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The Book on Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well
You’re going to love the way Paula LaRocque teaches in The Book on Writing. A celebrated writing coach with a sense of humor and a gentle touch, she’s also a master writer herself with a long and distinguished career in both teaching and practicing the art of writing.
The Book on Writing contains 25 chapters in three sections:
• A dozen essential but easy-to-apply guidelines to good writing, from the importance of clarity to the value of a conversational tone. Paula LaRocque believes learning is easier and more successful when we are not only told but also shown. So her Book on Writing is chockfull of actual writing examples that supplement and illustrate principles that apply as naturally to fiction as they do to nonfiction.
• How to tell a story—from building suspense, to effective description, to the uses of metaphor and literary devices. Paula LaRocque also deals with the narrative “engine” and the value of the archetype in plotting and characterization—as well as with pace and speed and leveling what she terms writing’s “speedbumps.”
• A clear and concise handbook that deals with common problems in grammar, usage, punctuation, and style—the kind of problems that often trouble even wordsmiths. The handbook also debunks pesky language “rules” that are actually myths.
The Book on Writing is one-stop shopping for writers. Read it once, and you’ll be a better writer. Read it often, and you’ll be among the best.
The Book on Writing contains 25 chapters in three sections:
• A dozen essential but easy-to-apply guidelines to good writing, from the importance of clarity to the value of a conversational tone. Paula LaRocque believes learning is easier and more successful when we are not only told but also shown. So her Book on Writing is chockfull of actual writing examples that supplement and illustrate principles that apply as naturally to fiction as they do to nonfiction.
• How to tell a story—from building suspense, to effective description, to the uses of metaphor and literary devices. Paula LaRocque also deals with the narrative “engine” and the value of the archetype in plotting and characterization—as well as with pace and speed and leveling what she terms writing’s “speedbumps.”
• A clear and concise handbook that deals with common problems in grammar, usage, punctuation, and style—the kind of problems that often trouble even wordsmiths. The handbook also debunks pesky language “rules” that are actually myths.
The Book on Writing is one-stop shopping for writers. Read it once, and you’ll be a better writer. Read it often, and you’ll be among the best.
254 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
62 people are currently reading
795 people want to read
About the author
Paula LaRocque
8 books17 followersPaula is an editor, communications consultant, and author of nonfiction who has recently turned her attention to writing fiction. Her first novel, a mystery titled “Chalk Line,” will be published by Marion Street Press, Inc., in 2011.
Often hailed as one of America’s foremost writing coaches, Paula has conducted writing workshops for hundreds of media, government, academic, and business groups across the United States, Canada, and Europe. She also has served as a writing consultant for the Associated Press, the Drehscheibe Institute in Bonn, and the European Stars & Stripes in Germany.
From 1971 to 1981, she taught technical communication at Western Michigan University’s School of Engineering and, after moving to Texas, taught journalism at Texas A&M, Southern Methodist, and Texas Christian universities. From 1981 to 2001, she was assistant managing editor and writing coach at The Dallas Morning News.
She has been a columnist for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Quill magazine for more than 20 years. Her commentaries on the language air regularly on National Public Radio in Dallas, and she’s author of three books on writing (Marion Street Press).
After leaving The Dallas Morning News in 2001, Paula -- now a member of the Mystery Writers of America and of the Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Workshop -- wrote the first two books of a mystery series. The series features detective Ben Gallagher and is set in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
A member of the Associated Press Managing Editors association from the early 1990s through 2001, she was elected to the Board of Directors and appointed an officer. In 2001, the association granted her its highest honor: the Meritorious Service Award for exemplary contribution to journalism.
She earned a BA degree Summa Cum Laude in 1971 and an MA in 1972 (Western Michigan University). She also worked on a doctorate, but her career became so demanding she did not complete it.
Often hailed as one of America’s foremost writing coaches, Paula has conducted writing workshops for hundreds of media, government, academic, and business groups across the United States, Canada, and Europe. She also has served as a writing consultant for the Associated Press, the Drehscheibe Institute in Bonn, and the European Stars & Stripes in Germany.
