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Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences
36 ways to improve your writing
Two writers show you how to turn a worthy sentence into a memorable one. Starting where The Elements of Style leaves off, Good Writing can improve your book, your essay, your memo, your blog post, speech, or script. These essential rules for persuasive language work on any type of writing, and anyone can learn them quickly.
Each rule is accompanied by examples and a lively pair of essays, the first by Neal Allen, who developed the list of tips over the course of his journalism and corporate careers; the second by his wife, Anne Lamott, acclaimed author of Bird by Bird and nineteen other nonfiction works and novels. The authors don’t always agree on the specifics, but they are passionate about making better sentences.
As Neal writes, “These rules economize, favor the plainspoken and the specific, keep the reader’s attention sharp, and in other ways show respect for the audience’s time and desire for novelty.”
Some rules are Use strong verbs. Remove the boring stuff. Twist clichés. Some are more Draw on all five senses. Give your sentence a finale. Along the way, Good Writing addresses practicalities such as finishing projects despite challenges, trusting editors, and knowing when to break the rules to serve your story.
Whether you're a novice writer or a seasoned author, this entertaining guide will revolutionize your approach to crafting sentences.
Two writers show you how to turn a worthy sentence into a memorable one. Starting where The Elements of Style leaves off, Good Writing can improve your book, your essay, your memo, your blog post, speech, or script. These essential rules for persuasive language work on any type of writing, and anyone can learn them quickly.
Each rule is accompanied by examples and a lively pair of essays, the first by Neal Allen, who developed the list of tips over the course of his journalism and corporate careers; the second by his wife, Anne Lamott, acclaimed author of Bird by Bird and nineteen other nonfiction works and novels. The authors don’t always agree on the specifics, but they are passionate about making better sentences.
As Neal writes, “These rules economize, favor the plainspoken and the specific, keep the reader’s attention sharp, and in other ways show respect for the audience’s time and desire for novelty.”
Some rules are Use strong verbs. Remove the boring stuff. Twist clichés. Some are more Draw on all five senses. Give your sentence a finale. Along the way, Good Writing addresses practicalities such as finishing projects despite challenges, trusting editors, and knowing when to break the rules to serve your story.
Whether you're a novice writer or a seasoned author, this entertaining guide will revolutionize your approach to crafting sentences.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
May 22, 2026
Great advice - and while I knew a lot of this, we all need reminders!
I loved the style - and how they played off of each other's nature/habits and way of communicating the dos/don'ts. Allen's style was very professor-like, while Lamott's was chatty, funny and drove home the points. The humor was classic Lamotte, like in the beginning, she said something like, "Okay, we all know Neal is over-educated."
Several times I laughed out loud at her wit. Great craft book! Highly recommend.
I loved the style - and how they played off of each other's nature/habits and way of communicating the dos/don'ts. Allen's style was very professor-like, while Lamott's was chatty, funny and drove home the points. The humor was classic Lamotte, like in the beginning, she said something like, "Okay, we all know Neal is over-educated."
Several times I laughed out loud at her wit. Great craft book! Highly recommend.
April 6, 2026
I was very hesitant about reading this book. How dare a person co-write a book with my beloved Anne Lamott? Even if he is her current husband?
It worked. The format is perfect. Neal offers his thirty-six rules for improving your sentences, and Anne comments.
Note: In my (very humble) opinion, these rules are generally best for revision.
It worked. The format is perfect. Neal offers his thirty-six rules for improving your sentences, and Anne comments.
Note: In my (very humble) opinion, these rules are generally best for revision.
March 29, 2026
Lots of helpful tips presented with humor.
My one objection would be Lamott's gripe with the word petrichor. She came upon it in a book, didn't know what it meant, felt dumb because she had to look it up, and then didn't want to continue reading. I get that no one enjoys pulling out a dictionary every other paragraph because an author felt the need to show off his or her fancy vocabulary. But learning a new word is generally a good thing. Plus, petrichor is actually a common term in the Southwest. It describes the distinct, earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. If you are not familiar with it, I highly suggest seeking it out. It's one of the best smells in the world.
