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WYWS [out of print – see 2nd edition]
Forget those 200-page books that claim to teach brevity! Why Your Writing Sucks is today's short-and-sweet route to better writing at work. In this concise, cheerful, informed guide, you'll find grammar-free, common-sense, actionable advice to raise your writing game. ---- Think you're a bad writer? This book will help you. Think you're a good writer? This book will make you better. Think you're a great writer? This book is critical. No kidding. There are too many words floating around in memos, emails, reports. Nobody wants to read long prose in a work setting, no matter how well crafted. Get to the point! Marcia will get you there – and you'll get the outcome you're looking for. Suzanne Tyson, Founder, HigherEdPoints.com Why your Writing Sucks is aimed at adequate writers that could be good, and good writers that seek excellence. The business/engineering students I graduate often find that a contract or proposal, or even their own advancement, will depend on a piece of their writing. Ross brings a number of clear rules to those efforts.
Short, amusing and succinct – whether just coming into the business world, looking to improve, or wanting to avoid bad habits, business people will find Why your Writing Sucks an easy, useful read.
Dr. Philip Anderson, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D., University of Toronto ------ You get easy-to-apply advice Discover how What else?
Short, amusing and succinct – whether just coming into the business world, looking to improve, or wanting to avoid bad habits, business people will find Why your Writing Sucks an easy, useful read.
Dr. Philip Anderson, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D., University of Toronto ------ You get easy-to-apply advice Discover how What else?
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 27, 2024
I learned some from this book, such as the importance of concise writing. Unfortunately, this book does not follow its own guidelines.
This could have been an excellent white paper or article, but the author drug out the main points to fill out a book.
This could have been an excellent white paper or article, but the author drug out the main points to fill out a book.
March 29, 2020
BLUF: Do not read this book.
This book is less than stellar. There are a few takeaways from the book but it is mostly filler. This could have been a great HBR article. Here's some of what this book entails:
- References specific to certain audiences
- Unnecessary and out of touch jokes
- Tons of erroneous filler
The author uses a Hemingway quote in a section talking about avoiding long sentences. If you've read Hemingway's work you would know he loves a good run-on sentences.
Speaking of reading: the author cites a book that does not exist. What they meant to cite was, "Made to Stick" not "Making it Stick". This might seem like a small oversight by the author or perhaps you could blame the editor (which would be funny since this erratum was in a section about good editing) but it speaks volumes to make a mistake like that.
Speaking of funny: the above statement was funny. Averages are not funny; averages are interesting or peculiar. Our word choice matters.
The constant change in font tells me the author knows the book is filler. This makes the book appear desperate to keep your attention. The topic is engaging, it's just not 157 pages engaging.
The author states that gone are the days of formal writing. While I disagree with that statement I see some logic in it. This book, however, is a perfect example of why professional writing matters. Had the author been more professional I might have been able to overlook an error or two - we all make them (though it is worrisome the author of a book about writing and the editor didn't correct them).
The less-than-professional writing throughout the book gives a vibe of not caring. Combine those with the myriad other problems and it gives me no confidence in the authors credibility. I was able to glean a few key takeaways but it wasn't worth reading this book to get them.
This book is less than stellar. There are a few takeaways from the book but it is mostly filler. This could have been a great HBR article. Here's some of what this book entails:
- References specific to certain audiences
- Unnecessary and out of touch jokes
- Tons of erroneous filler
The author uses a Hemingway quote in a section talking about avoiding long sentences. If you've read Hemingway's work you would know he loves a good run-on sentences.
Speaking of reading: the author cites a book that does not exist. What they meant to cite was, "Made to Stick" not "Making it Stick". This might seem like a small oversight by the author or perhaps you could blame the editor (which would be funny since this erratum was in a section about good editing) but it speaks volumes to make a mistake like that.
Speaking of funny: the above statement was funny. Averages are not funny; averages are interesting or peculiar. Our word choice matters.
The constant change in font tells me the author knows the book is filler. This makes the book appear desperate to keep your attention. The topic is engaging, it's just not 157 pages engaging.
The author states that gone are the days of formal writing. While I disagree with that statement I see some logic in it. This book, however, is a perfect example of why professional writing matters. Had the author been more professional I might have been able to overlook an error or two - we all make them (though it is worrisome the author of a book about writing and the editor didn't correct them).
The less-than-professional writing throughout the book gives a vibe of not caring. Combine those with the myriad other problems and it gives me no confidence in the authors credibility. I was able to glean a few key takeaways but it wasn't worth reading this book to get them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews