Books on writing books that are definitely keepers
As part of an exercise in decluttering, I’ve given away or sold a majority of my books over the last couple of years. Not that my shelves are bare — I still have a number of volumes of all sorts.
Among the books that I’ve given away and kept are a few on writing. A few of those books are 20 years or more old. I think it’s a testament to their usefulness that I’m holding on to them.
Here are a few of the keepers:
Basic Magazine Writing by Barbara Kevles. As the title states, this book outlines how to structure and write several kinds of magazine articles (like the profile, the interview, etc.). It also explains interviewing, pacing, and how to find article ideas.
Writing in Bullets by Kim Long. While I think that far too many people take the kind of advice in this type of book too far, Writing in Bullets offers some solid guidance on writing concisely.
Hot Text by Lisa Price and Jonathon Price. This was one of the first books on writing for the Web, and it’s still one of the best. Even though it’s seven years old, the information isn’t all that dated. The tips and techniques that the authors discuss are as valid now as they were in 2002.
The Freelance Writer’s Handbook by Dennis E. Hensley and Holly G. Miller. I bought this book when I was in university. In fact, it was the first book on freelance writing that I’d read. While some of the material is a bit dated, there’s still a lot of great information in this book. Like what? The need to tap uncommon markets, why you should go contrarian, and the speed writing formats.
There are other books that I’ve kept, too — including William Zinnser’s On Writing Well and The Elements of Style. But I’ve written about those books in this space before.
Which writing books can’t you live without? Feel free to leave a comment.
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