Sample Content

Table of Contents

Top Ten Reasons Why You Need to Write Well

Author Letter

Improve Your Writing Resource Pages

Academic Writing Books

Business Style Guides and Business Writing Books

Copyediting Guides

Copyright Matters

Editing and Proofreading Guides

Essays and Personal Essays (How to Write Essays)

Grammar and Usage Guides

Grants and Fundraising

Humor Writing Resource

Lateral Thinking

Letters and Thank You Notes — Letter-Writing Resource

Marketing Your Writing Guides

Memoirs, Family History, and Scrapbooks

Journalism and Newswriting Guides

Online and Electronic Writing Guides

Publication (Writing for Publication)

Research Guides

Speeches and Speech-Writing Guides

Style Guides

Technical Writing and Technical Editing Books

Writing and Communication Guides

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• Social writing, such as thank-you and get-well notes, congratulatory messages, and invitation responses
• Journalism, such as letters to the editor, press releases, and freelance article writing
• Personal and biographical essays
• Business writing, including sales letters, requests for proposals, and press packets

With this practical guide, you’ll learn to choose the appropriate tone, use the correct format, and communicate effectively. Whether for school, for work, or just for fun, writing will be a chore no more!

View the Table of Contents to get a better understanding of what is covered in this book:

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Basics

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?
Style Is Important, Too

Chapter 2: How to Write What You Mean

The Elements of Effective Writing
Making a Good Impression
Beyond Using a Spellchecker
Using Descriptive Nouns
Choosing Action Verbs
Analogy, Simile, and Metaphor as Descriptions
Establishing Your Objective

Chapter 3: How to Keep ‘Em Reading

Impact
Pacing
Hooks
Showing Versus Telling
Involving the Senses
Voice
Rhythm
Transitions
When Literal Isn’t Best (Literal Versus Literary)

Chapter 4: Editing and Proofreading Techniques

Sentence Structure
Punctuation
Possessive Pronouns versus Contractions
Bias-Free Language
Cultural Differences in Language
Proofreading Techniques

Chapter 5: Letter-Writing Basics and Specifics

Why Write a Letter
Planning Your Letter
Handwritten Notes
Complaint Letters
Dispute Letters
Complaint and Dispute Letter Replies

Chapter 6: Social Writing

Congratulatory Notes and Letters of Congratulations
Condolences and Sympathy Letters
Get-Well Notes and Letters
Invitations
Invitation Acceptance
Declining an Invitation
Announcements

Chapter 7: Thank-You Notes and Letters

Accompanying a Thank-You Gift
Gifts
Condolence
Dinner Thank-You Note
Thank-You Note for Hospitality
Thank-You Note for Personal Favor or Service

Chapter 8: Layman’s Journalism

The Inverted Pyramid
Story Leads
Other Types of Leads
Eight Tips for Conducting Interviews
When to Use Direct Quotes
Press Releases

Chapter 9: Research

Determining the Scope of the Research Needed
When to Use the Library
On-Your-Own, Computer-Aided Research
Evaluating Your Sources
Citing Sources
Research Organization Techniques
Six Steps to Productive Research

Chapter 10: Copyright Matters

Copyright Law
Work-for-Hire Agreements
Duration of Copyright
Collective Works
Joint Authors
Selling or Licensing Your Copyright
Fair Use
Derivative Works
Protecting Your Interests

Chapter 11: Essays in General

Strategic Essay Preparation
Identify Your Topic Question
Write the Thesis Statement
Essay Notes Worksheet
Developing an Essay Outline
Using Evidence
Using Reasoning
Tips to Help Streamline the Essay-Writing Process

Chapter 12: Essays in Particular

Structuring Your Essay Argument
The Academic Essay
The Parts of an Academic Essay
Formatting Your Essay
Admissions Essays
Developing a Thesis
The Outline

Chapter 13: Academic Writing: Research Papers, Master’s Theses, and Dissertations

Getting It Down
MLA Documentation Style
Other Documentation Styles
Bibliography, Footnotes, and Endnotes
Writing Your Paper
Getting Your Paper into Final Form
Adapting Your Work for Publication

