Writing Tools (10th Anniversary Edition): 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon CustomerVerified Purchase Not just a writing book, it''s the cheapest writing course of your life Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2016 This 288 pages of writing wisdom and easy to follow exercise book is a sell given the value you get for the price. From consuming this book, a dyslexic/F-level writer like me learned that even I can learn to write well. I am a proud copywriter and I often refer back to this... See more This 288 pages of writing wisdom and easy to follow exercise book is a sell given the value you get for the price. From consuming this book, a dyslexic/F-level writer like me learned that even I can learn to write well. I am a proud copywriter and I often refer back to this book for insights.

This book is unique in the sense that he presents notable writing snippets from the best writers of our time, making this book not only informative but also very entertaining.

Writing Tip: To improve how you approach writing, you could benefit from copying some of the sentences that you enjoyed reading. What I do is, I copy some of these sentences and rewrite them on a daily basis, this is a copywriting practice technique that copywriters use to build their craft. It works because by writing the sentences down you''re reinforcing the sentence formation and structure patterns from other amazing writers. Studies, such as the Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer research (Scientific America has a great article on this) on longhand note taking vesus typing show that writing information down improves information retention (among other things). Additionally, if you think of this as a concept, this approach is analogous to how a business can get better results by analyzing innovative sales models from other companies and from understanding it they can appropriately modify their sales system/model. Similar, from practicing this technique you''re mentally modeling out what a great sentence look and feel like, I guarantee writing will get more fun and become effortless the more you practice!

Writing Tools is a priceless and life changing writing course in itself, pick it up and you won''t regret it. 101 people found this helpful Helpful

D&J TueVerified Purchase Great tools for new writers Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2016 Great book to learn some tricks of the trade. With 50 tools in this bag, there are too many to keep in mind all the time. I suspect I''ll get better at it with practice. So I''ve highlighted my book and I re-read my highlights over and over to try to get these to stick. So... See more Great book to learn some tricks of the trade. With 50 tools in this bag, there are too many to keep in mind all the time. I suspect I''ll get better at it with practice. So I''ve highlighted my book and I re-read my highlights over and over to try to get these to stick. So far, my favorites are "watch the -ings" because too many of them will hurt good writing; Lose the dash - it''s for the punctuation-illiterate; use adverbs only if they change the meaning of the verb, such as "killing me softly." I believe this book has made me a better writer. 53 people found this helpful Helpful

helloandyhihiVerified Purchase Crucial tips. Bad anecdotes and examples. Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2022 I''m a self-taught journalist (mostly) so I was hungry for these writing tools, and I wish I had discovered this book much earlier. But I am frustrated that so many of the book''s vocabulary choices, anecdotes and examples are incomprehensible — and therefore, useless.... See more I''m a self-taught journalist (mostly) so I was hungry for these writing tools, and I wish I had discovered this book much earlier. But I am frustrated that so many of the book''s vocabulary choices, anecdotes and examples are incomprehensible — and therefore, useless.

Many refer to journalists who were well known from the 1940s through the 1980s. I''m 47 and don''t know who these people are. The book also relies on many examples of their work to exemplify each "writing tool." But I often found them written with such dated vocabulary and syntax that I didn''t understand the passages even after re-reading them several times.

That''s the opposite of good journalistic writing. It violates what I consider the most crucial writing tip: A curious 14-year-old should be able to understand what you write. I revisited this Amazon listing because I''d like to give the book as a high-school graduation gift. But I''m having reservations. Will she understand it or find it useful?

Here are examples from a few consecutive paragraphs in chapter one:

"As often happens, the editor knew that the lead paragraph could be improved, but not how. As he walked down the hallway, story in hand, he looked up to see the Brobdingnagian figure of Jimmy Breslin, who agreed to take a peek at the problem."

I had never come across the word Brobdingnagian before and Clark''s use of it to refer to someone I had never heard of (Breslin''s prime was from the 1940s through the 1970s), made it hard to infer that the word means "giant."

On the same page, Clark starts a sentence, "With apologies to Dusty Springfield ..." I assumed this was another journalist. It turns out she was a famous singer in the 1960s.

