How to Write Short: Word Craft for Fast Times
"Roy Peter Clark has compressed a lifetime of learning and love of language intoHow to Write Short.An engaging, entertaining, indispensable guide to the art and craft of concision."--James Geary, author ofThe World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the AphorismandI Is an Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How It Shapes the Way We See the World"We're writing more than ever before, all of us, on screens big and small, and the pressure is on to make our characters count. In this book, Roy Peter Clark show us how, and more importantly, why it's worth the effort.How to Write Shortis both a deeply practical guidebook and an annotated collection of concise gems from some of the world's greatest writers and journalists, not one of them longer than 300 words. Roy's message is clear: great writing is a matter of craft, not word count.How to Write Shortwill make you a better writer at any length."--Robin Sloan, author ofMr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore"How to Write Shortboth instructs and delights, in equal measure. On every page there is some useful advice and an amusing observation or illustration. Roy Peter Clark's many fans know that (extremely) diverse examples are one of his specialties, and this book doesn't disappoint. Open it up at random and you'll find quotes from Oscar Wilde, Steven Wright, Dorothy Parker, and Gypsy Rose Lee. And that's just one page! Read this book!"--Ben Yagoda, author ofWhen You Catch an Adjective, Kill ItandHow to Not Write Bad(forthcoming 2/2013)"How to Write Shortcomes at the perfect time and enshrines Roy Peter Clark as America's best writing coach. Who else could masterfully tease the secrets of short, powerful writing from unexpected sources -- the Bible, Shakespeare, Tom Petty, and Abe Lincoln? This book should be on every serious writer's shelf." --Ben Montgomery, staff writer,Tampa Bay Times"A fun, practical guide to writing little from a guy who's written a lot. Respected journalist and writing teacher Roy Peter Clark really knows his way around a sentence. Learn from him." --Christopher Johnson, author ofMicrostyle: The Art of Writing Little