Chapter 14: Business Writing

Request for Proposal (RFP)
Press Packets
Maintaining Media Contacts
Other Publicity
Announcements
Sales Letters
Adapting Your Writing Skills

Chapter 15: Job Search and Employment-Related Writing

Resumes
Online Resumes
Letters of Recommendation and Reference
References
Checking References Letter
Job Acceptance and Other Important Employment Letters
Follow-Up Letter
Letters of Resignation

Chapter 16: Grant Writing

Seeking Grants
The Strategic Assessment
Letter of Inquiry
Letter of Intent to Apply
Completing the Grant Application Packet
The Proposal
Additional Information
The Management Plan
Reports
Persuasive Writing Techniques
Final Review

Chapter 17: Technical Writing

Parts of a Technical Document
Doc Plan
Project Outline
Identify Your Audience
Defining the Project and Preparing a Proposed Table of Contents
Publisher Style Guides
Writing to a Publisher Template
White Papers

Chapter 18: Humor, Reviews, and Other Specialized Writing

Humor
Understanding What Makes People Laugh
Comedy Genres
How and Where to Use Humor
The Essentials of a Good Review
Personal Essays
Memoir

Chapter 19: Electronic Age Writing

Fax Facts
E-mail
E-mail Cover Letter with Attachment
E-mail Courtesy
Blogs and Blogging
Online Forums

Chapter 20: New Horizons in Web Writing

Nonlinear, Multimedia Writing
Interactive Writing
Multimedia Formats
Instructional Multimedia Writing
High-Impact Online Presentations
Incorporating Text into Graphics
Choosing Your Presentation Format

Chapter 21: Considerations When Writing for Publication

Letter to Obtain Publisher Guidelines
The Query Letter
Manuscript Format
Your Author Bio
Fiction Basics
Nonfiction Basics
The Essentials of a Book Proposal

Chapter 22: Dealing with Writer’s Block

Anti-Writer’s Block Calisthenics
Lead with Your Best Shot
Edit for Sensitivity or Other Problems
Give Yourself Permission to Fill In the Blanks Later
Hone Your Outline
Coming Up with Ideas
Other Ideas That May Help

Appendix A: Further Reading

Appendix B: Common Formats

–from:
The Everything Improve Your Writing Book
by Pamela Rice Hahn

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–from
The Everything Improve Your Writing Book
by Pamela Rice Hahn

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Dear Reader,

Writing isn’t some sort of mystical process. And a writer isn’t a magician. An artist, maybe. I like to think that I sometimes sculpt and draw pictures with words. Other times, the words I choose instruct and teach. Sometimes, I use them to persuade and convince.

Regardless of how you approach writing-whether you want to learn all you can about how to improve your writing or you simply want to learn how to write a thank-you letter, an essay, a resume, or that article for the newspaper about your garden club’s upcoming annual fundraiser-I believe you’ll find something in these pages that will help.

Writing, like anything else worthwhile in life, takes discipline, instruction, and most of all, confidence in your ability to do a good job. You gain that all-important confidence through practice-and by studying samples of other works. That’s why you’ll find so many examples in this book. I include lots of information about what goes into tackling specific writing chores and then provide examples of how it’s done: examples that you can then use and adapt to help you complete your own writing projects or chores, whatever the case may be.

Never be afraid to express yourself on paper. The days of the woolly mammoth era when words were chiseled in stone are no longer a part of the human experience. Today you have an eraser on your pencil or, even easier to use, delete and backspace keys on your keyboard. Write, delete, and copy and paste (what was once known as editing), and then write some more.

Whether you read this book cover to cover, or only peruse those pages that answer whatever writing questions that might arise from time to time, please keep in mind that to become a good writer you must not only learn from example, you also need to write. Regardless of how you approach this book, it’s my sincere hope that you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.

