How to Write Anything - A Complete Guide

It's hard to say “wow" to a reference guide, but this comprehensive resource evokes just such a reaction! As the author states, “…there's no such thing as a person who ‘can't write'". Rather, many writers find the process tedious, intimidating, or feel they can get by with the bare minimum. This sets the stage for Section I of the book, a brief but excellently directed set of tips for developing a general and personalized writing process. These tips apply to every writing environment personal and professional, summarizing necessary steps into a “Spinner" approach ranging from ‘understanding one's goal' to ‘revision' while allowing room for creativity. Section II covers e-writing, or writing with a digital medium in mind. In an age where even elementary students frequently compose the majority of assignments on a computer, and the boundary between professional communication and hastily-rendered texts blurs, such details couldn't be more relevant. Most delightful is a series of tips on whether you should write at all in a digital format; not only because a phone call may be more appropriate, but because once you put something on the internet, it's there forever – no matter how silly it looks later. (Parents who make a frowny face at the mention of emojis, will also appreciate a list of reminders which includes not to use emoticons in professional writing.) Finally, the bulk of the nearly 600-page tome covers every type of professional document you're likely to encounter in your personal life, at school, and at work. From invitations and twitter posts, to research papers and résumés, to memos and business reports, one would be hard-pressed not to find what they were trying to write within this section. While technology makes it rather easy to find a blog about how to write a letter of recommendation, there's no substitute to having such a thorough and approachable reference resource. 596 pgs, pb.