From 1971 to 1981, she taught technical communication at Western Michigan University’s School of Engineering and, after moving to Texas, taught journalism at Texas A&M, Southern Methodist, and Texas Christian universities. From 1981 to 2001, she was assistant managing editor and writing coach at The Dallas Morning News.
She has been a columnist for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Quill magazine for more than 20 years. Her commentaries on the language air regularly on National Public Radio in Dallas, and she’s author of three books on writing (Marion Street Press).
After leaving The Dallas Morning News in 2001, Paula -- now a member of the Mystery Writers of America and of the Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Workshop -- wrote the first two books of a mystery series. The series features detective Ben Gallagher and is set in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
A member of the Associated Press Managing Editors association from the early 1990s through 2001, she was elected to the Board of Directors and appointed an officer. In 2001, the association granted her its highest honor: the Meritorious Service Award for exemplary contribution to journalism.
She earned a BA degree Summa Cum Laude in 1971 and an MA in 1972 (Western Michigan University). She also worked on a doctorate, but her career became so demanding she did not complete it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 20, 2019
The Book on Writing was recommended in an editing group I belong to. With many good tips and numerous examples, I’m glad I picked it up.
LaRocque breaks down the book into three sections.
Part one talks about writing mechanics and provides guidelines for good writing. It looks at sentence structure, word selection, and active versus passive voice.
Part two is how to write the story well. This section contains information on how speed bumps can disrupt the flow of the story; how you don’t want to give away too much, at least not right away; and how carefully chosen words can create powerful images for the reader.
Part three closes by looking at some writing myths and some of the more commonly asked questions on writing, grammar, and punctuation. Overall, an informative read and a good book to add to your library.
LaRocque breaks down the book into three sections.
Part one talks about writing mechanics and provides guidelines for good writing. It looks at sentence structure, word selection, and active versus passive voice.
Part two is how to write the story well. This section contains information on how speed bumps can disrupt the flow of the story; how you don’t want to give away too much, at least not right away; and how carefully chosen words can create powerful images for the reader.
Part three closes by looking at some writing myths and some of the more commonly asked questions on writing, grammar, and punctuation. Overall, an informative read and a good book to add to your library.
June 19, 2016
I view The Book on Writing as the third member of the holy trinity consisting of On Writing Well and The Elements of Style (aka Strunk & White). Like these other two exalted texts, The Book on Writing is an advertisement for its own advice. The 233 pages flew by, despite what is arguably very dry subject matter.
A grab bag of my favorite points:
- Clarity is everything. Almost every aspect of good writing is built on the foundation of conveying your point clearly.
- Sentences should be less than 20 words. Vary sentence length within a paragraph.
- Sentences should be "quick, silken, and natural" such that it is understandable on a first reading. If the reader is inclined to go back to re-read the sentence in order to puzzle out its meaning, the writer has failed.
- Writing should be direct and forceful. One reason writers like to soften their message is if they aren't certain they're right. But being right is also part of the writer's job. If you find yourself wanting to pad your sentences with softening phrases, maybe what you really need to do is re-check your facts or your argument's logic.
- A great bit I'll quote in full: "Diamond Jim became known -- and named -- for his tasteless display of jewelery. When asked why he was so bedecked with gems, he is said to have responded: 'Them as has 'em wears 'em.' The newly rich Brady didn't understand the fallacy of ostentatious display (excess is vulgar) or the paradox of good taste (less is more). Good taste shows restraint and simplicity: Them as has 'em wears just one or two -- but the *right* one or two. The rest stay in the safe for another occasion."
- "Mimicry is the antithesis of freshness and originality in all craft and art."
- Don't "back into" an opening sentence with a long subordinate clause. This is incredibly common in formal writing for news articles or blog post. Here's a backing-in example: "Although the airline industry's attention right now is riveted upon simplifying fares and increasing profits, some executives are calling for more attention on safety standards." People don't talk this way, and you shouldn't write this way, either. Put the actor first: "Some airline executives are calling for more attention on safety standards, despite industry focus on simplifying fares and increasing profits."
Imagine two kids got into a fight on the playground. One of them ran up to you crying, and you ask what happened. Does he say, "During an altercation on the playground today, ..." or does he say "Billy hit me!"
