Books on writing,

[x1lexure]

A while back I remeber someone posting a link to a guide or a book of some kind that the Government had been using to write nuclear reports down in a easily read form of english. Basically it was just a book on English and how to write clearly and efficiently. Anywho lately I really have had the urge to improve my writing skills and was wondering if anyone remembered that book or could point me to another of the same kind.

Well I'm at it I'm also looking for a book I read a few years ago, once again it was on the writing in English, but this time had the theme of Vampires and Horror stories mixed in. It was a great book and I'm wondering if anyone knows the name.

Any links will be greatly appreciated.

 

[sleepkyng]

what type of writing in particular? essays? stories? etc.

what skill level of writing are you at? if you dont' mind me askin

 

[Bill Ward]

Quote:

Originally Posted by x1lexure A while back I remeber someone posting a link to a guide or a book of some kind that the Government had been using to write nuclear reports down in a easily read form of english. Basically it was just a book on English and how to write clearly and efficiently. Anywho lately I really have had the urge to improve my writing skills and was wondering if anyone remembered that book or could point me to another of the same kind. Well I'm at it I'm also looking for a book I read a few years ago, once again it was on the writing in English, but this time had the theme of Vampires and Horror stories mixed in. It was a great book and I'm wondering if anyone knows the name. Any links will be greatly appreciated.

The Transitive Vampire. By Karen Elizabeth Gordon. New edition available HERE.

I also like The Elements of Style. By Strunk and White. Link Here.

BW

 

[x1lexure]

sleepkyng- I'm not the greatest writer, my college papers will usually get a C for grammar and such, and I'd say I was just an average letter writer. I'm just trying to become a more creative writer and continue to keep improving my skills. I'd love some books on essays and even story writing too. I really find that kind of reading interesting.

Bill- Thank you so much! I've checked out Elements of style on Bartleby.com, and love it. Thanks again for the links.

Anybody else that can help?

 

[Gariver]

Ha! I was the one that wrote that original post about Rudolf Flesch, PhD, of Columbia University (my alma mater). Believe me, Flesch was a genius, and all his books are worth reading. In a very short time, you will improve your writing tremendously!

Indeed, the US Department of Defense uses Flesch's "readable" English in all the branches of the military, especially with anything that entails nuclear weapons. They do this to avoid big, costly mistakes!

Here's the book to get...

Rudolf Flesch's The Classic Guide to Better Writing (50th Anniversary Edition).
--Previous title: New Guide to Better Writing.

Here's the Amazon link for that book...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

Rudolf Flesch's The Art of Readable Writing.
Here's another Flesch book that is a must for writers. You can get a 2nd hand, hardbound copy of that book at ABEbooks.com!

http://www.ABEbooks.com

Good luck to you with your writing!

 

[Audio Addict]

Depends on your needs but a consultant I am working with through our HR department has recommended:

"Improve your Writing for Work" 2nd Edition by Learning Express

It is captioned "Express Yourself Clearly and Concisely" and is written by Elizabeth Chesla, M.A.

 

[zowie]

Stephen King's On Writing. I have absolutely no interest in King generally but I though this was great. Half engaging making-of-the-writer biopic, half excellent composition instruction.

 

[Gariver]

There's a few PC writing software that use Flesch's readable writing system. These check for long sentences, passive voice, overuse of adjetives and the like. The most famous, of course, is Grammatik. Here's an article that discusses the different software products available to a writer....

http://www.hu.mtu.edu/~candc/archive...Mortenson.html

In the past, I used a very good program named Right Writer. However, that company went out of business.

Readable Writing Basics...
--Write short sentences of 8 to 15 words.
--Divide long sentences into two sentences.
--Don't be too "wordy."
--Write the way you speak!
--Don't overload your sentences. Trim them!
--Always use the active voice: "The dog bit me."
--Always avoid the passive voice: "I was biten by the dog."
--Try to use simple, easy to understand words.
--Try to use strong active verbs and concrete nouns.
--Write your numbers: "200 instead of two hundred."
--Write numbers one to nine as words, not numbers.
--Don't send your reader to a dictionary with fancy words.
--Limit your adjectives to one or maybe two.
--Go "which" hunting and rewrite your sentences!
--Keep your introductory phrases short.
--Use only one phrase per sentence.
--Ask pertinent questions, then provide the answer.
--Use short sentences for impact: "That's great!"
--At times, put in a phrase for emphasis: "Amazing!"
--Use short paragraphs of 5 to 7 sentences.
--Start your paragraphs with a topic sentence.
--Try to have only one topic per paragraph.
--Use a topic outline to organize your writing.
--Outlines should show a beginning, middle and an end.
--Do remember this rule: Writing always needs rewriting!
--As you write, try to edit your work.

