Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark

Writing Tools

by Roy Peter Clark

"Begin sentences with subjects and verbs," is the first tool in Roy Peter Clark's Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. "Own the tools of your craft," the last. Pithy, entertaining, and always straight-to-the-point, Writing Tools sandwiches 48 more useful tools in-between, on "Nuts and Bolts" (words and sentences) "Special Effects" (tricks of the trade), "Blueprints" (organizational strategies), and "Useful Habits" for successful writers. Informed by Clark's thirty years as a teacher, writer, and journalist, every tool bears the stamp of his experience and lighthearted wisdom-from the usefulness of the suggestions (Tool 14: "Get the name of the dog") to the clarity of the prose itself.

As fun to read as it is hands-on practical, it can be enjoyed straight-through or used as a reference as students draft, revise, and edit. Spiral-bound, the College Edition lays flat as students work at the computer, and at $16.95 suggested retail (after bookstore mark-up), Writing Tools is considerably less expensive than traditional writing textbooks. With over 30,000 copies sold to the mass-market, the College Edition is the perfect book to accompany a more comprehensive textbook, or for classrooms that don't use a traditional text at all.

Reviewed by celinenyx on

4 of 5 stars

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Writing Tools is a great little book for any sort of writer - whether you are a journalist, an author, a blogger, or an academic writer. His advice is clear, neatly ordered, and easy to adapt. I've read a lot of writing advice already, but there was still plenty to learn from this book.

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  • Started reading
  • 11 August, 2015: Finished reading
  • 11 August, 2015: Reviewed