Don't back in: get to the action immediately.
- Avoid extremely, totally, completely, entirely, really, etc. And their counterparts quite, rather, slightly, fairly, somewhat. Find the right single word -- for example, "gigantic" instead of "really big," or "tepid" instead of "somewhat warm."
- Use bullet lists, tables, and graphics to break up text when suitable. Similar to varying sentence length, varying presentation keeps the reader engaged.
- Build interest and suspense: don't say everything. At least, don't say it right now.
- Allusion makes the work bigger than itself since it salutes the world outside the work, knowledge shared between writer and reader but not from the work itself.
- Show, don't tell. "The worst description I ever read was by a best-selling novelist who sized up World War II this way: 'The war was just terrible.' Well... yes." "Good description is fast, spare, specific, and showing. Weak description is is slow, wordy, vague, abstract, and telling."
- "Irony is essentially an incongruity between word and meaning, between appearance and reality, or between action and consequence. Almost any definition of irony short-changes it, however. Irony is a detached, subtle, oblique product of intellect."
- A "zeugma" is a phrase like: "She tossed back her hair, her cloak, and a jigger of whiskey."
- Write Fast, Edit Slow
- "Those who love the arts can put up with a lot, apparently, but the thing even the most charitable audience cannot tolerate is boredom. We finally cannot forgive slow. That's because fast is interesting and slow is dull."
- Write fast by doing plenty of prep (assembling your main points, an outline, organizing notes) so that you can burn through the first draft without stopping. Don't check spelling, grammar, wording, stop to check facts or take a tangent to research something, or anything that interrupts your momentum. Just *write*. The rest can be done during editing.
- Writing flaws become speedbumps that impair fast (and therefore interesting) reading. Mistakes, ill-formed arguments, odd word choices, packing too much into sentences, and excessive parenthetical material all impede the reader's flow.
- "Nothing gets in the way of getting to the point like not *having* a point."
- "Writing is so much a product of thinking that you cannot separate the two, and shoddy thought necessarily results in shoddy writing."
- Overusing literary devices can come across as an affectation. For example, starting sentences with connecting words like "yet," "still," "but," or "indeed." This factor largely put me off of this otherwise potentially interesting book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27...
A grab bag of my favorite points:
- Clarity is everything. Almost every aspect of good writing is built on the foundation of conveying your point clearly.
- Sentences should be less than 20 words. Vary sentence length within a paragraph.
- Sentences should be "quick, silken, and natural" such that it is understandable on a first reading. If the reader is inclined to go back to re-read the sentence in order to puzzle out its meaning, the writer has failed.
- Writing should be direct and forceful. One reason writers like to soften their message is if they aren't certain they're right. But being right is also part of the writer's job. If you find yourself wanting to pad your sentences with softening phrases, maybe what you really need to do is re-check your facts or your argument's logic.
- A great bit I'll quote in full: "Diamond Jim became known -- and named -- for his tasteless display of jewelery. When asked why he was so bedecked with gems, he is said to have responded: 'Them as has 'em wears 'em.' The newly rich Brady didn't understand the fallacy of ostentatious display (excess is vulgar) or the paradox of good taste (less is more). Good taste shows restraint and simplicity: Them as has 'em wears just one or two -- but the *right* one or two. The rest stay in the safe for another occasion."
- "Mimicry is the antithesis of freshness and originality in all craft and art."
- Don't "back into" an opening sentence with a long subordinate clause. This is incredibly common in formal writing for news articles or blog post. Here's a backing-in example: "Although the airline industry's attention right now is riveted upon simplifying fares and increasing profits, some executives are calling for more attention on safety standards." People don't talk this way, and you shouldn't write this way, either. Put the actor first: "Some airline executives are calling for more attention on safety standards, despite industry focus on simplifying fares and increasing profits."
Imagine two kids got into a fight on the playground. One of them ran up to you crying, and you ask what happened. Does he say, "During an altercation on the playground today, ..." or does he say "Billy hit me!"
Don't back in: get to the action immediately.