One paragraph later, Clark writes an unclear sentence with multiple dated references: "Add -ing to a verb, and it takes on progressive sense – a happening as in this 1935 description by Richard Wright of the wild celebration after a Joe Louis boxing victory ..."

Thanks for that, Mr. Clark. Of course, I''m not going to Google multiple dated references and weird vocabulary multiple times per page. I can''t imagine my niece will, either. One person found this helpful Helpful

D. ThurstonVerified Purchase Wonderful Book for Both Beginning and Advanced writers Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2017 I purchased this book in Kindle and immediately appreciated its well constructed format. It is easy to comprehend Clark''s intent which is to help us understand how important it is to compose our stories with words that evoke vitality and a structure that maintains story... See more I purchased this book in Kindle and immediately appreciated its well constructed format. It is easy to comprehend Clark''s intent which is to help us understand how important it is to compose our stories with words that evoke vitality and a structure that maintains story integrity. Both invite readers to better visualize the events taking place which, for me, made the reading interesting and enjoyable. I highly recommend this book for beginners struggling with form and function of composition, and also as a gentle reminder for those who are more advanced when the craft of writing beings to feel tedious. 26 people found this helpful Helpful

JMVerified Purchase Some decent tips on writing craft Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2021 I like the style of short chapters outlining ‘strategies’ to help the writer. There are better books on writing craft around and ones far better for writers of fiction. Clark’s mixture of anecdotes from journalism often fell flat for me, as such. 4 people found this helpful Helpful

TmagVerified Purchase A real toolbox Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2016 I got this book a few years ago in the hopes of improving my word choices and infusing my writing with more voice. I recall reading it but never applying the knowledge or even referencing the book after that first encounter. Who knows, maybe I just wasn''t willing to do... See more I got this book a few years ago in the hopes of improving my word choices and infusing my writing with more voice. I recall reading it but never applying the knowledge or even referencing the book after that first encounter. Who knows, maybe I just wasn''t willing to do the work. Recently, however, I picked up this book again and, WOW, there is so much useful stuff in here. I wish that I had been using it this whole time, who knows how much my writing could have improved. If you want real tools to help with the nuts and bolts of writing, this is the book. Each tool serves a purpose and it''s up to you as the writer to learn how and when to use it. 22 people found this helpful Helpful

Livin' The Dream!Verified Purchase What’s that smell? Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2021 I am so excited about this book I just received it today it did have a shipping delay which I totally understand. Unfortunately when I received it I ripped it open ready to start it reeks so badly of Curry I will not be able to sit and read it trying to figure out if I need... See more I am so excited about this book I just received it today it did have a shipping delay which I totally understand. Unfortunately when I received it I ripped it open ready to start it reeks so badly of Curry I will not be able to sit and read it trying to figure out if I need to return it or put it somewhere that the smell can be absorbed. So disappointed! Does look like great topics for anyone hoping to write a book! 2 people found this helpful Helpful

J. DarrahVerified Purchase Spiral? Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2020 This is not a spiral edition. I repeat this is not a spiral edition. I received mine and there is no spiral at all. Totally Miss advertising.I still want the book so I bought the paperback edition and hope it proves better than this false advertising. Do not buy this spiral... See more This is not a spiral edition. I repeat this is not a spiral edition. I received mine and there is no spiral at all. Totally Miss advertising.I still want the book so I bought the paperback edition and hope it proves better than this false advertising. Do not buy this spiral edition because it is not a spiral edition. 4 people found this helpful Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Norma BVerified Purchase Mainly for journalists and other writers of non-fiction Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2017 The author is a journalist by trade and a senior scholar at a school for journalists, and his book - which is well-written - is mainly aimed at journalists and other writers of non-fiction. One chapter opens, "When writers tell me stories about working on big...See moreThe author is a journalist by trade and a senior scholar at a school for journalists, and his book - which is well-written - is mainly aimed at journalists and other writers of non-fiction. One chapter opens, "When writers tell me stories about working on big projects.." Then some three hundred words later the author says, "For me this process also works for fiction." For the author, "writers" are first and foremost writers of non-fiction. Writers of fiction need to sift through the author''s "strategies" - each helpfully contained within its own chapter - and consider which are relevant to fiction, and which irrelevant or even counter-productive. Once that''s done - and it''s worth doing - the book becomes a useful source of advice for writers of fiction. 12 people found this helpful

