Review of "Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies For Every Writer" by Roy Peter Clark

(Please note: All book reviews are unsolicited and unpaid. The reviews represent the viewpoint of the reviewer alone and are offered as an aid to other writers.)

(Book Review by Kathy Akins)

Writing Tools
50 Essential Strategies For Every Writer
By Roy Peter Clark

Roy Peter Clark is a writer who teaches. He is the Vice President of the Poynter Institute, one of the most prestigious schools for journalists in the world.

This is an excellent book for every writer to have in a personal reference library. It is one that can be referred to and re-read again and again.

In the introduction, Mr. Clark recommends that we think of writing as carpentry, and consider this book as your toolbox. It contains practical tools that will help dispel your writing inhibitions by making the craft central to the way you see the world. These tools come from: Great works on writing, Great authors, Productive conversations with professional writers and editors, and finally, America’s great writing teachers.

He has divided the content into four parts. Each part has sub-topics that relate to the different areas of writing.

Part 1 – Nuts and Bolts. This section discusses the grammar tools such as verbs, adverbs, use of ing, and the difference between active and passive. Mr. Clark says, “The best writers make the best choices.”

Tools of thumb:
• Active verbs move the action and reveal the actors
• Passive verbs emphasize the receiver, the victim
• The verb to be links words and ideas

Part 2 – Special Effects. This section gets into details. Use details that appeal to the senses. Pay attention to what will draw the reader to have an emotional connection.
• Pay attention to names – interesting names attract the writer and the reader
• Vary sentence length and paragraph length
• Choose words the average writer avoids but the average reader understands
• Learn when to show and when to tell, and when to do both

Part 3 – Blueprints. This section refers to the story itself. You need a plan.
• Index the big parts of your story. If you don’t outline, then consider Mr. Clark’s method – Reverse Outline. Write the first draft, then go back and create an outline. If the story flows coherently, your outline will be easy and you will be able to explain your story to others. If not, then you need to revisit your story and rearrange some things
• Use dialogue as a form of action
• Reveal character traits
• Generate suspense – use internal cliffhangers
• Build your work around a key question

Part 4 – Useful Habits. This section makes suggestions for general writing habits.
• Draft a mission statement for your work
• Plan and write your story first in your head
• Do your homework – research
• Keep a file box – save scraps of information that you might use in a story later
• Break long projects into parts
• Do your best – that helps others, such as editors, publishers, photographers, etc, do their best
• Learn from your critics

No matter the type of writing you are involved in, non-fiction or fiction; this is a helpful list of strategies for improving your writing.

I recommend this book. ***** stars.

(Copyright 2017 by Kathy Akins. All rights reserved.)