- Avoid extremely, totally, completely, entirely, really, etc. And their counterparts quite, rather, slightly, fairly, somewhat. Find the right single word -- for example, "gigantic" instead of "really big," or "tepid" instead of "somewhat warm."
- Use bullet lists, tables, and graphics to break up text when suitable. Similar to varying sentence length, varying presentation keeps the reader engaged.
- Build interest and suspense: don't say everything. At least, don't say it right now.
- Allusion makes the work bigger than itself since it salutes the world outside the work, knowledge shared between writer and reader but not from the work itself.
- Show, don't tell. "The worst description I ever read was by a best-selling novelist who sized up World War II this way: 'The war was just terrible.' Well... yes." "Good description is fast, spare, specific, and showing. Weak description is is slow, wordy, vague, abstract, and telling."
- "Irony is essentially an incongruity between word and meaning, between appearance and reality, or between action and consequence. Almost any definition of irony short-changes it, however. Irony is a detached, subtle, oblique product of intellect."
- A "zeugma" is a phrase like: "She tossed back her hair, her cloak, and a jigger of whiskey."
- Write Fast, Edit Slow
- "Those who love the arts can put up with a lot, apparently, but the thing even the most charitable audience cannot tolerate is boredom. We finally cannot forgive slow. That's because fast is interesting and slow is dull."
- Write fast by doing plenty of prep (assembling your main points, an outline, organizing notes) so that you can burn through the first draft without stopping. Don't check spelling, grammar, wording, stop to check facts or take a tangent to research something, or anything that interrupts your momentum. Just *write*. The rest can be done during editing.
- Writing flaws become speedbumps that impair fast (and therefore interesting) reading. Mistakes, ill-formed arguments, odd word choices, packing too much into sentences, and excessive parenthetical material all impede the reader's flow.
- "Nothing gets in the way of getting to the point like not *having* a point."
- "Writing is so much a product of thinking that you cannot separate the two, and shoddy thought necessarily results in shoddy writing."
- Overusing literary devices can come across as an affectation. For example, starting sentences with connecting words like "yet," "still," "but," or "indeed." This factor largely put me off of this otherwise potentially interesting book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27...
November 6, 2019
Paula LaRoque is a brilliant lady. Her insight and skills and guidance on writing well have helped me a lot! While some of her advice was unhelpful to me at times, it didn’t take away from the purpose of the book. Mrs. LaRoque, you are a lifesaver.
*rated 4 stars for some inappropriate sentences used as examples, and for times the guidance wasn’t very helpful/useful
*rated 4 stars for some inappropriate sentences used as examples, and for times the guidance wasn’t very helpful/useful
August 27, 2013
This book has a lot of useful writing suggestions. Is it the ultimate book? No, that's more of a marketing thing. But I will say it inspired me to write more and with greater quality. I think everyone should take pride in their daily lives; knowing how to convey verbal information clearly is important. It's pretty easy to see how writing well is useful.
The last few chapters on grammar were a little dry, true. However, all the other chapters were lively and engaging. The advice given was accompanied by examples, providing the reader with plenty of opportunities to make the ideas stick. Educational, inspirational, and well written.
The last few chapters on grammar were a little dry, true. However, all the other chapters were lively and engaging. The advice given was accompanied by examples, providing the reader with plenty of opportunities to make the ideas stick. Educational, inspirational, and well written.
April 28, 2022
I absolutely love this book. It taught me so many things that school failed to! It is clear, concise and written in simple language we can all understand. Each lesson is just a few pages long, making it easy to digest. The book was a delight to work though, and I suspect I will continue to dip into it for the rest of my days. Thank you Paula!
June 22, 2020
Instagram Review: www.instagram.com/p/B7195L5AFKh/
This book is, close as I can pin, a book for contemporary popular fiction and nonfiction writers. I struggled a bit with the organization of this book. I disagreed at times, however, with chapters that still yielded up some wonderful nuggets of advice.
For example, I am not a fan of the advice to always replace large words with small words. I suggest taking this advice only if you're using a big word because it's big. If you're using a word because it is the best word for the job, and it also happens to be big, why would you replace it with any word? Unless you don't want to fight with your editor.