My one objection would be Lamott's gripe with the word petrichor. She came upon it in a book, didn't know what it meant, felt dumb because she had to look it up, and then didn't want to continue reading. I get that no one enjoys pulling out a dictionary every other paragraph because an author felt the need to show off his or her fancy vocabulary. But learning a new word is generally a good thing. Plus, petrichor is actually a common term in the Southwest. It describes the distinct, earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. If you are not familiar with it, I highly suggest seeking it out. It's one of the best smells in the world.
March 6, 2026
I received an ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway — thank you to the authors and publisher! I’m a Communications professor who also teaches writing courses, which probably makes me an ideal audience for this book.
While it didn’t feel groundbreaking, the book is accessible and full of practical advice that anyone can apply to write more engaging sentences. I especially enjoyed the banter-like format between the authors.
My one note to future readers: since the book isn’t very long, I’d normally read it in one sitting. However, this one is a bit wordy and list-heavy to fully enjoy that way. Just know you will probably get more out of it if you plan to pick it up over a few weeks rather than all at once. I found it worked better to read a couple rules a day over a longer period of time rather than trying to power through it.
If you take even a couple of valuable insights from it, you’ll be better off after reading, and that’s why I read in the first place! 4/5 stars ✍🏼
While it didn’t feel groundbreaking, the book is accessible and full of practical advice that anyone can apply to write more engaging sentences. I especially enjoyed the banter-like format between the authors.
My one note to future readers: since the book isn’t very long, I’d normally read it in one sitting. However, this one is a bit wordy and list-heavy to fully enjoy that way. Just know you will probably get more out of it if you plan to pick it up over a few weeks rather than all at once. I found it worked better to read a couple rules a day over a longer period of time rather than trying to power through it.
If you take even a couple of valuable insights from it, you’ll be better off after reading, and that’s why I read in the first place! 4/5 stars ✍🏼
March 29, 2026
Decent book on "editing", not necessarily writing. I like the 36 rules. I plan to use them during the editing process.
I listened to the audiobook version read by the two authors. Unfortunately I did not enjoy their narration. I'm sure they are lovely people, but the prose and narration combined caused me to pass unfair negative judgment on the couple.
People considering this book... Just find the 36 rules and save yourself the in depth explanation. A motivational poster version of this book will have a similar impact.
I listened to the audiobook version read by the two authors. Unfortunately I did not enjoy their narration. I'm sure they are lovely people, but the prose and narration combined caused me to pass unfair negative judgment on the couple.
People considering this book... Just find the 36 rules and save yourself the in depth explanation. A motivational poster version of this book will have a similar impact.
April 16, 2026
My mom bought me (and herself) a copy of this book because we’re both Lamott-writing-advice-heads and we’re going to have a miniature book club zoom call next week. You can say it! That’s cute!! Tl;dr: Anne simply does not disappoint. Loved the (sometimes extremely contradictory!) back and forth between the two authors (who are also married to each other) — there’s no one right way to write, and their dual perspectives help illuminate that. Overall, a good set of rules — some phrasing I’ll for sure be using in my “how to write an academic essay” class — and I would say about 20-25 of these rules are very useful and the rest are… fine. Some moments of eye-rolling ego but not too many, which is all you can really hope for when a writer (let alone two writers!) steps up to the podium to speak at length about their craft. All in all, a good starting text for those looking for writing guidance: extremely accessible, generally informative and kind, and, in some moments, also deeply funny (or, at least, quirky).
April 1, 2026
As soon as I saw Anne Lamott released a new book on writing, I raced to Barnes & Noble to buy it — and was ecstatic to snatch one of the first copies they unpacked!
This writing guide is different from Lamott’s acclaimed “Bird by Bird,” one of my favorite books that I often revisit ever since its publication 30+ years ago. In this most recent book, she collaborates with her husband Neal Allen, a writer himself. Quite simply, it is hysterical! Probably not the learned accolade they hoped to receive, but funny nonetheless — and largely (if not entirely) thanks to Anne’s contributions.
The book includes 36 writing tips developed by Neal, from his tenure as a newspaper journalist. Each brief chapter is devoted to a single tip, followed by Anne’s take on her husband’s advice. Ironically, the man providing the writing tips is not the most engaging writer. Leave it to Anne to bring the humor — and bring it she does.
