Make Your Words Work

by Gary Provost

Examines the fundamentals of style, character, dialogue, description, and point of view in writing both fiction and nonfiction

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

For beginning writers, this would likely be a useful book. It does offer some good advice.
However, I had some issues with it - the paperback I read was horribly copy edited and badly laid out (e.g., "look at the italics," where no italics ever were, and paragraphs broken in the middle of a gd word, and poor punctuation and so on...)...and additionally, I did not find Provost himself a very good stylist.
The exercises are interesting, and some of the examples are, well, exemplary.
For a seasoned writer, skip it.

[Zaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book on writing

Wow. Hidden treasure that will tighten up your comms 🔥 Writing is becoming the foundation for every valuable creation, from videos to how we chat with ai. Reading this book will give you the leverage you’re looking for

[Chelsea M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Review to come.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice delivered well.

[Ruric Amhari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical book filled with klots of exercises to help hone style, phrasing, pacing and make your writing sing. The book consists of thirteen chapters beginning with style, grammar and pacing, moving on to characterisation and viewpoint and ending with credibility, originality, form and rewriting. Main chapters intersperesed with "coffee breaks" short pages which are even more packed with tips!

[k_b · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and informative. I'm not planning to publish a book anytime soon, but it's fascinating to learn about what does work and what doesn't, even if some of the tips are bit obvious. It's also a bit dated, because the author refers to his typewriter sometimes.

[Lisa M · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read on composing clear, active, tight, precise writing. Topics covered range from description to characterization to tension to rewriting and everything in between. Highly recommended.

[Yamile Méndez]

Great conversationalist style book on writing, full of wonderful exercises. Most of what he says I've read before in other books on writing, but I learned a few things I had never considered before. I'll come back to it for the writing exercises.

[CR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for the Intermediate Writer.

[Asungushe B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book. plenty of good tricks. very readable too.

[Joanne]

Early days - hope to improve my writing skills - should be able to read the results if the books any good :)

[Denise Mast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provost has a very practical way of helping the newbie writer understand the basics of getting published, what the publisher is looking for in a book. I love the practicality of this book. My sister recommended it.