisions in the book itself which implement this
advice. A new Foreword by Charles Osgood reminds readers that
the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was
first offered. This book has conveyed the principles of English style
to millions of readers. Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to
make a big impact with writing.
Synopsis
Asserting that one must first know the rules to break them, this
classic reference book is a must-have for any student and
conscientious writer. Intended for use in which the practice of
composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief
space the principal requirements of plain English style and
concentrates attention on the rules of usage and principles of
composition most commonly violated.
sure you have heard of before.
A splendid combination of Zen wisdom and down-to-earth
advice about writing.
From the Publisher
With insight, humor, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg
inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into
writing creatively and well. She offers suggestions,
encouragement, and solid advice on many aspects of the
writer's craft: on writing from "first thoughts" (keep your hand
moving, don't cross out, just get it on paper), on listening
(writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the
better you write), on using verbs (verbs provide the energy of
the sentence), on overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don't
listen to it) - even on choosing a restaurant in which to write.
Goldberg, who has conducted writing workshops for
beginners as well as professionals all over the United States,
sees writing as a practice that helps writers comprehend the
value of their lives. The advice in her book, provided in short,
easy-to-read chapters with titles that reflect the author's witty
approach ("Writing Is Not a McDonald's Hamburger," "Man
Eats Car," "Be an Animal"), will inspire anyone who writes -
or who longs to.
From The Critics
School Library Journal
YA Goldberg will catch readers interested in writing with her
opening confession that she was a ``goody-two-shoes all
through school'' and should hold them until she pulls the last
page from her typewriter, one ``Sunday night at eleven.'' Part
writing guide, part Zen philosophy, and part personal diary,
this book has the smooth, fast flow of a conversation with a
good friend who, while struggling with her own writing, has
picked up more than a few tips that she eagerly shares.
Definitely not another ``how to write better themes'' or a
rehash of the writing process, Goldberg's short, quirky
chapters give the finer points of how to write in a restaurant
and why bother to write at all. The earnest, slightly
Bohemian, occasionally vulnerable voice will endear her to
young writers who are looking not so much for a teacher or
text as for validation that they can write and for some simple
but intriguing tips to get them started. While there are the
required chapters on using detail and keeping a journal, the
most important thing Goldberg has to say to young people is
that ``we have lived. Our moments are important. This is
what it is to be a writer: to be the carrier of details that make
up history. ''Carolyn Praytor Boyd, Episcopal High School,
Bellaire, Tex.
Leaving a Trace, Alexandra Johnson's inspiring new book,
reinvents journal keeping, showing readers how to leave a
lasting piece of work about their lives for themselves or
others. Whether you've kept journals for years or quit after
only a few pages, Leaving a Trace will help you start and
keep journals successfully -- as well as transform your
material into longer projects or creative work.
Identifying ten key patterns hidden in all journals, Johnson
offers ways to find the story underneath the surface of
recorded fact. She will show you how to play detective to
your days, find the "through line" in your life, and frame those
stories for journals, family chronicles, or memoirs. Chapters
brim with tips and techniques, including five ways to build a
narrative. She also shows how, by giving the journal a specific
purpose, seasoned and beginning journal keepers alike can
move past self-consciousness to productivity.
Woven throughout the narrative are inspiring stories from
famous writers and a cross section of private journal keepers
that offer invaluable clues into how journals can help you
weather a crisis or develop its contents into a significant piece
of work.
An inspirational and practical guide to starting and keeping a
diary -- and transforming it into something permanent --
Leaving a Trace will be to journal writers what Bird by Bird
and The Artist's Way are to fiction writers.