One of America's most influential writing teachers offers a toolbox from which writers of all kinds can draw practical inspiration.
"Writing... read full description
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reviews
May 27, 2009
S
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I am an international student who had never been surrounded by native English speakers until the age of 22. I ended up studying humanities in an American phd program. Imagine how stressful writing is for someone like me. I have been struggling to acquire the instinct and intuition you guys have when you judge "good" and "bad" writings. This book is helping me a lot understand, step by step, what constitutes good English sentences, paragraphs and chapters. The examples are bri
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May 17, 2009
Jim
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An outstanding book for anyone who writes or wants to be a writer. I attended two seminars put on by the author at the Tucson Festival of Books, and new immediately I had to have this book.
It's broken down into four parts...Nuts and Bolts; Special Effects; Blueprints; and Useful Habits. From the 4 subtitles, you can see it goes beyond just good grammar and proper usage. It is designed to not only help your writing, but improve your writing habits and give you new ways to think about More...
It's broken down into four parts...Nuts and Bolts; Special Effects; Blueprints; and Useful Habits. From the 4 subtitles, you can see it goes beyond just good grammar and proper usage. It is designed to not only help your writing, but improve your writing habits and give you new ways to think about More...
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Jan 15, 2012
Vanessa
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The book does what its title suggests, meticulously presents all the tactics that are often used by professional and savvy writers. With a succinct and informative table of contents, this book can serve as a dictionary of writing, readers can locate what tactics they are interested in, explore it without reading the book cover to cover ( although the book is good enough for you to do so). Introducing from the basic knowledge of sentence structure to the board field of writers' habits, the author
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Apr 13, 2011
David
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I came to this book via Roy's audio programmes on iTunes U (which are also excellent, and free to download). I had never heard of him before, but was so impressed by the extracts that I bought the book - which is even better. Very accessible, yet not at all superficial, each tool is illustrated by hit-the-mark examples. A practical guide that will improve any writer's work, at any level or genre - I know it has improved mine. Highly recommended.
Reviewer David Williams has a regular wr More...
Reviewer David Williams has a regular wr More...
Dec 09, 2010
Jaycruz
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Before Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer became an actual book, the tools were a series of blog posts Roy Peter Clark wrote over at Poynter.org. The version I've read were those original 50 blog posts collected in PDF form. You can find all the original collected posts here and if you want to you can download the PDF from my Dropbox folder here.
From what you can see on the actual book's table of contents there are some differences from the the names of the tools More...
From what you can see on the actual book's table of contents there are some differences from the the names of the tools More...
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Jan 23, 2012
Kate
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These "50 essential strategies for every writer" demystify the writing process and present entertaining but meaningful approaches to the elements of good writing. Clark ends each chapter with exercises for strengthening your work. I was pleased to see that he dedicated the book to Donald Murray, one of my journalism mentors at the University of New Hampshire in the mid-1970s. Don died the year this book was published; as The Boston Globe noted in its tribute, he was "in love with
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Apr 09, 2010
Tamara
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Provides extremely practical advice on how to write with more impact, including examples and writing exercises to help bring home each point.
I wish I'd had a whole semester in college devoted to the study of this book. Darn Roy Peter Clark for waiting to publish this until 2006. Darn me for being old.
I wish I'd had a whole semester in college devoted to the study of this book. Darn Roy Peter Clark for waiting to publish this until 2006. Darn me for being old.
Apr 17, 2011
Wendi
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I've been reading this one for a long time because I find that I learn more along with the projects I'm working on, if I use Mr. Clark's exercises alongside my work. This book is fun and substantial. It is a workshop that dives into the writers core and makes them better. It's making me better.
Jan 30, 2012
Doc-mok
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A wonderful, easy-to-read book packed with suggestions, encouragement, and wisdom. I would love to have this guy as a writing professor -- and in a sense, he is, with this book. very inspirational and practical.
Oct 30, 2009
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark
50 podcasts to go with these available at:
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&...
Recommendation from 2 Writing Teachers
50 podcasts to go with these available at:
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&...
Recommendation from 2 Writing Teachers
Jul 09, 2011
Scarlett
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This book is mainly written for journalists. If you're looking for help with journalism, articles or anything of the like then this is for you.
As a novelist though there are many pieces of gold in this. Some don't apply to me but there are some definite sparklers. I recommend this as a valuable edition to a bookshelf for any writer.
As a novelist though there are many pieces of gold in this. Some don't apply to me but there are some definite sparklers. I recommend this as a valuable edition to a bookshelf for any writer.
Apr 16, 2010
Westerville
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Tamara says, "Provides extremely practical advice on how to write with more impact, including examples and writing exercises to help bring home each point."
Jun 05, 2011
Olivia
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This book has earned a place by my side for my future as a journalist. Amazing and thought-provoking advice that I will definitely be using in my writing.
Nov 30, 2010
Kerry
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This book is full of the things I used to know, presented in a "more like guidelines" tone to which I respond more favorably than having an arbitrary set of "rules" dictated at me. Nothing new, but exactly what I needed to refresh a stale skill.
Ding a point for limited reusability (the basics of sentence composition shouldn't need to be referred to again and again--or so I hope) and a cheap shot at romance writers (who care about craft to the same extent any other More...
Ding a point for limited reusability (the basics of sentence composition shouldn't need to be referred to again and again--or so I hope) and a cheap shot at romance writers (who care about craft to the same extent any other More...
Apr 18, 2010
Emanuella
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Every aspiring writer should read this book. It was written for journalists but Clark's advice works across genres for all types of writing.
Aug 22, 2010
Tilde
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Letforståelige, brugbare skriveråd. Hvert kapitel indeholder desuden flere øvelser, man kan kaste sig over, for at afprøve rådene.
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Aug 16, 2010
N.L.
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A lot of really good tips and information for fine-tuning one's writing. A must-have reference for a writer's bookshelf.
Feb 12, 2010
Holly
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Incredibly helpful suggestions for fine-tuning your writing and wringing the most meaning out of every syllable. I took notes over the entire book and refer to them often as I write.
Aug 07, 2011
Alan
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Probably needs reading over and over again. Just read it once so far; really good and totally useful!
Sep 23, 2009
Ray
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One of the best ways to procrastinate is to read about writing, instead of actually writing.
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Jul 28, 2011
Laura
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Fantastic tips. This is a book every writer should read. I found it extremely helpful.
May 14, 2011
Sharen
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I love this book. It is very helpful. I love the free itunes download for this book.
Dec 27, 2010
Sharon
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No better book for writers of any persuasion. So smart, so common sense.
Sep 13, 2009
Stephanie
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A good beginning guide to writing for anyone who is interested in doing it.
May 15, 2011
Jen
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I saw Roy Peter Clark speak at Teachers College last year during a professional development day focused on helping my students advance as writers. Although I walked away with a lot of fantastic ideas for my classroom, I was equally inspired as a writer myself to "raise the level" of my own writing. His book, Writing Tools, is fantastic and I would recommend it for any writer, but particularly for those in the midst of revision. It feels a little silly to put it on my "read"
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