Regarding Rule 6 in which Neal goes to great lengths to distinguish between Anglo-Saxon and Latinate words, Anne’s take on his rule begins, “I dropped out of college at nineteen to be a writer and since then I’ve gotten old and funny. As a result of those two developments, I had to look up the difference between Anglo-Saxon and Latinate words.” Mic drop. It’s precisely that kind of unflinching honesty that draws me to her work.
Later in Rule 34, on the heels of Neal’s loquacious diatribe on when and when not to break the rules, Anne begins her commentary, “The first rule of fight club, I mean writing club, is you don’t talk to yourself about the rules of writing. Just write and write and write.”
This book is a fantastic resource, but I confess I often found myself rushing through Neal’s tip in great anticipation of reading Anne’s irreverent — and quite frankly, much more insightful — commentary on it.
Anne’s writing is so much more fluid and enjoyable, whereas Neal’s can be… ummm… a bit… dare I say… pretentious. His sections often require more than one pass to grasp his point — and sometimes even a consultation with Webster’s to find the meaning of one of his more lofty word choices. (Quite ironic since several of his writing tips emphasize the importance of keeping language conversational and not “showing off.”)
Reading Neal’s sections of the book, he strikes me as the kind of guy who enjoys the sound of his voice monopolizing cocktail party chatter to demonstrate he’s the smartest person in the room. And he may well be. But whereas Neal quotes from the likes of Aristotle, Proust and an obscure 19th century Russian author (to name but a few), Anne opts to reference, for example, E.B. White’s Stuart Little, the classic children’s book about an adventuresome mouse. Enough said?
Pomposity aside, I highly recommend this book for any writer. Anne’s writing is always a joy to read and, despite his arrogance, Neal does share some good tips. If you don’t already own Anne’s “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life,” grab that too while you’re at the bookshop. You won’t be disappointed.
This writing guide is different from Lamott’s acclaimed “Bird by Bird,” one of my favorite books that I often revisit ever since its publication 30+ years ago. In this most recent book, she collaborates with her husband Neal Allen, a writer himself. Quite simply, it is hysterical! Probably not the learned accolade they hoped to receive, but funny nonetheless — and largely (if not entirely) thanks to Anne’s contributions.
The book includes 36 writing tips developed by Neal, from his tenure as a newspaper journalist. Each brief chapter is devoted to a single tip, followed by Anne’s take on her husband’s advice. Ironically, the man providing the writing tips is not the most engaging writer. Leave it to Anne to bring the humor — and bring it she does.
Regarding Rule 6 in which Neal goes to great lengths to distinguish between Anglo-Saxon and Latinate words, Anne’s take on his rule begins, “I dropped out of college at nineteen to be a writer and since then I’ve gotten old and funny. As a result of those two developments, I had to look up the difference between Anglo-Saxon and Latinate words.” Mic drop. It’s precisely that kind of unflinching honesty that draws me to her work.
Later in Rule 34, on the heels of Neal’s loquacious diatribe on when and when not to break the rules, Anne begins her commentary, “The first rule of fight club, I mean writing club, is you don’t talk to yourself about the rules of writing. Just write and write and write.”
This book is a fantastic resource, but I confess I often found myself rushing through Neal’s tip in great anticipation of reading Anne’s irreverent — and quite frankly, much more insightful — commentary on it.
Anne’s writing is so much more fluid and enjoyable, whereas Neal’s can be… ummm… a bit… dare I say… pretentious. His sections often require more than one pass to grasp his point — and sometimes even a consultation with Webster’s to find the meaning of one of his more lofty word choices. (Quite ironic since several of his writing tips emphasize the importance of keeping language conversational and not “showing off.”)
Reading Neal’s sections of the book, he strikes me as the kind of guy who enjoys the sound of his voice monopolizing cocktail party chatter to demonstrate he’s the smartest person in the room. And he may well be. But whereas Neal quotes from the likes of Aristotle, Proust and an obscure 19th century Russian author (to name but a few), Anne opts to reference, for example, E.B. White’s Stuart Little, the classic children’s book about an adventuresome mouse. Enough said?
