How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You'll Ever Write

by Sandra Lamb

Book Overview

"Award-winning journalist Sandra Lamb transforms reluctant writers into skilled wordsmiths by providing compelling examples of nearly every type of document and form of written communication. Packed... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580080014
• ISBN13: 9781580080019
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.5" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Resource

This book proves that even the most experienced writer can still benefit from outside guidance! I have written business correspondence througout my career, and have recently taken a position that requires almost nothing BUT writing. Being inspired 8 hours per day, 5 days per week can be a bit overwhelming, but in the first three weeks on the job I have turned to this book AT LEAST once a week, and have found wonderful suggestions for a sympathy note, employment candidate rejection letter, fundraising appeal, you name it! I am happy to have this book on my shelf! Don't hesitate to buy!

Put this book next to your dictionary

This is one of those books that is so incredibly useful and so easy to read, you have to wonder why no one thought to write one like it before now. I got the book to check out the email section, but was literally thunderstruck by all of the other fantastic writing examples and templates. I think this would be a great book to give a graduate, because it has examples for writing many of life's "must-to's", such as thank you notes, condolences, credit inquiries and a lot more. I'm a writer, but even I get "writer's block" sometimes. This book is a real gem.

Stuff you won't find elsewhere, very handy

How to Write It is written by an experienced writer who knows what she's talking about. It's especially worth seeking out for some of the templates it features, including several related to public relations projects (for example, how to write a pitch letter, press release, and backgrounder). Lots of social and job-search related guidance, for those whose skills in those areas are rusty from disuse. And for the young person or the beginner, plenty of help with how to write invitations, thank-you's, all kinds of things someone should have taught us, but probably didn't (or were we all absent the same day?). Easy to use.

A good correspondence guide for the new millennium

Whether we're looking for work, expressing our sympathy, or voicing a complaint, life is full of situations in which a well-written letter can make a big difference. Technology has made us all more casual with our communication, but How to Write It is a good guide to review before you compose any important message. This book helps you organize your thoughts before writing; it also helps you be a more positive communicator by eliminating words that can be taken the wrong way. I'm a professional writer, but I see plenty in here that will help me improve my own work.

essential reference work

Short of teaching you how to write War and Peace, this marvelous reference book covers absolutely all the bases. Business letters, career-oriented letters and personal writing of all kinds are included. Everybody's library needs this--and your kids will crib from it.