Yazma Uğraşı: Eli kalem tutan herkesin karşılaştığı 21 soruna 210 çözüm önerisi

by Roy Peter Clark, Banu Karakaş (Translator)

Aklıma yazacak hiçbir şey gelmiyor. Yazmak zorunda olduğum yazılardan da, başkalarının fikirlerinden de nefret ediyorum. Araştırma sürecinde yönümü kaybediyorum. Derli toplu çalışma alışkanlığım yok. Aradığım şeyi zamanında bulamıyorum. Elimde haddinden fazla malzeme var. Hikâyemin esasen neyle ilgili olduğunu bilmiyorum. Başlangıç kısmında zorlanıyorum. Malzemenin iyisini seçmekte zorlanıyorum. Kelime dağarcığım çok kısıtlı. İlk taslak metinlerim klişelerle dolu. Sözcüklerim meseleye açıklık kazandırmıyor. Tamamen tıkanmış durumdayım. Savsaklama alışkanlığımdan kurtulamıyorum. Plana bağlı çalışamıyorum. Çok yavaşım ve teslim tarihlerini kaçırıyorum. Yazının göbeği sarkıyor. Sonu hiç iyi bitmiyor. Neyi düzelteceğimi bilemiyorum, zaten buna vaktim kalmıyor. Destan gibi yazıyorum. Yazıma gelen eleştirileri ve düzeltme önerilerini kaldıramıyorum.
İster roman, öykü veya senaryo yazın, ister bitirme tezi, haber veya bir blog yazısı; eli kalem tutan herkes gibi siz de bu 21 sorundan en az biriyle muhakkak karşılaşmışsınızdır. Dünyaca ünlü medya enstitüsü Poynter’da otuz yıla yakın bir süredir gazetecilik, yazarlık, dil ve editörlük dersleri veren Roy Peter Clark da işte bütün bu sorunlara yönelik yıllardır biriktirdiği 210 pratik çözüm önerisini elinizdeki kitapta derli toplu bir kılavuz haline getirdi.
Yazmanın öyle sihirli, gizemli bir iş olmadığı fikrinden yola çıkan Clark, metnin içeriğinden bağımsız olarak yazma süreci için yedi adım tanımlıyor önce: yola çıkış, organize olma, odak noktası bulma, dili tutturma, taslak metin, durum değerlendirmesi ve iyileştirme. Ardından, her bir adımda karşılaşılması muhtemel sorunların nedenlerini ele alarak, kimi gündelik hayatımızdan, kimi ustaların deneyimlerinden esinlenen uygulanabilir, akılcı çözüm önerilerini sıralıyor.
Yazar, gazeteci, senarist, blogger, akademisyen veya editör… Yazma Uğraşı, içerik üreten, yazmak için uğraş veren, eli kalem tutan herkes için yol yordam gösteren bir başucu kılavuzu; halden anlayan, yargılamayan bir yol arkadaşı olacak.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help, Crafts, Journalism, How To

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

By many accounts, Roy Peter Clark is America's writing coach, a teacher devoted to creating a nation of writers. A Google search on his name reveals an astonishing web of influence, not just in the United States, but also around the world. His work has erased many boundaries. A Ph.D. in medieval literature, he is widely considered one of the most influential writing teachers in the rough-and-tumble world of newspaper journalism. With a deep background in traditional media, his work has illuminated, on the Internet, the discussion of writing. He has gained fame by teaching writing to children, and he has nurtured Pulitzer Prize-winning writers such as Thomas French and Diana Sugg. He is a teacher who writes, and a writer who teaches. That combination gives his most recent book, Writing Tools, a special credibility.

More credibility comes from Clark's long service at The Poynter Institute. Clark has worked full-time at Poynter since 1979 as director of the writing center, dean of the faculty, senior scholar and vice president.

Clark was born in 1948 on the Lower East Side of New York City and raised on Long Island, where he attended Catholic schools. He graduated from Providence College in Rhode Island with a degree in English and earned a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. In 1977 Clark was hired by the St. Petersburg Times to become one of America's first writing coaches. He worked with the American Society of Newspaper Editors to improve newspaper writing nationwide. Because of his work with ASNE, Clark was elected as a distinguished service member, a rare honor for a journalist who has never edited a newspaper.

