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abbymetro 's review for:
How to Write Short: Word Craft for Fast Times
by Roy Peter Clark
I received this book as a part of a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
As Blaise Pascal said, “I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter." The ability to express one's thoughts in few words can be difficult for even the best writers. Some seem to think that a sentence is no good unless it is a full paragraph and contains at least one word that will stump the average reader. Thankfully we seem to be moving toward a consensus that what can be said in five words should not be said in fifty, and this is the book to help you do that.
Whether you are a writer of fiction, a poet, a journalist, a social media junkie or just an occasional texter,How To Write Short has something to say to you. While it is primarily geared towards the more online forms of communication there are valuable insights throughout the book on how to craft titles, sentences and paragraphs that speak directly and powerfully.
I found the most useful chapter to be number nineteen, entitled "Cut It Short". Its eight and a half pages are centered around editing, providing examples of what to cut from your work to make it more concise.
Clark has included what he calls "Grace Notes" at the end of each chapter which provide an opportunity to solidify the lessons of the previous chapter by implementing them in brief exercises. Initially giving the book an undesirable text book feel, these notes soon became my favorite part of each chapter. One that I had the most fun with was the urging to manipulate an old adage or cliche in order to bring new life and meaning into it. I now have a page in my notebook filled with sentences like "food is wasted on the young," and "A man's home is his a**hole".
In the last few chapters the book began to lag, especially the chapter called Summarize and Define which drew heavily from the dictionary. Some might enjoy that perspective but for me, it was dry.
I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and depth of information in this slim volume, and therein lies its value. I expect to return to the Grace Notes for inspiration and fun and chapter nineteen will be open beside me as I edit my next story.
As Blaise Pascal said, “I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter." The ability to express one's thoughts in few words can be difficult for even the best writers. Some seem to think that a sentence is no good unless it is a full paragraph and contains at least one word that will stump the average reader. Thankfully we seem to be moving toward a consensus that what can be said in five words should not be said in fifty, and this is the book to help you do that.
Whether you are a writer of fiction, a poet, a journalist, a social media junkie or just an occasional texter,How To Write Short has something to say to you. While it is primarily geared towards the more online forms of communication there are valuable insights throughout the book on how to craft titles, sentences and paragraphs that speak directly and powerfully.
I found the most useful chapter to be number nineteen, entitled "Cut It Short". Its eight and a half pages are centered around editing, providing examples of what to cut from your work to make it more concise.
Clark has included what he calls "Grace Notes" at the end of each chapter which provide an opportunity to solidify the lessons of the previous chapter by implementing them in brief exercises. Initially giving the book an undesirable text book feel, these notes soon became my favorite part of each chapter. One that I had the most fun with was the urging to manipulate an old adage or cliche in order to bring new life and meaning into it. I now have a page in my notebook filled with sentences like "food is wasted on the young," and "A man's home is his a**hole".
In the last few chapters the book began to lag, especially the chapter called Summarize and Define which drew heavily from the dictionary. Some might enjoy that perspective but for me, it was dry.
I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and depth of information in this slim volume, and therein lies its value. I expect to return to the Grace Notes for inspiration and fun and chapter nineteen will be open beside me as I edit my next story.