Adam Haslett on Stanley Fish's How To Write a Sentence.

In 1919, the young E.B. White, future New Yorker writer and author of Charlotte's Web, took a class at Cornell University with a drill sergeant of an English professor named William Strunk Jr. Strunk assigned his self-published manual on composition titled "The Elements of Style," a 43-page list of rules of usage, principles of style, and commonly misused words. It was a brief for brevity. "Vigorous writing is concise," Strunk wrote. "When a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter." Half a century later, when preparing his old professor's manuscript for publication, White added an essay of his own underlining the argument for concision in moral terms. "Do not overwrite," he instructed. "Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating." Strunk & White, as the combined work came to be known, was issued in 1959 and went on to become a defining American statement of what constituted good writing, with 10 million copies sold, and counting. Its final rule summoned the whole: "Prefer the standard to the offbeat."[more ...] Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2011-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adam Haslett on Stanley Fish's How To Write a Sentence.

In 1919, the young E.B. White, future New Yorker writer and author of Charlotte's Web, took a class at Cornell University with a drill sergeant of an English professor named William Strunk Jr. Strunk assigned his self-published manual on composition titled "The Elements of Style," a 43-page list... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2011-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #combined work

Absolute snack Stanley Tucci is writing a memoir about his life as a foodie.

There are very few celebrities whose meals interest me. (Yes, I do hate Instagram, thank you.) But here’s one: Stanley Tucci, who announced today that he’s working on a memoir called Taste: My Life Through Food. Publisher Gallery Books described it as “intimate and charming reflection of Tucci’s... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-17 18:45:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stanley tucci #announced today #memoir

Sam Adams | 'I just wanted to write and I’ve done so whenever I’ve had the opportunity'

For more than half a century, Sam Adams’ eclectic output has made him a stalwart of Wales’ literary scene. He discusses his latest novel Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-16 01:59:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary scene

Ask the Editor: How to Write a Dynamite First Sentence

Editor Betty Kelly Sargent answers writing questions submitted by readers. This month, she takes a look at memorable first sentences. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Gerry Adams reveals he is writing The Negotiators Cookbook

Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has revealed he is publishing a cookbook in time for Christmas. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Emma Adams and Malika Booker join The Writing Squad team

Two writers, playwright Emma Adams and poet Malika Booker, are joining the core team of The Writing Squad, a development programme for writers aged 16-21 in the north of England. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #core team

Sarah Waters, Ross Raisin, Adam Foulds, Andrew Cowan, Helen Simpson share writing tips, favourite books by young writers

Past winners of the The Sunday Times/Peters Fraser & Dunlop Young Writers of the Year Award share their writing tips and their favourite books written by writers aged 35 and under. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sarah waters #adam foulds #andrew cowan #favourite books #young writers #past winners #writing tips

Adam Mansbach writes 'Seriously, Just Go to Sleep' for the kids

Adam Mansbach's 'Go the F— to Sleep' was fun for adults. 'Seriously, Just Go to Sleep' lets the kids in on the joke. And now he has projects to keep him awake.A year ago, Adam Mansbach was an award-winning novelist and aspiring screenwriter wrapping up a two-year teaching job at Rutgers... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adam mansbach #award-winning novelist #bestseller lists

‘I wanted to write a suburban Reacher’: Richard Osman talks to Lee Child about class, success and the secret to great crime writing

The two bestselling authors who both started in TV discuss writing as a second career, natural justice – and what they really think of literary fictionIn the four years since Richard Osman published his first Thursday Murder Club novel he has consistently topped the bestseller lists, and now his... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-09-14 09:00:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #first novel #ve spent #rare thing #bestselling novelist #solve murders #bestseller lists

I Don’t Have To Choose Between Writing About Myself And Writing About The World

I was balancing a plate of honeydew in the green room of a book festival when I walked by a white man bemoaning the state of the publishing industry. The man wore a suit, and he spoke to a white woman; both of them looked to be in their 40s. As the man speared a […] The post I Don’t Have To... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2024-03-27 11:05:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world appeared #publishing industry #white woman #electric literature #book festival

Kelly Link Can’t Write Narrative Before 3pm: And Other Tips For Purposeful Writing

In her latest short story collection, White Cat, Black Dog, MacArthur “Genius Grant” fellow Kelly Link reinvents seven fairytales into modern, realist short stories about, for example, an aging billionaire choosing a successor, and a house-sitting gig that goes awry. Link is also the author of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-03-28 08:54:06 UTC ]
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Don’t write what you know, write what you feel: bestselling authors offer tips on World Book Day

Malorie Blackman advises budding authors to pick up on news stories, but Julia Donaldson warns of pitfalls – and Alan Moore says you should read terrible books as well as good onesThe key to being a good writer? It’s being a good reader, authors including Carol Ann Duffy and Alan Moore have said... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-03-02 15:43:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news stories #alan moore #lee child #important things #world book

Jane Smiley on Her Writing Process, Beloved Pets, and Writing in Paris

If you love Jane Smiley, this episode is for you. Eve and Julie are joined by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author in an interview that was recorded live for Miami Book Fair 2021. They discuss Jane’s most recent book, Perestroika in Paris, as well as Jane’s writing process, beloved pets, and what... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-12-23 09:51:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jane smiley #writing process #book fair #prize-winning author

“Write the tale that scares you . . . I dare you.” Michaela Coel has some writing advice for us.

On Sunday night, I May Destroy You showrunner Michaela Coel won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. In the context of yet another melanin-deficient awards show that had people tweeting #EmmysSoWhite, it was refreshing (and simultaneously frustrating) that... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-09-20 16:39:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michaela coel #writing advice #sunday night #anthology series #anthology

How to Write the Book No One Wants You to Write

Sarah M. Broom’s The Yellow House is a feat—a memoir and historical narrative created amid governmental bureaucracy and resistance from some of her subjects. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2019-09-25 16:27:00 UTC ]
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How to Write the Book No One Wants You to Write

Sarah M. Broom’s The Yellow House is a feat—a memoir and historical narrative created amid governmental bureaucracy and resistance from some of her subjects. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2019-09-25 16:27:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #yellow house #memoir

New Writing North offers TV writing placements

New Writing North, working with Channel 4, Northumbria University and Lime Pictures, is offering aspiring TV writers from the North of England 12-month placements in either soap or children’s drama production companies. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing north #northumbria university #lime pictures

Struggling as an author? Stop writing only what you want to write

Earning a living as a writer is as likely as winning the lottery. Instead of writing books and persuading others to buy them, find out what people want to write, then do it for themPhilip Pullman: professional writers set to become ‘an endangered species’ due to low wagesI left school with a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rejection slip

How to write a book – top tips for National Novel Writing Month

Welcome to NaNoWriMo! MG Leonard (who wrote her first book Beetle Boy in six months, one hour a day) has tips on how to do it. And it starts with writing EVERY SINGLE DAY NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and takes place every November. It’s for anyone thinking about writing a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #erin morgenstern #rainbow rowell #ya books #jennifer niven #guardian children #books site