Pamela Rice Hahn

–from:
The Everything Improve Your Writing Book
by Pamela Rice Hahn

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“Academic writing sometimes seems like a tricky task because most disciplines want you to use certain conventions. As with any other writing project, you should read papers and books in the relevant discipline before writing your own papers.” –from The Everything Improve Your Writing Book by Pamela Rice Hahn

From the Appendix A: Further Reading resource in The Everything Improve Your Writing Book by Pamela Rice Hahn:

	10 Steps in Writing the Research Paper by Roberta H. Markman, Peter T. Markman, Marie L. Waddell (2000) Barrons Educational Series
	Academic Writing for Graduate Students, Second Edition: Essential Tasks and Skills by John M. Swales and Christine A. Beer Feak (2004) University of Michigan Press
	Adios, Strunk and White: A Handbook for the New Academic Essay by Gary Hoffman, Glynis Hoffman (2003)
	College Recommendations Write or Wrong: The Educators’ Guide to Successful Recommendation Writing by Linda Jacobs, Pauline B. Reiter (October 13, 2000) University Pathways
	Engaging Ideas : The Professor’s Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom by John C. Bean (March 1996) Jossey-Bass
	First Steps in Academic Writing by Ann Hogue (2007) Prentice-Hall Trade, Pearson Educational,
	Fundamentals of Academic Writing by Linda Butler (2007) Prentice-Hall Trade, Pearson Educational
	Getting It Published: A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious About Serious Books (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) by William Germano (May 2001) University of Chicago Press
	Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice (Graduate Admissions Essays) by Donald Asher (March 2000) Ten Speed Press
	How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School by Richard J. Stelzer (August 1997) Petersons Guides
	Introduction to Academic Writing by Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue (2006) Prentice-Hall Trade, Pearson Educational
	A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) by Kate L. Turabian (2007) University of Chicago Press
	The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory by J. A. Cuddon, Claire Preston (May 2000) Penguin USA (Paper)
	Successful Dissertations and Theses: A Guide to Graduate Student Research from Proposal to Completion (Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series) by David Madsen (November 1991) Jossey-Bass
	Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process by Kjell Erik Rudestam, Rae R. Newton (2007) Sage Publications
	Write for College: A Students Handbook by Patrick Sebranek, Verne Meyer, Dave Kemper (March 1997) Great Source Education Group Inc.
	Writing Academic English by Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue (2005) Prentice-Hall Trade, Pearson Educational
	Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, 12th edition by James D., Jr. Lester (2006) Longman
	Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis by Joan Bolker (August 1998) Owl Books
	Yale Daily News Guide to Writing College Papers by Marti Page, Justin M. Cohen (September 2000) Kaplan

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“Success in business relies on effective communication, which can take many forms. Understanding the particular formats needed for specific business writing tasks is the first step in achieving that necessary ability to communicate effectively.” –from The Everything Improve Your Writing Book by Pamela Rice Hahn

	The Business Style Handbook: An A-to-Z Guide for Writing on the Job with Tips from Communications Experts at the Fortune 500 by Helen Cunningham, Brenda Greene (2002) McGraw Hill – NTC
	The Business Writer’s Handbook by Gerald J.Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu (2006) St. Martin’s Press
	The Economist Style Guide: A Concise Guide for All Your Business Communications by Economist Staff (2003) Economists Books
	Franklin Covey Style Guide for Business and Technical Communication by Franklin Covey, Frankin Covey Company Staff (2000)
	The Wall Street Journal Guide to Business Style and Usage by Paul R. Martin (Editor) (2002) Wall Street Journal Also available in Paperback (2003)