LaRocque included an entire chapter entitled, "Change Long and Difficult Words to Short and Simple Words." But even within this chapter, which you might expect me to have skipped (I didn't, and not because I anyone asked me to review the book, but because I thought I might learn something), I found this excellent paragraph:
I ended up combining this with a dozen random prompts and turning it into a writing exercise. It can turn into quite beautiful work. So even though on the surface it might have seemed this section held no value for me, it turned out to. This whole book can surprise the reader in that way.
For one last example of this book's usefulness, indie writers getting their manuscripts ready for publication and others getting ready to send manuscripts out to market would all benefit greatly from the section marked, "Pace." That's Chapter 20: "Write Fast, Edit Slow," Chapter 21: "Speedbumps," and Chapter 22: "Logic and Speedy Reading."
All said, an almost perfect writing text. Definitely worth purchasing at a good used price, getting as an eBook, or borrowing from your library. Take care writers and creatives!
This book is, close as I can pin, a book for contemporary popular fiction and nonfiction writers. I struggled a bit with the organization of this book. I disagreed at times, however, with chapters that still yielded up some wonderful nuggets of advice.
For example, I am not a fan of the advice to always replace large words with small words. I suggest taking this advice only if you're using a big word because it's big. If you're using a word because it is the best word for the job, and it also happens to be big, why would you replace it with any word? Unless you don't want to fight with your editor.
LaRocque included an entire chapter entitled, "Change Long and Difficult Words to Short and Simple Words." But even within this chapter, which you might expect me to have skipped (I didn't, and not because I anyone asked me to review the book, but because I thought I might learn something), I found this excellent paragraph:
I added single-syllable writing exercises [in which writers write one page to a prompt of only one-syllable words] to my bag of workshop tasks....I have never read bad one-syllable writing. The weakest is good; the best is excellent, even fine. p.27
I ended up combining this with a dozen random prompts and turning it into a writing exercise. It can turn into quite beautiful work. So even though on the surface it might have seemed this section held no value for me, it turned out to. This whole book can surprise the reader in that way.
For one last example of this book's usefulness, indie writers getting their manuscripts ready for publication and others getting ready to send manuscripts out to market would all benefit greatly from the section marked, "Pace." That's Chapter 20: "Write Fast, Edit Slow," Chapter 21: "Speedbumps," and Chapter 22: "Logic and Speedy Reading."
All said, an almost perfect writing text. Definitely worth purchasing at a good used price, getting as an eBook, or borrowing from your library. Take care writers and creatives!
February 25, 2011
I've read Paula's book several times now. There is not much to it, just 12 guidelines to writing well and lots of examples. I love some of Paula's legal or political examples of bad writing. I really wish we could hire about 10,000 Paula LoRocque's to start going through our ridiculously wordy, incomprehensibly obtuse legal system and translating our laws into clear, understandable English. The Constitution and its amendments meet that standard, but I've seen precious few other examples. LaRocque's genius is that each chapter is small and easy, so that she can explain one rule fully and show a lot of "before and after" examples. A few of her rules: avoid jargon, keep sentences short, and cut wordiness. Once again, see our legal system for a primer on how to do the opposite. This was a key book for me in college and when I began my professional writing career.
Once you've read this book, a simple review of the table of contents is enough to refresh the ideas in your memory. Paula also adds 10 principles of telling stories and three chapters on English mechanics. I did not find these quite as helpful, but they are still well-written and may be helpful for some readers.
Once you've read this book, a simple review of the table of contents is enough to refresh the ideas in your memory. Paula also adds 10 principles of telling stories and three chapters on English mechanics. I did not find these quite as helpful, but they are still well-written and may be helpful for some readers.
November 28, 2019
This is a wonderful book. It is an enjoyable book.
This is also a difficult review to write because I am trying to imbibe and implement many of the lessons that she has given us in this book!
Its also an enjoyable book because of Paula's own writing style, which is straight and direct. There are no hidden tunnels that you need to find your way through, to get to the message.
She lays out the principles and then gives examples of both, good and bad, writing. This makes the book easy to read and follow.
