Do you get overwhelmed by the gazillion books on writing? Maybe it’s just me, but I want to read them all! Alas, my heart is willing, but my time is sparse. And so, I must pick and choose. As such, if you’re trying to figure out which book on writing to read next, give this one a go: 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost.
Why I Love It:
- It’s tiny! It’s probably the smallest book on writing ever, but one of the most useful! Packed full of tips and techniques, this short, punchy book cuts right to it and doesn’t mess around.
- It’s great for every type of writing: essays, articles, short stories, novels, even ransom notes, according to the author himself.
- It covers every aspect of writing. Maybe you want to learn how to expand your vocabulary or organize your material or vary your sentence length and construction—Provost covers it all.
- Plus, the guy’s got a sense of humor, which makes the book fun and enjoyable. He gives his sections titles like “Twelve Ways to Avoid Making Your Reader Hate You.” He encourages you to eavesdrop and steal, to make yourself likeable, even to “touch your toes” (exercise, it turns out, supplies oxygen to the brain).
Provost is like one of those fun, upbeat teachers who inspires you to believe in yourself and become the best selling author you’re meant to be.
And it’s kind of amazing that he does it all in such a tiny book.
My copy is so old, the pages have turned yellow and musty, but you can buy a brand new, mildew-free edition. Just click “Shop now” below!