Pomposity aside, I highly recommend this book for any writer. Anne’s writing is always a joy to read and, despite his arrogance, Neal does share some good tips. If you don’t already own Anne’s “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life,” grab that too while you’re at the bookshop. You won’t be disappointed.
April 10, 2026
An excellent short book on writing. I wish I’d had these rules when I started writing my first novel. They are simple and helpful.
In the last decade, I’ve written 17 novels and have come upon most of these rules the hard way—by trial and error, from coaches, and from having a good editor.
It’s nice to have them organized into a list with examples. Neil’s take, followed by Anne’s was a brilliant way to explain each rule. The banter between them was snarky at times which made me feel like I was getting a glimpse into the family dynamics!
In the last decade, I’ve written 17 novels and have come upon most of these rules the hard way—by trial and error, from coaches, and from having a good editor.
It’s nice to have them organized into a list with examples. Neil’s take, followed by Anne’s was a brilliant way to explain each rule. The banter between them was snarky at times which made me feel like I was getting a glimpse into the family dynamics!
April 22, 2026
Some interesting and helpful reminders for writers. Neal offers the "ways" and Anne offers her commentary. Not as clever as I had hoped. And too much space is consumed constantly reminding us that these are just suggestions and they can be ignored as needed.
April 17, 2026
A true 5/5 for me. This got me so excited for sentences and editing. I can’t wait to see where my writing goes in my second drafts after taking the 36 rules with me. Both Neal and Anne are deft writers and each bring their own expertise to the book. Highly recommend for writers. It got me very excited to write.
March 21, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed this back and forth between two smart and funny authors who just happen to be late in life partners. Heard Anne Lamott (whose books I gobble up) on the radio and went right to Shermans and got my name on a list for when it went on sale. Read it tonight-- about a three hour read beginning to end-- gobbled it! I did write all over it-- writing my own "dental draft" now-- and my own my own "in house" editor is helping; now I am going go sharpen my verbs and metaphors, delete unnecessary words and believe in it enough to find an agent.
May 9, 2026
Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” is one of my favorite books on writing of all time, so obviously I had to pick up this book on writing by Lamott and her husband Neal Allen. Unlike “Bird by Bird,” which is aptly subtitled “some instructions on writing and life,” “Good writing” is not very much about life but is very much about writing.
Well, it’s more of an editing book than a writing one, really. While there are some suggestions on getting words on the page (and I enjoyed Lamott’s assessment that writing is “80 percent stalling, 10 percent laundry, and 10 percent struggling to capture ideas, experiences, and imagination in words”), Allen’s 36 writing tips are more focused on honing sentences once they are written rather than setting them down to begin with.
And of course, these 36 tips are opinions rather than rules. Use words of Anglo Saxon origin rather than their Latinate counterparts? Why? Allen lays out his reasons well, but that doesn’t mean we have to agree with them. Even the co-authors disagree with each other sometimes. On the acceptability of the world “meantime,” Lamott says, “You decide: Seven hundred years-plus of recorded use, or cranky, wiseacre Neal?”
But they’re good food for thought. I think when it comes to books on craft you can sometimes get as much from the rules you disagree with as the ones you do. To this day, every time I use an adverb I think of Stephen King’s noted hatred of them. Sometimes, I sigh and hit the backspace key. Sometimes I think “Screw you, Stephen,” and keep it in, defiantly.
A short, entertaining, and useful read.
Well, it’s more of an editing book than a writing one, really. While there are some suggestions on getting words on the page (and I enjoyed Lamott’s assessment that writing is “80 percent stalling, 10 percent laundry, and 10 percent struggling to capture ideas, experiences, and imagination in words”), Allen’s 36 writing tips are more focused on honing sentences once they are written rather than setting them down to begin with.
And of course, these 36 tips are opinions rather than rules. Use words of Anglo Saxon origin rather than their Latinate counterparts? Why? Allen lays out his reasons well, but that doesn’t mean we have to agree with them. Even the co-authors disagree with each other sometimes. On the acceptability of the world “meantime,” Lamott says, “You decide: Seven hundred years-plus of recorded use, or cranky, wiseacre Neal?”
