Table of Contents: The Everything Improve Your Writing Book

Publishing professional Pamela Rice Hahn outlines simple steps for you to follow for various types of writing, including:

• 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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