10 books to learn how to write effectively

We don’t read as much as we used to.

And it is not only a matter of quantity, but also of quality.

We are in a digital age, and pen and paper — the medium of writing par excellence, at least in the past — is less and less popular.

Yet we have never read as much as we do now: words have moved from paper to the screen, and on the screen we spend an average of 6 hours a day.

Given the enormous amount of information we are exposed to every day, reading habits are becoming increasingly selective and concentration is shallow and inconstant. Finding ways to get readers’ attention and be heard becomes crucial.

Effective writing does this: is the key that makes our texts not only compelling, but also palatable and understandable, which is the first requirement for keeping readers’ interest high.

To best apply effective writing techniques, knowing how to write well in English (or the language in which you write) is not enough. An effectively written text has a clear logical structure, a precise objective, uses the right words, and conveys the message smoothly, straight to the point.

Here are 10 must-have books to take our writing to another level.

The basics of writing: On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Turtleback Books, 2016. [ELIMINARE] Tradotto da Valeria Brucoli. Buy it on Amazon.

Divided into 4 parts (Principles, Methods, Forms, Attitudes) and 25 chapters, On Writing Well reviews the principles of noncreative writing, the characteristics of various types of writing (interview, travel article, technical/scientific writing) and suggests what attitudes to hold toward text.

Originally written and published in 1976, On Writing Well has come now to its 30th anniversay and has sold over a million copies in forty years and is considered a must-have classic for anyone who wants or needs to tackle writing a text of any kind, from an essay to an autobiography to a newspaper article.

William Zinsser wrote the first edition of this book at 88 years old, after a career spent in touch with words and 19 published books, ranging from essays on writing to reflections on music. No one therefore can tell how writing works better than he can, and in this book-which has become a veritable industry reference manual-he shares with the world the rules for writing effectively.

Here are some of his advice: Reading (“writing is learned through imitation”), writing (“you learn only by writing”) especially for yourself (“don’t say anything in writing that you wouldn't say in conversation”) and respecting a sense of unity, which is created only with a clear goal in mind (“ask yourself some basic questions before you start”).

Writing today: The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker

Penguin, 2014, Buy it on Amazon

In this entertaining and eminently practical book, the cognitive scientist, and New York Times–bestselling author Steven Pinker rethinks the usage guide for the twenty-first century. Seeking for simplicity and the right words has always been his calling. Using examples of great and gruesome modern prose while avoiding the scolding tone and old-faschioned tastes of the classic manuals, he shows how the art of writing can be a form of pleasurable mastery and a fascinating intellectual topic in its own right.

Pinker’s manual is for writers of all kinds, and for readers who are interested in letters and literature and are curious about the ways in which the sciences of mind can illuminate how language works at its best: [ELIMINARE]

The artisan writer: Writing Tools (10th Anniversary Edition) 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark

Little, Brown Spark; 2008. Buy it on Amazon

The Writer’s Tools has established itself in the United States as one of the foundational texts in writing education. Roy Peter Clark believes that the writer, as a craftsman, needs not so much rules, but a well-stocked toolbox from which to choose the most suitable tool from time to time.

The thenth anniversy edition of this book collects the previous 50 tools and adds 5, which through use and sharing are refined and become more and more efficient. They range from practical tips (placing subordinates to the right of the subject and verb, reserving the left-hand side for the most important words) to more general suggestions (how much and when the narrative voice should appear, giving a voice to the text) to methods and good habits.

They are tools, but also strategies for writing well, supported by examples from the works of great writers and journalists. The tools are divided into four sections:

1. Tools of the trade: basic tools for constructing meaning at the level of words, sentences and periods.
2. Special effects: tools concerning economy, clarity, originality and effectiveness of exposition.
3. Methods: tools for organising and constructing stories and articles.
4. Good habits: tools for organising and improving one’s writing routine.

For each tool described, readers will find more than 200 questions and exercises, expressly designed for students and teachers, but useful for anyone who wants to find new ways to improve their writing.

Writing as life: On writing. A Memeory of the Craft by Stephen King

Sperling & Kupfer, 2015. [ELIMINARE] Buy it on Amazon

The authors’ stories also have something to tell. Stephen King described On Writing as “the novel of my life, not because my life is a novel, but because my life is writing.”