But they’re good food for thought. I think when it comes to books on craft you can sometimes get as much from the rules you disagree with as the ones you do. To this day, every time I use an adverb I think of Stephen King’s noted hatred of them. Sometimes, I sigh and hit the backspace key. Sometimes I think “Screw you, Stephen,” and keep it in, defiantly.
A short, entertaining, and useful read.
April 12, 2026
I'm sure it saves money to self-narrate, but not every author has a voice for narration. In this case, Neal Allen, whose enumerates his 36 Rules for Good Writing, has a lecturing tone that I automatically tuned out. But I listened to every word of his wife (the acclaimed novelist and memoirist Anne Lamott) delivering "Anne's Take" on each rule, because her voice was interesting, emotional, and funny (as in: "No one thinks this marriage will last"). If you're reading this for the wisdom of the writing lessons, I advise reading vs listening.
3 stars for the audio edition because I was excited for it to be over; would have been 4.5 stars if Anne had been the sole narrator. Such as, "Rule 1: Neal says this....and now my take."
#mytakeonyourtake
3 stars for the audio edition because I was excited for it to be over; would have been 4.5 stars if Anne had been the sole narrator. Such as, "Rule 1: Neal says this....and now my take."
#mytakeonyourtake
May 22, 2026
A practical and fun guide to improving sentences. I loved the banter between Anne and her husband Neal and their different takes on the 36 rules. I borrowed this book from the library and I’d love to get my own copy to reference while revising.
April 21, 2026
Read for the panel on this book at USC festival of books. Loved the panel. Good writing advice.
May 9, 2026
lovely straightforward advice. i underlined practically everything
March 23, 2026
One of the best books on writing I have read, slim but filled with simple, practical advice.
March 20, 2026
#51 Books Read in 2026
“Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences”
by Neal Allen & Anne Lamott 2026
Audible
Started 3.18 26 - Finished 3.19 .26
(#9 read in March)
Now I must re-read "Bird by Bird".
I was so sad when I was finished.
I'm so thankful I found this great book.
“Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences”
by Neal Allen & Anne Lamott 2026
Audible
Started 3.18 26 - Finished 3.19 .26
(#9 read in March)
Now I must re-read "Bird by Bird".
I was so sad when I was finished.
I'm so thankful I found this great book.
April 10, 2026
This is a book I'll keep on my editorial shelf right next to Bird By Bird, and I'll return to it on the regular. "These rules economize, favor the plainspoken and the specific, keep the reader's attention sharp, and in other ways show respect for the audience's time and desire for novelty." If you're a writer, do your readers a favor and follow the sage advice of Neal & Anne!
May 9, 2026
I’m not a “how-to” or “Self-help” genre guy. I grew up with the axiom, ‘When all else fails, read the instructions.” As this book was recommended to my by a friend, I made an exception. I want to be learned to write good by peeps that do the do.
I will start by saying that this slender smallish volume was an astonishing $38 bucks!!! And its only a couple of hundred pages!!! But then I got to thinking, well, that’s about a buck a rule and for the price of a couple of Starbucks coffees, (which I’m boycotting btw) I could have the wisdom of the ages handed to me on a platter, up my game sentence wise and turn my sow’s ear into pearls of bon mots!
True to the spirit of the book, its short because they have followed their own rules; everything here is short and sweet and to the point. This husband-and-wife team act like almost every happily married couple I know. He lays down the rule with Moses like authority while she makes rabbit ears behind his head.
This is about as painless to read style guide as you’d ever want to get and the rules really are helpful: ‘remove the boring stuff’, ‘use strong verbs’ ‘use the word ‘said’ when writing dialogue because its use is so frequent that its invisible to readers.
I find to my amazement that they work pretty well! It is also comforting to know that they also make the point that rules are meant to be broken. Speaking for me personally this is my ‘Golden Rule’. (I once shocked a business meeting by declaring, if its not broken, break it!)
In total about two thirds of the rules were of great help, some of the later ones seemed like filler to me to get up to the meagre two-hundred-page count, but this is a quibble. Any aspiring scribe could do worse than read this. It sure beats the hell out of sitting through endless lectures on creative writing or plowing through Strunk and White’s epic thriller, “Elements of Style”. It’s brevity might only be beaten by “Coles Notes” (if anyone remembers those) but is certainly more fun.