The book is written so well that I could not really put it down. It is like a thriller that you must keep reading and reading, where you savour the words till the end.
It is a remarkable book and one that will help anyone who wants to be a better writer.
This is also a difficult review to write because I am trying to imbibe and implement many of the lessons that she has given us in this book!
Its also an enjoyable book because of Paula's own writing style, which is straight and direct. There are no hidden tunnels that you need to find your way through, to get to the message.
She lays out the principles and then gives examples of both, good and bad, writing. This makes the book easy to read and follow.
The book is written so well that I could not really put it down. It is like a thriller that you must keep reading and reading, where you savour the words till the end.
It is a remarkable book and one that will help anyone who wants to be a better writer.
December 31, 2016
This piece of nonfiction inspired me to rethink the writing of my essays and emails, let alone my fiction. All in all a solid piece that I will continue to reference as I compose any sort of work. This is good to have on hand for any fiction or academic writer looking to delve further than what English class teaches you about the actual craft of writing.
December 31, 2019
An interesting but pretty academic look at grammar. I had some instruction on the use of subjective and objective pronouns from my extremely clever friend and ex-colleague, which made me realise that I was a little bit fuzzy on some of the rules. In my defence, she's a linguist and deals with grammar every day.
It also explains why Grammarly keeps telling me off for my use of the Oxford comma in their weekly roundup emails. Which is not incorrect, and is impacting my accuracy score. It's written from an American perspective so there are differences in how they handle some things (Oxford comma aside), such as the use of singular and plurals (words like 'faculty' or 'jury' being considered singular in US English, and I'd consider plural).
Interesting, and will keep it as a reference. Probably not light or casual reading for most people, if you're not specifically interested in writing though.
It also explains why Grammarly keeps telling me off for my use of the Oxford comma in their weekly roundup emails. Which is not incorrect, and is impacting my accuracy score. It's written from an American perspective so there are differences in how they handle some things (Oxford comma aside), such as the use of singular and plurals (words like 'faculty' or 'jury' being considered singular in US English, and I'd consider plural).
Interesting, and will keep it as a reference. Probably not light or casual reading for most people, if you're not specifically interested in writing though.
October 26, 2022
I tend to read writing craft books slowly to let what I've learned sink in. Can't say enough about this wonderful book! I've been writing only a few years, but it's easy to pick up bad habits along the way. And, as a newbie, it's hard to know what's good advice and what will work for me. Ms LaRocque's work has brought back a lot of freedom and even joy in the art of writing. Probably my favorite sentence in the whole book is a chapter title--Get Right to the Point. And Stay There. I recommend this book to all writers, no matter what stage in your journey.
February 4, 2018
A much recommended book on Amazon. The first part of the book is quite basic. Use simple words, vary the length of sentences and the like. The momentum picks up in the 2nd part where there is some insightful advice on building character, building tension, and the perennial: showing vs. telling. There is nothing new about the advice but the examples bring it to life. I enjoyed the Part 3 -> handbook on correct use of the language – there were plenty of surprises there.
December 25, 2020
Yes, go ahead reading this book!
Why? Because it has a holistic point of view. Both technical and theoretical aspects of writing are explained. It's also easy to read, well written for our comfort. Within 2 days, I read it, took notes and didn't skip anything.
LaRocque filled an empty space in "How to Write" Manuals.
I found it similar to Zinsser's on Writing Well, a bit richer and covering more material.
Why? Because it has a holistic point of view. Both technical and theoretical aspects of writing are explained. It's also easy to read, well written for our comfort. Within 2 days, I read it, took notes and didn't skip anything.
LaRocque filled an empty space in "How to Write" Manuals.
I found it similar to Zinsser's on Writing Well, a bit richer and covering more material.
June 24, 2023
This is an engaging book. The author takes understanding writing to a whole new level. From making one’s writing more readable. To making storytelling more engaging. And everything in between.
I wish this book had been taught at my school.
The author takes writing past the superfluous, often heralded in school, into the real world. There is so much that could be learned from this book. I need to read it often.
I wish this book had been taught at my school.
The author takes writing past the superfluous, often heralded in school, into the real world. There is so much that could be learned from this book. I need to read it often.