Clark is the author or editor of 14 books on journalism and writing. These include Free to Write: A Journalist Teaches Young Writers; Coaching Writers: Editors and Reporters Working Together Across Media Platforms; America's Best Newspaper Writing; The Values and Craft of American Journalism; The Changing South of Gene Patterson: Journalism and Civil Rights, 1960–1968; and, most recently, Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer.

Reviews

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gravitate towards books on writing and grammar in the hope that I'll become a better writer and reduce the tension and procrastination that often characterize a major deadline. Unfortunately, while I tend to be optimistic about improving my writing, much as I tend to look for the latest fitness books in the hope that this will encourage me to "be more disciplined and healthier", my follow through often falls short.

If you write and have reached the point where you feel ready to show your work to friends and critics, I know that you will benefit from the advice that Roy Clark offers above.

If you are still "working on" your writing, Help! For Writers provides practical advice and a technical approach to writing and thinking about writing. When writing and editing, we try to pare our language down to the essentials, much the way that artists, creatives, and even lawyers reduce their ideas to the essential elements. Clark suggests specific ways to do this, to reduce the unnecessary parts.

I'm a timid writer. I tend towards putting things away, disappointed by the first draft. But chapter 11 "My early drafts are littered with cliches" helped me put things in perspective. The advice encourages us to realize that even mistakes and weaknesses can be used to bring us closer to our writing goals. Clark encourages clear thinking and careful use of language directly and through his tips and exercises.

While some books target a specific goal, such as writing a screenplay or a novel in several steps or using certain structures, Help! For Writers points out that "the writer does not have to get all Gothic to build cathedrals of words. On many occasions, the holy trinity of beginning, middle, and end will get the job done." Clark has gentle suggestions to help look at our problems and roadblocks and learn from them. Clark gives us examples from other writers which made the concepts concrete. Help! For Writers encourages us to write and gives specific and practical advice geared towards getting us to keep writing and to become better writers.

ISBN-10: 0316126713 - Hardcover $22.99
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (September 21, 2011), 304 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't the best book I've ever read about writing, which I've only read a few, but it served it's purpose very well. It did exactly what you expected - it gave a lot of solutions to writing problems.

At points it gives specific advice or techniques that might work well for some people, but I like the fact that it stresses to kind of 'do your own thing'. It realizes not the same thing works for everyone but it gives you solutions you can try. Some solutions are precise like using notecards to develop the order of your story. Or sorting information into certain files so they're easily accessible for when you need them. Other are more general and things that you can find ways to do yourself. I liked that we got both kinds of advice.

The author did a good job of talking about making your work interesting, and actually making his work interesting to read. Nothing's worse then being taught by a teacher who doesn't even use their own advice. Luckily, this book wasn't like that. Even though some of the interesting stuff (the stuff not very helpful just there to keep the reader interested) I think could have been left out, but there wasn't too much of that.

I also felt like some of the points trying to be made, weren't made very well. I couldn't exactly get what a certain story was supposed to convey or the point the author was making. Again, this didn't happen a lot, but I noticed it on several locations.

Overall, there's so much material in the back of the book that's it's an excellent resource! You can tell the author knows what they are talking about and has been in the profession for a while, because there are some really helpful guidelines throughout the book and other books to even reference in the back. Glad I was able to get a copy of this book!

[LuAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I teach writing classes and as a published author I almost blew this book off, but once I settled in to read I found Clark had included lots of great ideas I could use not only in my lectures, but also to motivate myself to keep writing. Well worth the time to read this one, even if you're an experienced author.

[Mehrsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!
I have been writing since I was 10. After many self experienced lufe challenges I realized that I'm a non fiction, scientific writer and sticked too that for the last 2 years.
it was easy at first steps I had so many ideas and plenty of time to research and write about any of them but after two years I think for me it's a full time job rather than a casual weekend hobby!
so I started to read and learn about writing in scientific methods, not just people pleaser motivations
and trust me this is one of the best books I have ever read on being a writer as a full time employee. Highly suggest it to anyone intersted in oranizing and managing their writing journey!

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roy Peter Clark is a writer. He has written a number of books based on writing as a subject and how to improve. In that same vein, he wrote this particular book on how to get past various writing obstacles. Whether you are writing for an assignment or for yourself, this book has tons of help available.

