Recommended reading: copywriting
The Copywriter's Handbook
Aimed primarily at advertising and marketing copywriters, this book has something to offer to anyone who needs their writing to persuade and sell. It doesn't focus on the technicalities of construction and grammar, but tells you how to write copy that grabs people's attention and makes them carry on reading. It has examples of great headlines, brochures, advertisements and press releases - covering almost all aspects of marketing communications. Highly practical, it's also full of useful advice for working freelance. Great to read end-to-end and valuable to dip into for inspiration.
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Eats Shoots and Leaves
Opinion is divided on this book. Is it funny or patronising? Is it incisive or pedantic? On the downside, it's flawed - with some unforgivable grammatical errors - always something to avoid when you are taking the high moral ground. But, on the upside, it's highly relevant in an age where standards are slipping. It takes a humble topic - punctuation - and demonstrates why it's necessary. For those who struggle with punctuation, this book is highly approachable and useful. For those who don't, it's entertaining at the very least. And thank goodness somebody had the guts to write it! If you write as even a small part of your job, this is a good place to start the process of sharpening your skills. Just beware: Lynne Truss is not always right - and her spelling and grammar are not always correct.
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E-Writing
New media - especially e-mail and the Web - has changed the dynamics and style of business & marketing communications. This book provides help for those writing for today's 'e-media'. It's not a riveting read, but it is accessible, clear and informative - and, unlike many writing reference books, is contemporary enough to be relevant. A very good grammar guide for today's written communicators, it is aimed primarily at creating and managing e-mails, but its usefulness if far broader than that and can help with many types of communications.
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Getting the Words Right:
How to Rewrite, Edit and Revise
This book is hard to track down, but worth the effort. A good writer spends at least as much time revising as writing - but few books concentrate on this essential part of copywriting, often preferring to focus solely on writing. This book teaches you how to really prune, hone and sharpen your copy via processes of careful revision. It will help you to jettison weak ideas and extra words. It will help make your writing more consistent and help you to guard against common grammatical errors. Well worth a place on any writer's bookshelf. See if you can get a second-hand copy!
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style
No really. Honestly. The worst thing about this book is the off-putting title - after all, do you really want people to see this on your shelves? Get beyond the title and this is a good solid book - going well beyond the basics of grammar. It's easy to read, information is broken down into concise chunks and there are lots of approachable examples - all in all, this book is hard to fault. If you're looking for help with your grammar, you can do a lot worse than this. Don't be put off by the title. If you are, just hide it in a drawer and pull it out when you need it.
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On Writing
With Stephen King being a horror writer, this may seem a strange choice - yet this is one writing book that I've found to be simply inspirational. The language is conversational, passionate, direct and informed. While it's of most value to those writing fiction, it will help anyone with their writing - possibly the most enjoyable book written on this subject. If you want to start writing, this will inspire you.
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