January 30, 2021
Great book about cutting the fluff, avoiding jargon, and omitting needless words. Fave quote -- "How does "he left his car and ran" become "the perpetrator exited his vehicle and fled on foot"? How does a banana become an "elongated yellow fruit"?
July 16, 2024
Learned new things on ‘pace’, and some of the technical advice actually good. It ended with a fizzle with ‘Style Guide’ and I enjoyed the Clark book a little more hence the 3. But would not not recommend.
April 9, 2019
Writing well is an asset that shouldn’t be overlooked. Reading material is dry but beneficial.
September 9, 2019
Good book. It had a lot of interesting tips.
October 9, 2022
Darn TOOTIN of a writing book
March 19, 2024
simple and helpful. a good book to keep on hand during your writing.
June 5, 2025
Very good! Straightforward and useful writing advice.
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March 18, 2017i like this
December 6, 2020
LaRocque's book tickled me throughout. When I read it, I had just finished graduate school in journalism in 2001, and it has held a place on my quick-reference bookshelf ever since.
Among other gems: She's a journalist who advocates for the serial comma. On seeing that, I made a joyful noise and knew that she had captured my heart forever. Long live LaRocque!
Among other gems: She's a journalist who advocates for the serial comma. On seeing that, I made a joyful noise and knew that she had captured my heart forever. Long live LaRocque!
August 28, 2011
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book, and I only wish I had read it before starting college – it would have made things go much more smoothly, I’m sure!
Part 1: A Dozen Guidelines to Good Writing
I learned so much from just the first twelve chapters that I stopped reading for a while and started going through my blog posts to see where I could make them more readable and concise. My favorite passage in this section comes from chapter 2, which is entitled “Avoid Pretensions, Gobbledygook, and Euphemisms.”
"The fact is that there isn’t anything very intelligent about pretentious and abstract writing. To the contrary, one hallmark of intellect is the ability to simplify, to make the complex easy to understand. Anyone can be unclear."
Part 2: Storytelling
The middle chapters in this book concern themselves with the deeper issues of what makes up a compelling story. LaRocque gives clear, helpful explanations of archetypes and major story types, as well as discussing how to create word pictures using a variety of tools, including metaphors, similes and irony.
I was especially interested in her advice on writing versus editing, since I often fall into the trap of jumping into a blog post without much planning and then editing as I go instead of getting everything out on paper first. How much easier would it be following this advice:
"Before laying hand to keyboard, you write a sentence that captures the essence of the whole piece of section or chapter….Then you make a brief, informal outline that includes beginning, middle, and end….
Sit down and write like mad, allowing no distraction, answering no phone, checking no fact…. Stifle the impulse to edit as you write. You’ll lose momentum if you do."
She also recommends reading your work aloud when you are ready to edit, as this makes it easier to find the bumpy parts that need a bit of polishing.
Part 3: Language and Writing Mechanics
As someone who has always enjoyed the details of grammar and punctuation, I had a lot of fun reading these last few chapters of the book. And I even learned a number of things that I either didn’t know or had wondered about.
I greatly appreciate LaRocque dispelling some common myths, specifically those about not splitting an infinitive or a verb phrase and not ending a sentence with a preposition. She also answered some questions I had about the use of the serial comma, which has been quite helpful already!
Whether you write for publication or for pleasure, I would highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to improve their writing style.
Part 1: A Dozen Guidelines to Good Writing
I learned so much from just the first twelve chapters that I stopped reading for a while and started going through my blog posts to see where I could make them more readable and concise. My favorite passage in this section comes from chapter 2, which is entitled “Avoid Pretensions, Gobbledygook, and Euphemisms.”
"The fact is that there isn’t anything very intelligent about pretentious and abstract writing. To the contrary, one hallmark of intellect is the ability to simplify, to make the complex easy to understand. Anyone can be unclear."
Part 2: Storytelling
The middle chapters in this book concern themselves with the deeper issues of what makes up a compelling story. LaRocque gives clear, helpful explanations of archetypes and major story types, as well as discussing how to create word pictures using a variety of tools, including metaphors, similes and irony.
