Review: Let's Get Back to Basics and Do it Right
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 25, 2013
If you are an aspiring writer you will find a plethora of books on Kindle that attempt to show you a quicker way, a better way, a more professional way or dare I say it, an easier way to make a manuscript sing or the cash register ching! Many of these books are written by well meaning people. Many are often written with just a fast buck firmly in their cross-hairs. Some of these writers have some useful information and suggestions as to how to create a best seller, many are just poseurs. Really inspirational writing comes in a different form altogether without the hyperbole of the quick books equals quick bucks formula!Farnoosh Brock takes the basics of the English language and the creation of a writing voice altogether more seriously. Most of the common mistakes made by amateur writers, whose numbers include many marketers, are examined by Farnoosh, spelling out what to do about them. Perfecting these mistakes, and we all have some that we continuously grapple with, will raise your game considerably once they have been mastered. Apostrophes are perhaps the most common to appear in unusual places.This book is a comprehensive guide to becoming a much more proficient and professional writer and it's a comprehensive expose of the howlers that you'll see permeating the Kindle Author marketplace. In addition to the get it right section, the latter part of the book which covers empowering your writing skills, contains some very useful graphics to give you a bird's eye view of the key points which is something I find really useful.Perhaps the last section of this excellent book could be the most useful to a new writer who is looking to find his or her voice!"We need to think of writing both as an art and a craft""it is in the art where you find and hone your writing voice"There are 28 questions in the form of a short exercise which will be invaluable in helping you to focus on creating your unique writing personality or voice.In an earlier part of the book Farnoosh references two of the most useful writing resources:-"The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White; the classic book on the correct use of the English language, followed by "Writing Well" a William Zinsser masterpiece.Personally I was delighted to see the reference to Zinsser, whose writing has recently inspired me to take a closer look at my own efforts currently in progress. William Zinsser's "Writing Well"On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfictionshould be on every writer's bookshelf as well as on their Kindles. You never know when your Wi-Fi is going to be zapped.Farnoosh Brock is a superb writer and this book deserves the close attention of every aspiring wordsmith. Forget the fast buck merchants who will come and go. Learning from a real writer is what will help you to stay the distance and be counted along with the best!