Far from the classic writing manual, between essay and autobiography, in this book Stephen King explains “how I started with this craft, how much I have learned from it so far, and how to put it into practice.” Among the tips for writing well we find unfailing reading and reworking, two activities King himself practiced early in his career: discovering his life can thus give budding writers tips on practice as well as on profession.

A step back: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

Anchor 1995. Buy it on Amazon

Knowing how to write correctly is not the only skill needed to be able to write effectively; however, it is a basic requirement. To its 25th anniversary edition, Bird by Bird is an iconic book, and one of the most valued modern classics of all time.

The author, Anne Lamott is a well-know author of a wide renge of books and manual that will help you find your passion and your voice, beginning from the first really crummy draft to the peculiar letdown of publication. Bird by Bird is just another great exemple of this inspiring author.

Its title comes form an iconic passage of the same book, where Anne remember that thirthy years before its pubblication her brother was struggling to write a report on birds which was due the next day. At this point, their father said: “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.” [ELIMINARE]

Mistakes to avoid: The Broadview Book of Common Errors in English: A Guide to Writing Wrongs by Don LePan,

Broadview Press, 2003. Buy it on Amazon

In this book, Don LePan offers full coverage of such common mistakes as commas splices, sentence fragments, words frequently confused, words frequently misspelled, etc. Mistakes that we all frequently make without even realising it. The Broadview Book refrains from dogmatism; it treats correctness in English not as an unchanging objective standard laden with moral overtones, but rather as a code of convenience that is extraordinarily useful in helping humans to communicate effectively and even elegantly.

Clear thought and wording: Lifting the Fog of Legalese. Essays on Plain Language by Joseph Kimble

Carolina Academic Press, 2011. Buy it on Amazon

This is a unique book by Jospeh Kimble. No other American book combines the strong evidence and myth-busting arguments for plain legal language with so much practical advice and so many useful examples. Joseph Kimble, a leading expert on plain language, has collected in this one book many of his published essays. They will interest and inform judges, lawyers, law students, legal scholars, and anyone else who engages in legal writing. This book will change the attitude of those who resist plain language and inspire those who have embraced it. [ELIMINARE] [ELIMINARE]

The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield

BLACK IRISH ENTERTAINMENT, 2012 Buy it on Amazon

The War of Art will let you break through your creative blocks and let your inner artist bloom out.

What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?. The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest successes. It emphasises the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline.

Creative writing: Story by Robert McKee

ReganBooks, 1997. [ELIMINARE] Buy it on Amazon

Robert McKee’s Story is considered one of the classic texts for screenwriting education. McKee is indeed the master of Hollywood screenwriters: his students have won 59 Oscars and 170 Emmys.

Creative writing and effective writing might seem, and indeed are, different, both in manner and in ultimate purposes. However, one of the most popular communication techniques, especially in marketing, is that of storytelling. McKee’s handbook explains how stories are constructed, from the initial idea to the final draft. A must-have book on the bookshelf of everyone who wants to hone their creative writing skills.

Between past and present: Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works (Interactive Technologies) di Janice Redish

Morgan Kaufmann, 2007. Buy it on Amazon

On the web, whether on the job or at home, we usually want to grab information and use it quickly. We go to the web to get answers to questions or to complete tasks – to gather information, reading only what we need. We are all too busy to read much on the web. This book helps you write successfully for web users.

It offers strategy, process, and tactics for creating or revising content for the web. It helps you plan, organize, write, design, and test web content that will make web users come back again and again to your site. Learn how to create usable and useful content for the web from the master − Ginny Redish. Ginny has taught and mentored hundreds of writers, information designers, and content owners in the principles and secrets of creating web information that is easy to scan, easy to read, and easy to use.

Effective writers are you born or become?

The answer is simple and probably trivial: it certainly takes a modicum of talent, but you can learn to write effectively by getting as much practice as possible.

We can improve our chances of success through reading, not only the examples and works of others, but also by deepening our knowledge through manuals devoted to writing. In fact, each of the 10 books on our list offers a different perspective to begin (or refine) your path to making writing more effective.

We mentioned the change in the way and habits of reading. These changes are also reflected in the writing, which is always looking for new ways to attract and keep the reader’s attention. Doing it is not always easy and straightforward, but we work to make it happen.