	The 100 Most Difficult Business Letters You’ll Ever Have to Write, Fax, or E-Mail: Clear Guidance on How to Write Your Way Out of the Toughest Business Problems You Will Ever Face by Bernard Heller (1994) HarperBusiness
	Business English: A Complete Guide to Developing an Effective Business Writing Style by Andrea B. Geffner (2003) Barrons Educational Series
	The Copywriter’s Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly (2006)
	Explicit Business Writing: Best Practices for the Twenty-First Century by R. Craig Hogan (2005)
	The Online Copywriter’s Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Write Electronic Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly (2003) McGraw-Hill Trade
	The Consultant’s Guide to Proposal Writing: How to Satisfy Your Clients and Double Your Income by Herman Holtz (1998) John Wiley & Sons Paperback 2nd Edition
	The Complete Handbook of Model Business Letters by Jack Griffin (1997) Prentice Hall Press
	Effective Business Writing: A Guide for Those Who Write on the Job by Maryann V. Piotrowski (1996) HarperCollins
	The Elements of Business Writing: A Guide to Writing Clear, Concise Letters, Memos, Reports, Proposals, and Other Business Documents by Gary Blake, Robert W. Bly (1992) Longman
	The Elements of Correspondence: How to Express Yourself Clearly, Persuasively, and Eloquently in Your Personal and Business Writing by Mary A. de Vries (1996) Pearson Higher Education
	The Encyclopedia of Business Letters, Fax Memos, and E-Mail by Robert W. Bly (Introduction) (1999) Career Press
	Guide to Managerial Communication: Effective Business Writing and Speaking by Mary Munter (2005) Prentice Hall
	Handbook for Writing Proposals by Robert J. Hamper, L. Sue Baugh (1995) McGraw Hill – NTC
	How to Say It At Work: Putting Yourself Across with Power Words, Phrases, Body Language, and Communication Secrets by Jack Griffin, Tom Power (Editor) (1998) Prentice Hall Press
	The New Executive Assistant: Advice for Succeeding in Your Career by Melba J. Duncan (1997) McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
	Office Emails that Really Click by Maureen Chase, Sandy Trupp (2000) Aegis Pub Group
	The Organizer: Secrets & Systems from the World’s Top Executive Assistants by Anna-Carin Jean (1998) HarperCollins (Out of print; available used)
	Over 300 Successful Business Letters for All Occasions by Alan J. Bond (1998) Barrons Educational Series
	Persuasive Business Proposals: Writing to Win Customers, Clients, and Contracts by Tom Sant (2003) AMACOM
	Prentice Hall’s Complete Desk Reference for Office Professionals by Mary A. De Vries (2000) Prentice Hall Press
	Promoting Yourself by Hal Lancaster (2002) Wall Street Journal Paperback (2004)
	Request for Proposal: A Guide to Effective RFP Development by Bud Porter-Roth (2001) Addison Wesley Professional
	The Voice of Authority: 10 Communication Strategies Every Leader Needs to Know by Dianna Booher (2007)
	Words at Work: An Insider’s Guide to the Words of Professions by Mim Harrison (2007)
	Writing Business Plans That Get Results: A Step-By-Step Guide by Michael O’Donnell (1991) McGraw Hill – NTC
	Writing Winning Business Proposals: Your Guide to Landing the Client, Making the Sale, Persuading the Boss by Richard C. Freed (2003)

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The copy editor’s job is usually associated with correcting grammar errors in a work. But it can include making other changes, such as adapting a work to match the intended readership level.

A good rule of thumb is just to keep all of your writing as simple as possible. That way, it can be understood by a reader of almost any level. You may not want to write for a grade-school level, but aiming for a high-school crowd is completely acceptable in most circles. Of course, sometimes a higher level of diction is called for, such as with an academic crowd. The trick is to figure out who your audience is and then aim appropriately. –from The Everything Improve Your Writing Book by Pamela Rice Hahn

	Copy Editing for Professionals by Edmund Rooney, Oliver Witte Spiral-bound (June 1, 2000) Stipes Publishing Co.
	Copyediting: A Practical Guide by Karen Judd (201) Crisp Pubns
	The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications: With Exercises and Answer Keys by Amy Einsohn Paperback – 560 pages 1st edition (April 2000) University of California Press
	The Fine Art of Copyediting by Elsie Myers Stainton (2002) Columbia University Press
	Substance & Style: Instruction and Practice in Copyediting by Mary Stoughton (1996) Editorial Experts

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A copyright is the law that covers only the form or manner in which ideas or information have been manifested, often referred to as the “form of material expression.” Copyright is not designed or intended to cover the actual idea, concept, fact, style, or technique which is exemplified in or represented by the work; it covers how that idea, concept, fact, style, or technique is expressed by the owner of the copyright. –from The Everything Improve Your Writing Book by Pamela Rice Hahn