So maybe if I do the math, I ended up spending more like $1.75 CDN (more like $1.25USD) it was still money well spent. As you can see, my writing is more gooder already!!!
I will start by saying that this slender smallish volume was an astonishing $38 bucks!!! And its only a couple of hundred pages!!! But then I got to thinking, well, that’s about a buck a rule and for the price of a couple of Starbucks coffees, (which I’m boycotting btw) I could have the wisdom of the ages handed to me on a platter, up my game sentence wise and turn my sow’s ear into pearls of bon mots!
True to the spirit of the book, its short because they have followed their own rules; everything here is short and sweet and to the point. This husband-and-wife team act like almost every happily married couple I know. He lays down the rule with Moses like authority while she makes rabbit ears behind his head.
This is about as painless to read style guide as you’d ever want to get and the rules really are helpful: ‘remove the boring stuff’, ‘use strong verbs’ ‘use the word ‘said’ when writing dialogue because its use is so frequent that its invisible to readers.
I find to my amazement that they work pretty well! It is also comforting to know that they also make the point that rules are meant to be broken. Speaking for me personally this is my ‘Golden Rule’. (I once shocked a business meeting by declaring, if its not broken, break it!)
In total about two thirds of the rules were of great help, some of the later ones seemed like filler to me to get up to the meagre two-hundred-page count, but this is a quibble. Any aspiring scribe could do worse than read this. It sure beats the hell out of sitting through endless lectures on creative writing or plowing through Strunk and White’s epic thriller, “Elements of Style”. It’s brevity might only be beaten by “Coles Notes” (if anyone remembers those) but is certainly more fun.
So maybe if I do the math, I ended up spending more like $1.75 CDN (more like $1.25USD) it was still money well spent. As you can see, my writing is more gooder already!!!
April 7, 2026
Every author and editor needs this book at their finger tips, especially those who are embarking on revising their works. This book is based on thirty-six rules of writing that Neil has developed over his many years of journalism and writing. In each chapter, Neil discusses a rule. Anne’s take on Neil’s follows.
I preordered a Kindle version of the book, but before I could read it, I faced a four-hour road trip. I order it on Audible and listened to the book read by Neil and Anne on the drive.
Neil’s presentation is dry and straightforward, while Anne speaks more from her heart about her struggles with the rules. She shares humorous lines at critical points.
None of these rules are new or shocking. Instead of feeling stilted by the number of filter words you are using or your stilted dialogue, it encouraged me to start again and weed out all those items that seem ordinary. This book gives me hope I can take my writing from ordinary to words that drive the reader deeper into the story.
I recommend this book to improve your writing. I have two versions of the book, but the hard copy is in my future; I want to highlight and write all over the pages.
I preordered a Kindle version of the book, but before I could read it, I faced a four-hour road trip. I order it on Audible and listened to the book read by Neil and Anne on the drive.
Neil’s presentation is dry and straightforward, while Anne speaks more from her heart about her struggles with the rules. She shares humorous lines at critical points.
None of these rules are new or shocking. Instead of feeling stilted by the number of filter words you are using or your stilted dialogue, it encouraged me to start again and weed out all those items that seem ordinary. This book gives me hope I can take my writing from ordinary to words that drive the reader deeper into the story.
I recommend this book to improve your writing. I have two versions of the book, but the hard copy is in my future; I want to highlight and write all over the pages.
May 3, 2026
The first 60% of this book was just not very much fun. The last 40% was somehow more exciting. So what changed in the book, or really, what changed in me as a reader. Maybe having given serious thought to just not finishing it, I was a bit more able to just enjoy what the book was and not miss what it wasn't. The writing about the rules for the most part, or for the first part, I guess, was stuff I agreed with, but was often lacking clear examples, presented in an overly complex and detailed way, discussed in a way that didn't seem very fun or entertaining, and didn't ever have me thinking "oh!" or feeling creative or excited or generally inspired or reflective about my own writing. I found more of that experience in the last bit.