Ben FinnVerified Purchase Excellent book, but you may be sent the old, shorter edition! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2016 Excellent book, but I was sent the shorter, original edition (with 50 ''essential strategies'') rather than the 10th Anniversary edition shown (which has 55). So I got a refund and bought the Kindle version instead, but that was also the older edition (despite having the...See moreExcellent book, but I was sent the shorter, original edition (with 50 ''essential strategies'') rather than the 10th Anniversary edition shown (which has 55). So I got a refund and bought the Kindle version instead, but that was also the older edition (despite having the front cover of the new one!) So whichever you order, check after you buy that you have the 10th Anniversary edition with 55 strategies actually listed inside the book (not just on the Kindle cover!) 14 people found this helpful

Rogue EyebrowVerified Purchase Five stars after just one chapter! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2012 I''ve only read one chapter of this so far but the rest of the whole book could be a complete pile of pants and it would still deserve 5* for what I''ve already learned, so I''m not waiting, I''m writing my review now! I''ve read a lot of books about writing and have found that...See moreI''ve only read one chapter of this so far but the rest of the whole book could be a complete pile of pants and it would still deserve 5* for what I''ve already learned, so I''m not waiting, I''m writing my review now! I''ve read a lot of books about writing and have found that a lot of them repeat the same material, with maybe a few nuggets that aren''t in the others. This one was straight out the gate with something that has had me thinking about it non-stop since I read it and I don''t want to continue with the book until I''ve really examined it. It''s Tool 1: "Begin sentences with subjects and verbs" and it explains how strong sentences start with the main subject and its verb at or near the beginning of the sentence, like I have in this review ("I''ve", "I''ve", "This one was", "It''s"). Once you start looking at that in other people''s writing and analysing your own, it''s an eye-opener. To me, it was worth the price of the book just for that. Can''t wait to read the rest (but I''ll have to, I''m still thinking about the first chapter!). UODATE: I''m on Chapter/Tool 11 after a couple of weeks now and I''m still delighted with this book. So many interesting things, and a whole stage up from other books on writing. It''s refreshing to read something that feels a bit more advanced and it''s also a very easy read. Very highly recommended. 34 people found this helpful

fictionreaderVerified Purchase Excellent book, clear examples, good exercises to try Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2015 This book contains strategies for both novice and experienced writers, and the ideas are applicable to both short and long fiction, from articles to novels. This is because it focuses on what makes a good story, and how to tell it well. Some books on writing have too much...See moreThis book contains strategies for both novice and experienced writers, and the ideas are applicable to both short and long fiction, from articles to novels. This is because it focuses on what makes a good story, and how to tell it well. Some books on writing have too much padding, where the author gives long examples from other writers'' works, but this book sticks to succinct examples. The author''s background in journalism makes it especially useful for writers who want to find ways to market their books via blog posts/articles and the media, as well supplying plenty of juice for those crafting longer works. Within the 50 tools I found several I had not considered before, and I am an experienced writer. Well worth the money. Wish I had ordered the paperback now, and not the kindle version as it is a very good book I will refer to again and recommend to other writers. 6 people found this helpful

Ken NixonVerified Purchase The best writing guide I''ve read. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2014 This is an excellent manual for established and would-be writers alike. Peter Clark guides the reader through a logically sequenced series of succinct chapters, explaining the craft of writing in the clearest terms, and drawing on the very best of literature and journalism...See moreThis is an excellent manual for established and would-be writers alike. Peter Clark guides the reader through a logically sequenced series of succinct chapters, explaining the craft of writing in the clearest terms, and drawing on the very best of literature and journalism to exemplify each new skill. Short exercises at the end of each chapter help those who wish to consolidate these skills. Call me extravagant if you will, but I bought both the paperback and Kindle versions, so that this book is always to hand when needed. I rate it that highly. 8 people found this helpful

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.