	The Copyright Handbook: How to Protect & Use Written Works by Stephen Fishman (September 2008) Nolo Press
	The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers (Wiley Books for Writers) by Lloyd J. Jassin, Steve C. Schecter (1998) John Wiley & Sons
	The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World by Lawrence Lessig (2001) Random House Paperback Vintage (2002) Download/e-book Random House Group (2001)
	Getting Permission: How to License and Clear Copyrighted Materials Online and Off by Richard Stim (2007) Nolo Press
	Kirsch’s Handbook of Publishing Law: For Authors, Publishers, Editors and Agents by Jonathan Kirsch (1994) Acrobat Books
	The Public Domain: How to Find and Use Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art & More by Stephen Fishman (2008) Nolo Press
	Who Owns Academic Work: Battling for Control of Intellectual Property by Corynne McSherry (2001) Harvard Univ Press Paperback Harvard Univ Pr; (2001)
	The Writer’s Legal Companion: The Complete Handbook for the Working Writer by Brad Bunnin, Peter Beren (1998) Perseus Publishing

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Write, delete, and copy and paste (what was once known as editing), and then write some more. –from The Everything Improve Your Writing Book by Pamela Rice Hahn

	The Editor’s Toolbox: A Reference Guide for Beginners and Professionals by Buck Ryan, Michael O’Donnell, Leland B. Ryan (2001) Iowa State University Press
	Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook (1986) Houghton Mifflin Co.
	McGraw-Hill’s Proofreading Handbook by Laura Killen Anderson (2005)
	Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne, Dave King (2004) HarperCollins
Additional Editing and Proofreading Guides
	Edit Yourself: A Manual for Everyone Who Works With Words by Bruce Ross-Larson (1996) W.W. Norton & Company
	Go Ahead, Proof It! by K. D. Sullivan (1996) Barrons Educational Series
	Powerful Proofreading Skills: Tips, Techniques and Tactics by Debra A. Smith, Helen R. Sutton (1994) Crisp Learning
	Rewrite Right!: Your Guide to Perfectly Polished Prose by Jan Venolia (2000) Ten Speed Press

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In one form or another, the essay is the basic structure of almost every form of nonfiction writing, such as editorials and opinion pieces, legal opinions, magazine articles, newspaper features, speeches, and report summaries. The principles of essay writing can also be applied to descriptive passages in fiction or entire works of nonfiction,… –from The Everything Improve Your Writing Book by Pamela Rice Hahn

	The Art of Creative Nonfiction: Writing and Selling the Literature of Reality (Wiley Books for Writers Series) by Lee Gutkind (1997) John Wiley & Sons
	The Essayist at Work: Profiles of Creative Nonfiction Writers by Lee Gutkind (Editor), Annie Dillard (1998) Heinemann
	Write Better Essays in Just 20 Minutes a Day by Elizabeth Chesla (2006) Learning Express
Additional Essay Books:
	The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present by Phillip Lopate (1997)
	Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: The Art of Truth by Bill Roorbach (Editor) (2001) Oxford University Press
	Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: I & Eye by Bich Minh Nguyen and Porter Shreve (2004)
	Schaum’s Quick Guide to Writing Great Essays by Molly McClain, Jacqueline D. Roth (1998) McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
	Shadow Boxing: Art and Craft in Creative Nonfiction by Kristen Iversen (2003) Prentice Hall
	Writing Creative Nonfiction: Fiction Techniques for Crafting Great Nonfiction by Theodore Rees Cheney (2001) Ten Speed Press
	Writing Creative Nonfiction: Instruction and Insights from Teachers of the Associated Writing Programs by Carolyn Forche (Editor), Philip Gerard (Editor) (2001) Story Pr.
	Writing Personal Essays: How to Shape Your Life Experiences for the Page by Sheila Bender (1995)
	Writing and Publishing Personal Essays by Sheila Bender (2005)
Also see Memoirs

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