The best tip of all: Write short sentences!
Why? By writing short sentences, you avoid the pitfalls of punctuation and grammar. I mean, long sentences are full of problems. On the other hand, short sentences are easy to write and easy to read. Thus, you gain "readability" by using them! That's great!

For more info on readable writing, buy Rudolf Flesch's books. You will be glad you did!

 

[Gariver]

Here's a list of style, grammar and readability writing software...

Correct Grammar
Grammatik (comes with Word Perfect).
Correctext (comes with MS Word).
MacProof (for Apple PCs).
RightWriter
Sensible Grammar
StyleWriter
Power Edit
LINGER

Do they help? They do help quite a bit! I improved rapidly with RightWriter! Nowdays, I get nothing but praise for my writing. And this praise comes from Americans! That's fantastic! Please do note: I always speak and write in Spanish. English is my 2nd language!

 

[CSMR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gariver Readable Writing Basics...

Wow; I fail on almost all of these; and proud of it too! Microsoft Word always complains about my long sentences (and my over-complex grammar) when I don't remember to turn off the checker. If English is your second language, yes, it's best to play safely. But for a competent writer following this advice would be very limiting: English grammar is very rich and using it to the full needn't make writing unclear - it should gives clarity in expressing exactly what is meant, particularly when the ideas to be expressed are not simple. The good rule is: sentences not more complex than the substance expressed.
("I was bitten by the dog" is not interchangable with "The dog bit me": although the two sentences have the same literal meaning, they draw attention to different things - "I was bitten", or "the dog bit" and introduce words in different orders.)

The only books I could recommend are British English and written around the 1940s and so are unlikely to interest the OP.

 

[stuartr]

Gavriver -- Your points are excellent. I only wish that my students would follow them. If you don't mind, I may copy them out to put on my syllabus this fall. I would add two caveats to your list: you should feel free to use complex words if they have a nuance that is impossible to recreate with a more common word; you should feel free to break these rules if it improves your work, but only after you have mastered them.

The two best books I have ever read on writing are Kate Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations" and H.W. Fowler's "Modern English Usage". Turabian is a guide that will teach you proper academic writing, advise you on style, and tell you how to properly cite, format and organize formal writing.

Fowler is an absolute classic (written at the turn of the century, I believe), and it is more of discussion on the written word. It lists many common and not so common words and demonstrates how they should be used, as well as their histories, merits and failings. It can be quite funny at times. It goes beyond simple grammatical correctness to discuss style and flair. It is worth a read.
Best of luck in improving your writing! I only wish others would join you.

 

[CSMR]

Fowler is great. It has been revised three times. The third edition is a complete revision, and I don't approve of it at all, so I'd recommend the second edition, edited (lightly, I believe) by Ernest Gowers in 1965.

 

[stuartr]

Yes, it is the Gower's edit that I own. I recommend it highly. I have not read the third edition...

 

[x1lexure]

Thanks fellas! Anyone else?! hehe

 

[Gariver]

Thanks Stuart! Oh, I don't mind at all! I'm glad to help! You can copy anything you want for your students!

Yes, I agree to your caveats. Students can break those rules sometimes, but not all the time. Do stress the following: By writing short sentences, you avoid the pitfalls of punctuation and grammar!

The jist of Flesch Readable Writing is...
--Subject--Verb--Predicate.
--Subject--Verb--Predicate.
--Subject--Verb--Predicate.
--Subject--Verb--Predicate.
--It's bang, bang, bang! FAST!

On Complex Words and Long Sentences...
Nobel Laureate Ernest Hemingway was accused of not knowing and not using complex words. His response? "Of course, I know them, but I don't want to use them!" Instead, he used simple words and short sentences to make his novels easy to read. By the way, if you need a model for your writing, Hemingway is a great writer to emulate!

Active versus Passive Voice...
There's some math to this: When you use the passive voice, you use more words! The message is also more confusing and complex! So make sure you know the difference between the two voices.

The Classic Guide to Better Writing (50th Anniversary Edition) by Rudolf Flesch.
Let me tell you: A 50th anniversary edition is extremely rare in the publishing industry. A book has to be very, very good to be in print for more than 20 years. Thus, I urge all of you to get a copy of this classic from the late 1940s. It is worth its weight in gold!

Suggested Books...
I have most of the books mentioned (Fowler, Turabian, etc.), and I thank you for suggesting them. The big surprise was Stephen King's On Writing. I am really curious about that book! So I will order it soon! Thanks zowie!

Another Book Recommendation...
William L. Zinsser's On Writing Well is a terrific book for aspiring writers. It is full of tips to improve your writing skills.

Edits to Readable Writing Basics...
I will be adding more tips to the list. So check it from time to time. I will also add some links about Flesch and readable writing to this thread.