I was especially interested in her advice on writing versus editing, since I often fall into the trap of jumping into a blog post without much planning and then editing as I go instead of getting everything out on paper first. How much easier would it be following this advice:
"Before laying hand to keyboard, you write a sentence that captures the essence of the whole piece of section or chapter….Then you make a brief, informal outline that includes beginning, middle, and end….
Sit down and write like mad, allowing no distraction, answering no phone, checking no fact…. Stifle the impulse to edit as you write. You’ll lose momentum if you do."
She also recommends reading your work aloud when you are ready to edit, as this makes it easier to find the bumpy parts that need a bit of polishing.
Part 3: Language and Writing Mechanics
As someone who has always enjoyed the details of grammar and punctuation, I had a lot of fun reading these last few chapters of the book. And I even learned a number of things that I either didn’t know or had wondered about.
I greatly appreciate LaRocque dispelling some common myths, specifically those about not splitting an infinitive or a verb phrase and not ending a sentence with a preposition. She also answered some questions I had about the use of the serial comma, which has been quite helpful already!
Whether you write for publication or for pleasure, I would highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to improve their writing style.
August 31, 2016
Move over Elements of Style, because Paula LaRocque has your number. This is as useful, and in some ways more so, than that classic. This may in fact be the book on writing. Its first 100 pages are as clear and concise a review of essential writing mechanics as I've ever read -- and such a good reminder that they belong on the "read every year" list for anyone wanting to keep their writing sharp. The second hundred pages tie together in their own succinct and lively way an array of insights into good storytelling that make much longer books on the subject seem windy and now superfluous. The last 30 pages comprise a quick style handbook that, besides other uses, puts to rest a set of all-too-common pedantic obsessions (e.g., split infinitives, serial commas, and starting sentences with "and" or "but" are all okay, really). My one problem with the book is that the three sections are distinct enough that having them in one book seems to try to do too many things -- but as they're all good things, and done so well, the complaint is reaching.
August 14, 2013
The first section on writing mechanics contains essential advice for every writer. Much of its content overlaps with the book "Writing Tools." I'm not writing fiction, and so I only skimmed the second section on storytelling devices. The third section, enigmatically titled "A Handbook," tackles myths, relics, and vestiges of writing like never splitting infinitives or ending a sentence with a preposition. This was welcome, as Elements of Style dispenses some antiquated advice. But it felt out of place, and could have been reduced and put in an appendix.
January 30, 2012
Being the first book of its kind I've ever read, I guess I don't have much to compare it with. But nonetheless, it seems like the author really knows what she's talking about. Just reading the book will not make you a good writer, of course, but she does give some valuable tips and guidelines about writing in general. I would've liked if she wrote a little more about how to write fiction, but that's just me:)
July 6, 2012
This was a very motivating and thought provoking book. It gave me an interesting perspective on myself and my ability to create and write. I took my time and really thought about the message of resistance. I now know the enemy and what I must do to overcome it so that I can be more productive. I am very touched by the last chapter in the book. Create what you are meant to create don't let others and yourself lose out on what you were meant to do. I highly recommend this book.
January 1, 2016
I really like The Book on Writing. It's very informative and thorough - covering topics of relevance both to fiction and non-fiction writers - yet manages to make enjoyable what otherwise might have been a dry read.
The book's two main parts focus on writing mechanics and storytelling devices. They are both quite helpful and the excerpts used by the author to illustrate her points generally excellent.
The book's two main parts focus on writing mechanics and storytelling devices. They are both quite helpful and the excerpts used by the author to illustrate her points generally excellent.
September 11, 2016
I never finished this book, but I guess that's okay. I read enough...
This book has good advice, but maybe a little too detailed and boring for me. It seems like a lot of things are repeated, and the chapters kind of seem like they are in the wrong order.
There's good advice, but there's also lengthy discussions about other's writing, and it drags on and on, with very little solid advice.
This book has good advice, but maybe a little too detailed and boring for me. It seems like a lot of things are repeated, and the chapters kind of seem like they are in the wrong order.
There's good advice, but there's also lengthy discussions about other's writing, and it drags on and on, with very little solid advice.
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