The book goes over the process of producing a written work and comes up with plenty of ways to become better or produce better work.

There isn’t really much else to say about this book. I liked it for what it offered and breezed through the pages.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars but rounded it up to 4 stars. The advice is probably best for journalists and non-fiction writers. Some of it is basic but might be useful to new writers.

[Gökşen Bozkoyunlu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Yazma Uğraşı” kitabı üzerinden yapacağım bu inceleme yazısına, öncelikle, eğitim sistemimize dokundurarak başlamak istiyorum. Sebeplerine aşağıda kısaca değineceğim eleştirilerimin bu konudaki yetkin, liyakat sahibi kişiler tarafından dikkate alınması umuduyla.

Türkiye’de ne yazık ki lisans seviyesinde yazar yetiştirmeye yönelik eğitim kurumu yok. Hâl böyle olunca, yazmaya gönül veren her yaştan birey “Yazmayı hangi kaynaktan, nasıl öğrenirim?” sorusunu sorarak başlıyor araştırmaya. Araştırmaları bu hevesli insanları, nicelik bakımından fazla, nitelik bakımındansa görece katma değer yaratan pek çok “Yazma Atölyesi” arasından seçim yapmaları gerekliliğine işaret ediyor. Kimi maddi imkânları dahilinde kriterlerini belirlerken kimi de ne pahasına olursa olsun zihninde bellediği “o kişi” den o atölyeyi almaya meylediyor. Reklamını başarılı yaptığı için kurum bazında tercih unsuru olanlar da yok değil. Bu başka bir yazının konusu olsun. :) Bu atölyeler öyle uzun uzadıya eğitim veren yerler değil elbette. 8-10 derslik paketler dahilinde size, yazar olma yolculuğunuzda rehberlik ediyor bir nev’i.

Oysa biz eğitim sistemimiz içinde Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı eğitimi verirken neden sadece “o balığı tutmuş kıymetli yazarların eserlerini” ezberlemek, dönemlerini öğrenmek, incelemek, eleştirmek, farklılıkları ortaya koymak üzere bir müfredat uyguluyoruz ki. Bu bölümlere entegre edilecek bir yazma dersi koymak külfetli olmasa gerek. Hatta ve hatta ilköğretim seviyesinden buna başlamak kadar kıymetli ne olabilir ki! Kaldı ki nitelikli öğretmen yetiştirme konusunda günümüz eğitim sistemi ne kadar başarılı? Bu konuda platformda bulunan kıymetli öğretmen arkadaşlarımızın yorumlarını özellikle merak ediyorum.

Yazma Uğraşı kitabını okuduğum her an ve dahi bitirdiğimde, bütün bu anlattıklarım beynimin içinde sürekli uğulduyordu. O sebeple paylaşmadan edemedim. Sabrınız ve hoşgörünüze sığınıyorum.

Gelelim kitabın yazarı Roy Peter Clark’a. Amerikalı yazar, editör ve yazarlık koçu Clark çalışma hayatına 1974’te üniversitede İngilizce öğretmeni olarak başlamış. O dönemde yazdığı gazete köşe yazıları sayesinde muhabir ve yazı koçu unvanlarını da almış. Harvard Üniversitesi'ndeki Nieman Gazetecilik Vakfı için yazan Andrea Pitzer, Clark'ı "anlatı gazeteciliğinin en çok çalışan ebelerinden biri" olarak adlandırmış.
Yazma Araçları: Yazar İçin 50 Temel Strateji (2006), Dilbilgisinin Büyüsü: Pratik İngilizcenin Büyüsü ve Gizemine Bir Kılavuz (2010) yayımlanmış kitaplarından sadece birkaçı.
Kâr amacı gütmeyen bir gazetecilik okulu ve araştırma kurumu olan Poynter Enstütüsü, 2023’de Clark’ın onuruna Kısa Yazıda Mükemmellik için Roy Peter Clark Ödülü altında yeni bir ödül kategorisi oluşturmuş.