I will admit (and I'm not proud) that it made me think of some of the other writers I edit and how I wished they would read this book because it says better than I do some of the frequent mistakes and challenges I an sometimes advising them about. So yeah, reading a book about writing better and all i can think about is other writers who need this advice. Maybe I'll put this egocentrism on display here into a future character of mine.
I will admit (and I'm not proud) that it made me think of some of the other writers I edit and how I wished they would read this book because it says better than I do some of the frequent mistakes and challenges I an sometimes advising them about. So yeah, reading a book about writing better and all i can think about is other writers who need this advice. Maybe I'll put this egocentrism on display here into a future character of mine.
May 18, 2026
Not sure who this book is for, but it sure wasn’t for me. I am astonished it has such a high rating. The couple seems like the ones you get stuck with at a dinner party. The wife thinks she’s being so cute and funny, she isn’t. They both come off as lecturing with an attitude. Their musical taste is the only correct one for example. They say keep it simple write as you would talk today then go on to reference Shakespeare, Aristotle Socrates, Plato and Edgar Allen Poe and on and on and on. Kids prepare to take a class you wish you had dropped before the deadline. They come across are Insufferable snobs and pretentious know it alls, thinking they are being funny and interesting, they are not, they are corny and annoying, but you can’t get away from them and they are oblivious. If you are waiting for an ahh ha moment you are going to be disappointed. Thank goodness for the library you saved me $25! The good news is the book is not long (less than 200) and contrary to what you would think it’s an easy read. Maybe they took their own advice and “dumbed it down” for the reader. My advice just read the last 5 pages which has the “rules’ spelled out and save yourself the time.
April 15, 2026
I came to this book already familiar with Anne Lamott, and that matters. Her voice is recognizable: permissive, human, and grounded in lived experience.
Neal Allen is different. For most of the book, I found his tone abstract, at times distancing. Where Lamott invites, Allen often reframes. That tension didn’t immediately work for me.
And yet, that friction may be the point.
This isn’t a craft book. It offers no system, no structure, no clear path to “better writing.” Instead, it makes a narrower, more demanding claim:
The primary obstacle to good writing is interference.
For those trained to optimize expression in real time—to shape, refine, and position before something is fully formed—this lands. The book quietly insists on a different sequence:
Let something true emerge. Then apply craft.
I resisted parts of it. Especially Allen’s framing. But over time, the message clarified, not as instruction, but as calibration.
This is not a book for learning how to write.
It’s a book for recognizing what gets in the way.
And for the right reader, that’s enough.
April 15, 2026
This writing book, written by Lamott and her husband Neal, seems to be a follow-up to one of my favorite Lamott books, "Bird by Bird." In this one, Neal and Anne focus more specifically on 36 writing tips for improving written work. For each tip, all which are given a chapter, Neal begins and Anne concludes. Anne adds humorous touches, down-to-earth explanations, and nuance to each chapter. She pokes fun at Neal's scholarly voice (Latinate v Anglo-Saxon words? Now that was a new one for me). I enjoyed the structure of this work, and some of the tips surprised me "Stick with said" while many were familiar: use specific, active verbs and strong nouns ("Refresh your words" and "Know your words"). I like that both authors used examples from literature to support but also to contradict their tips (sometimes "very" works). I always enjoy Anne Lamott's books but prefer her spiritual and anecdotal works best, however. (I know, I know. "Question Transitions").
May 14, 2026
Reading Good Writing feels a little like watching a game of mixed doubles for your creative life. Neal Allen plays the classicist: steady, disciplined, occasionally rigid, with a tendency toward the serious. Anne Lamott, by contrast, is pure jazz—improvisational, loose-limbed, and forever encouraging the reader to take risks on the page.
What makes the book so enjoyable is the way the two voices riff off each other. Their banter gives the book its energy and charm. Despite their very different temperaments, they often arrive at the same conclusions; and when they disagree, each makes a persuasive case for their approach.
Beneath the conversational style is a great deal of genuinely useful advice. Good Writing offers practical insights that can sharpen existing skills while encouraging writers to approach their work with greater intention and confidence. It is, above all, an engaging and thoughtful guide to the creative process—one that is easy to recommend.
What makes the book so enjoyable is the way the two voices riff off each other. Their banter gives the book its energy and charm. Despite their very different temperaments, they often arrive at the same conclusions; and when they disagree, each makes a persuasive case for their approach.
Beneath the conversational style is a great deal of genuinely useful advice. Good Writing offers practical insights that can sharpen existing skills while encouraging writers to approach their work with greater intention and confidence. It is, above all, an engaging and thoughtful guide to the creative process—one that is easy to recommend.
May 26, 2026
This book has lots of great advice from the perspective of a former newspaper writer (Neal Allen), and an author of fiction (Anne Lamott, Neal's wife). I really appreciated reading Neal's 36 ways to improve my sentences in his experience, and Anne commenting on the piece of advice in her author's voice leaning more towards fiction. I learned more from the both of them together than if Neal published the book on his own.
Neal's point of view is more objective and highly educated about writing, and these 36 lessons he learned reflects that. I studied grammar writing and editing from a journalistic point of view, and could therefore understand where Neal was coming from. Anne's point of view is way more creative, flowy, and sounds like she's written a lot of fiction. Melodic is another great descriptor of her writing. Seeing both styles of writing side-by-side offer a cool way to use the "36 ways to improve your sentences."
Neal's point of view is more objective and highly educated about writing, and these 36 lessons he learned reflects that. I studied grammar writing and editing from a journalistic point of view, and could therefore understand where Neal was coming from. Anne's point of view is way more creative, flowy, and sounds like she's written a lot of fiction. Melodic is another great descriptor of her writing. Seeing both styles of writing side-by-side offer a cool way to use the "36 ways to improve your sentences."
May 31, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up because Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird is one of my all time favorite books, and I recommend it to every creative person I know, not just writers. I tried SO HARD not to compare this with her masterpiece, but it was a struggle for me.
I will happily acknowledge that there is some solid advice in this book. But even though they reiterate that the “rules” are merely “tips”, it read (to me) a bit like a staunch professor saying ‘this is how things must be (even if I later tell you otherwise.)’ Some of Anne’s banter was funny and/or endearing, but a lot of it made me uncomfy. (Like when your couple friends are insisting they’re NOT fighting, but they’re “making fun” of each other and the jabs are just a bit too close to home.)
Anyway, it was a good book with some solid writing advice, and I’m glad I finished it because the end helped bring it around for me. If you’re a writer (or aspiring to be one), it’s a good read.
I will happily acknowledge that there is some solid advice in this book. But even though they reiterate that the “rules” are merely “tips”, it read (to me) a bit like a staunch professor saying ‘this is how things must be (even if I later tell you otherwise.)’ Some of Anne’s banter was funny and/or endearing, but a lot of it made me uncomfy. (Like when your couple friends are insisting they’re NOT fighting, but they’re “making fun” of each other and the jabs are just a bit too close to home.)
Anyway, it was a good book with some solid writing advice, and I’m glad I finished it because the end helped bring it around for me. If you’re a writer (or aspiring to be one), it’s a good read.
May 8, 2026
The rules are decent ones. Look them up if you care to know them, buying this book is likely a waste of your time, and money. The rules on their own are more useful without the overly wordy, expository self pleasuring within the book. This could have been a pamphlet.
In the first ten pages there are redundancies, incorrect tense uses, run ons, Oxford commas everywhere, and sentences that read like AI prose. No writer has to be perfect, but I expect more from a book about writing, no matter the scope. I have a feeling Avery or Penguin Random House pushed this through with little editing.
The rules are GOOD. They are decent guides for those starting on their writing journey but you do not need to buy the book to get the value from it. Excuse my harsh criticism, I spent far more than I would like on this book, and far more time than necessary giving it a college try.
In the first ten pages there are redundancies, incorrect tense uses, run ons, Oxford commas everywhere, and sentences that read like AI prose. No writer has to be perfect, but I expect more from a book about writing, no matter the scope. I have a feeling Avery or Penguin Random House pushed this through with little editing.
The rules are GOOD. They are decent guides for those starting on their writing journey but you do not need to buy the book to get the value from it. Excuse my harsh criticism, I spent far more than I would like on this book, and far more time than necessary giving it a college try.
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