Some of my favourite writing resources
Like most writers, I enjoy reading about writing, so thought I would share some of my favourite authors who have influenced my writing.
Joseph M. Williams was a professor at the University of Chicago and wrote several books on writing, including Style: Toward Clarity and Grace.
He was the first writer who challenged the way I thought about sentences, so I am indebted to his work.
Kate Burridge is Chair of Linguistics at Monash University. She’s written several books, including Blooming English: Observations on the roots, cultivation and hybrids of the English Language.
Her writing is entertaining and I like the way she challenges some plain language tenets, such as the active voice is the better than the passive, and disagrees with Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots & Leaves) about some aspects of apostrophes.
William Zinsser taught at Yale University and his most famous book is On Writing Well. This book has sound advice and is an enjoyable read. Will it challenge your thinking? Probably not, but you’ll be reminded of some fundamental writing principles.
Luke Sullivan, author of Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This. As Amazon says, this book is a ‘funny, irreverent overview of the good, the bad, and the ugly in advertising’. It’s also relevant for marketers.
Stephen King, author of horror books and a book called On Writing. I enjoyed this book because – being part memoir and part writing advice – it is entertaining and easy to read.
Dorothea Brande’s famous book Becoming a Writer was published in 1934. It’s still a classic for anyone interested in writing fiction, reminding you how writing requires commitment and practice.
Websites
Robert W. Bly writes on marketing copy. When I was learning how to promote myself, I found his information invaluable.
Marcia Yudkin takes a down-to-earth approach to marketing that I really like.