Esere gelince; yazma sürecini 7 adımda ele almış yazar. Bu yedi adım içinde gerek yazar gerekse yazar adayları için karşılaşacakları 21 temel sorunu her birini 10’ar çözüm önerisi ile destekleyerek toplamda 210 çözüm yaklaşımı getirmiş meraklılarına. Yazma disiplini, olması gereken çıkış noktasından varış noktasına kadar düzenli bir sıralamayla ilerlemiş. Bunu yaparken sade ve akıcı -âdeta sizin yanınıza oturup sohbet ediyormuşçasına- bir dil tutturmuş anlatımda.
Pek çok başlığın altında kendi yaşadığı tecrübeleri, bir nev’i anılarını da okuyoruz. Bu yaklaşımı kurgu dışı yazılmış bir eseri didaktik dilden uzaklaştırıp daha samimi kılmış.

Konu; yazmak ve bu yolculukta karşılaşılan problemler olunca eserin bütününde olması gerekenden -bana göre- daha fazla dil kusuru olduğunu farketmek biraz hayal kırıklığı yarattı bende. Söz konusu durum böylesi bir kitapta hata toleransının düşük olmasını gerekli kılıyor kanımca.
Dilbilgisi, yazım ve noktalama işaretleri hataları, eser boyunca gözümü ve aklımı tırmaladı. O sebeple kitaba verdiğim puanı düşürmek zorunda kaldım.

Banu Karakaş’ın çevirisi ile okuduğum Metropolis Yayıncılık’dan çıkan eser 264 sayfadan oluşuyor. Kendime çıkardığım epeyce not, altını çizdiğim bolca satır oldu. Bana, güzel anekdotlarla keyifli ve öğretici bir okuma süreci yaşatan kılavuz niteliğindeki bu eserin yazmaya gönül veren her bireyin kütüphanesinde ön sıralarda olması gerektiğine inanıyorum.

Niyetlenenler için şimdiden iyi okumalar diliyorum.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always tinkered with my writing and seem to gravitate to books and classes that aid me in that pursuit. Back in October of 2010 I had the privilege of reviewing Mr. Clark's book The Glamour of Grammar. His newest offering is another book that will be residing next to that one on my bookshelf for years to come.

Roy Peter Clark's writing style is very easy for the reader to comprehend as well as enjoy. As in the previous book, he breaks the material down into bite-size chunks that the would-be writer ~ or experienced author, can easily digest. His manner and delivery are both entertaining and educational. I found myself laughing at some points and taking copious notes at others. His comments and observations sparked several ideas that I had to jot down immediately. The book is presented in logical order taking you through seven simple steps of the writing journey. The author wraps it up with a list of 25 of his favorite writing books. I found this to be yet another helpful resource from him.

In the post I wrote about my meeting with Diana Gabaldon, I noted that she told all of us that we don't have to write in a straight line from A-Z or start to finish. You can write chapter 12 before you write chapter 3. Go ahead and create the ending before the beginning... Roy Peter Clark has reinforced that permission and "ah-ha" moment with this book. In the section on "Getting Your Act Together", he shares several techniques to keep your written inventory organized. With wall boards, index cards and many, many more tricks of the trade, Mr. Clark helps the writer keep it all straight.

The book's opening line instructs the reader to consider Help! for Writers an owner's manual for their writing process. I think this is a very apt statement as I have already found myself referring back to the book more than once as I work on a project. I have a feeling that this will quickly become one of my "go-to" references when I come across a roadblock or just need a refresher.


I definitely recommend this book to writers, would-be writers and students. It will become a staple on many home library reference shelves.

[Michael Estey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Help for Writers!

by Roy Peter Clark

A Book Review of Sorts


210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces


I came across this book at the library.
I love these self-help books, on writing.

You've just sat down at your desk,
You're facing your monitor,
ready to pour your heart out.
You've pulled up a clean white sheet of paper,
through the magic of Pages.( or Word )on your computer.
You've gotten all compfy.
Your fingers are resting on the keyboard.
Your wrists are placed evenly the desk.
You can feel your heartbeat!
Your back is straight,
Your feet are firmly on the floor.
You've practiced, at least a thousand times.
You've memorized,
Your formatting.
Your style.
You know exactly
what you want to say.
You've researched,
until you've exhausted every source.
You're ready to Go! GO! GO! GO!

You sit there, your face lit by the white screen
You're mind just went blank.
You have writer's block.

Has that happened to you? "I can't think of anything to write." Writers block. You have deadlines.
This book explains how to get your act together, starting with your writing space and focusing. The beginnings, middles and ends, in any order. Language, drafts, procrastination.
Roy explains how to get out of that rut, stop procrastinating, and pick up those sagging middles, those never ending, endings. Cutting, editing, proofing and making those deadlines. Even listening to criticism. Something we would rather not do.

I'd recommend this to all newbie writers. Written in a personal, easy to read style. I loved it!

Roy Peter Clark also authored Writing Tools and The Glamour of Grammar.

Dog Brindle

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clark's book has a ton of good information that every writer should know about organizing and keeping things handy. Mostly not new to me, but always good to remember what's in the toolbox. (And I did actually start looking up word derivations when seeking inspiration)

One handy idea: List the questions you want to answer, or what you want the reader to take away.

Advice I've heard elsewhere and like to remember -- engage the senses. (And conflict them)

Interesting point if you want to write something big and feel like you don't have the time -- a page a day, 250 words, equals a book a year

Good point about middles. Have a big event there. Put a gold coin along the path

Zero draft is a great concept. Write what you know or think you know without research to get a focus.

[M.A. Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly relevant to journalists and nonfiction writers, I thought, but some very good insights on researching and organization in general.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I didn't like this book, until the 4th page. And then a lightbulb went off and wow. I began "getting it". I restarted and chose a chapter I thought would be of help of where I am as a writer. Ever so slowly I began. This time instead of rushing through to finish a chapter, I took a deep breath and began reading a small section of that chapter. My thinking began to see how it would help me as a writer. My mind wondered into my own use in the currently book I'm writing. It was a wonderful experience. I apologize Roy Peter Clark, the author, of jumping the gun and trying to run through your book. Like the cliche is said, if you want to eat an elephant you must do it one bite at a time. This is the way I view your book. I experienced your shared thoughts that flowed easily to my own writing. I learned to take a bite and stop. Turn your suggestion, thought, into stories from memory and new thoughts into more memories. I began with a library copy and 3/4 the way through the book I purchase a hard copy for my permanent shelt. I believe this book will keep giving, helping, my writing for years to come. This book, for me, has a much higher rating than just six stars. I am so glad I have a permanent copy of my shelf. I look forward to re-reading every chapter one bite at a time over the many years ahead.

[Ronna Jevne & Harold Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roy Peter Clark suggests even good writers can "take wrong turns. The story is too long, the story is too short; there's too much material" and other barriers to getting on with writing including writer's block. The author offers seven simple categories through which to view your writing experience. None are new to a seasoned writer and are recognizable are realities of a writing life. Clark presents realistic, well structured interventions to transcend the common writing challenges into productive options. He does though begin with a viewpoint that is framed in negative language - "I can't, I hate, I don't know, limited, littered, slow, miss, never ends well, resent criticism." It almost stopped me from purchasing the book. A few positive subtitles would have been appreciated. Nevertheless, it's a good read.

[Charlotte Tressler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have become a huge fan of Roy Peter Clark. It started with the impulse purchase of The Art of X-Ray Reading, which prompted me to assign myself the task of reading (most of) the 25 great works of literature examined in the book. I'm still working on that project, and am enjoying it immensely.

In the meantime, I've picked up a couple more of his books and just finished Help! For Writers. It has, indeed, been helpful as I review feedback from beta readers and tackle what I hope will be the final round of revisions on my own work-in-progress. I especially appreciate the chapter on Finding Focus.

Clark's writing style is approachable and engaging. He even had me laughing a few times. This is a book I can see myself referencing again and again in the future.

[Abby Derkson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I LOVED "The Art of X-Ray Reading." Fiction writers, read that instead for craft lessons. Better yet, check out the amazing audiobook by Jefferson Mays. I feel like this book couldn't decide if it wanted to be a manual for nonfiction (journalism) writing or fiction. In wanting to cover both boxes it skewed toward more helpful to nonfiction. This would have been great to read as a news reporter in college. As an aspiring fiction writer, this left a lot to be desired and wasn't worth the money or investment so much as Art of X-Ray reading. A decent book, but I didn't get out what I hoped I would.

[Mark Mathes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy Peter Clark's book helps you with more than "210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces." Nearly two dozen chapters headline the problem you're facing. He helps "get your act together" and "find the focus." Short chapters often end with summaries, reflections, bullet lists and more. He is indeed America's writing coach. I have been lucky to participate in his seminars and hear him speak, most recently at the Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading in November 2019. You'll find quick help and inspiration here, whether you're an author, journalist, business professional, teacher or student.

[Ivan Kreimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful manual for writers who want tips on how to become better at one's craft. I gave it 4 stars because it's not as useful as the advice Roy Peter Clark laid out in his previous book, Writing Tools. This book seemed (and the author seemed to confirm that in the book) as it was written randomly, without a clear target goal. There's no one thing you can take away, but random — yet still good — tips for different situations writers often go through. If you have never read anything from Clark, start with the book mentioned before, and then move to this one.

[Angelika Kinga]

Honestly, I was gonna pass on this book, but the synopsis' advice on editing was to "watch the deleted scenes feature of a DVD, and ask yourself why those scenes were left on the cutting-room floor".
And that's actually a pretty lit idea.
It's supposedly directed more towards journalism, but there's a possibility of getting some useful tips regardless of that. I was ignoring journalism most of my life, but gained interest in it a while ago, so maybe this book could be of help to me in the future.

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Help! For Writers is written by a (renowned) Journalism Teacher much of the advice is very applicable to fiction authors.

This book isn't a plot/character/sentence structure type book, its a very practical, holistic focus on many many aspects of writing - including Writer's Block, habit building, self-care, sensible perceptions and research and so on.

Even if that doesn't sound super attractive to folk looking for writing books on more exciting topics - this is really useful reading, especially if you find yourself struggling in any way.

[Goujohn_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's probably unfair rating this against some gripping novels I've recently read to be honest but hey ho, that's where I am. 3 stars to me means it was good, a decent read but not something that makes me say 'thats incredible'. The book does exactly as you would expect though. I took away some great tips and I'm happy I read it. Large sections seem to be aimed more at journalists and those writing professional papers than fiction writers. Overall, a good decent read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good and worth reading. So far, I've really enjoyed Roy Peter Clark's writing style and value his tips. This is an earlier work (compared to Murder Your Darlings - 2020) and I don't know whether that is one reason why Murder Your Darlings seems to be better (it could also be the things I know I need to hear).

REGARDLESS of the why, this is worth the time and provides some great tips. I'll definitely be reading more from Roy Peter Clark.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and practical book on the craft of writing. Focuses on breaking through writer's block, how to best work with editors, ways to make manuscripts more concise and precise, ways to structure a story. Equally meant for journalistic writing as well as fiction writers. Solidly done and very useful.

[Cooch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed as help for fiction writer

Some excellent advice for writers of fiction here. A lot of the book is aimed at non fiction and journalism. If you're reading this for fiction then some skimming is in order. The book would be more useful in the real as opposed to kindle format.

[Terrance Layhew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific book which should sit on the shelf of any writer, and it won’t have a chance to get dusty. In his delightful style, Roy Peter Clark elegantly addresses the problems and difficulties which accompany various stages of the writing process. Totaling to the 210 solutions billed on the cover, Help! will have answers to the daily foibles of writing difficulties at whatever level.

[Ryk Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Roy Peter Clark, and I really enjoyed this book. I’ve actually enjoyed everything I’ve read by him and had the opportunity to sit in on a workshop he was leading once. Totally great guy, very down to earth and loves language and teaching other people to write well. I recommend this and his other books to everyone I know who is a writer.

[Emilie]

This is a book on journalism, and I picked it up because the inside cover makes it sound like it's about fiction writing. No doubt a good book if you're a journalist looking for writing advice (seriously, it's a very well organized book with practical concrete tips), just marketed inaccurately.

[Kimberly Karalius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit bummed out that the advice in this book cane from more of a journalistic perspective (not as helpful for writing fiction), but the expense of advice and writing troubleshooting was pretty impressive!

[Kay Miller Temple · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a content writer who writes in a modified journalistic style, this is a terrific book. It gave me insight into how I can tweak current writing approaches and many ideas that will not only shorten current research and writing approaches, but strengthen them.

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente guía

Una guía muy práctica para todos aquellos que hacemos de la escritura nuestra profesión. Consejos prácticos, ejemplos útiles y muchas situaciones que el escritor enfrenta. Muy recomendable

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. There were some helpful suggestions but overall I felt like it was tips I have read before.