Cory Doctorow et al, Essential Blogging, Sebastopol (CA): O'Reilly, 2002,
pp.244, ISBN 0596003889
Blogs (it's a contraction of Web Logs) are a form of personal diary kept as Web
pages. They can record anything from the trivial details of your own life to
online political manifestos.
Full review HERE
Jane Dorner, Writing for the Internet, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 0198662858
Introductory guide to writing efficiently for the computer screen. How to design and produce effective web pages, and how to create a persuasive site.
Full review HERE
Jane Dorner, Writing on Disk: An A-Z Handbook of Terms, Tips and Techniques for
Authors and Publishers, John Taylor Book Ventures, 1992.
Jane Dorner, The Internet : A Writer's Guide, London: A & C Black, 2000, pp.200, ISBN: 071365192X
New opportunities and digital techniques for writers - from email to electronic publishing - with impressive list of online resources. [Popular new title.]
Full review HERE
Jane Dorner, Creative Web Writing, London: A & C Black, 2002, pp.166, ISBN 0713658541
Creative and experimental writing using new media technology - plus lists of Web resources for aspiring authors, as well as the latest on e-books and e-publishers.
Full review HERE
The Economist Style Guide, London: Economist Books, 2001, pp.172, ISBN: 1861973462
Print version of Economist in-house style guide which they issue to
all their journalists. It's designed to promote precision and clarity in writing
- and the advice it offers is expressed in a witty and succinct manner.
Full review HERE
Harold Evans, Essential English for Journalists, Editors and
Writers, London: Random House, 2000, pp.296, ISBN 0712664475
Reprint and update of a classic guide. Evans concentrates on skills for journalists, but his suggestions for clear writing and efficient communication are useful for any kind of writing. Contains extensive tutorials on composition, structure, and good style.
Full review HERE
Joan van Emden and Jennifer Easteal, Technical Writing and Speaking, McGraw-Hill, 1996.
Rudolph Flesch and A.H. Lass, The Classic Guide to Better Writing, New York: Harper Perennial, 1966, pp.288, ISBN: 0062730487
Best-selling US guide with emphasis on how to generate, plan, and structure your ideas. Also covers basic grammar, good style, and common mistakes.
Full review HERE
H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook New York: Longman, (7th edn) 1998, pp.882, ISBN: 0321037979
Encyclopaedic US guide to all aspects of writing - includes vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, style, document design, MLA conventions, editing, bibliography, and the Internet. [Recommended]
Full review HERE
Gary Gach, writers.net: Every Writer's Essential Guide to Online resources and Opportunities, Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1997, pp.374, ISBN 0761506411
Excellent compendium of Net resources - includes information for academic and technical writing, journalism, data research, plus writing for the screen and theatre. [Recommended]
Full review HERE
Stylewriter is a software program which offers help with writing skills such as summarising, editing, and proof-reading your work. It also offers a selection of writing styles to choose from - academic writing, journalism, formal prose, and so on. Mistakes and suggestions for improvement are highlighted and implemented with a click of the button. Immediate download. Very popular.
Albertine Gaur, Literacy and the Politics of Writing, Bristol: Intellect, 2000, pp.188, ISBN 1904705065
Thoughtful scholarly study of the history of writing and literacy. Covers language as a political system, and spans a period from the origins of writing to a critique of the UK's current National Literacy Strategy.
Full review HERE
Steve Good and Bill Jensen, The Student's Only Survival Guide to Essay Writing, Orca Book Publishers, 1995.
Norman Graves and Ved Varma, Working for a Doctorate: a guide for the humanities and social sciences, Routledge, 1997.
Tony Greenfield (ed), Research Methods: guidance for postgraduates, Arnold, 1996
Constance Hale (ed), Wired Style: Principles of English Usage in the Digital Age, San Francisco: HardWired, 1996, pp.172, ISBN 1888869011
Cheerful guide to writing and editing which looks at the problems thrown up by the new language of the digital age. [Stylish]
Full review HERE
Liz Hamp-Lyons and Ben Heasley, Study Writing: a course in written English for academic and professional purposes, Cambridge University Press, 1987.
Irene Hammerich and Claire Harrison, Developing Online Content: the
Principles of Writing and Editing for the Web, New York: John Wiley, 2002,
pp.384, ISBN 0471146110
This is aimed at intermediate to advanced users working on web projects - but it will be of interest to anybody who wants to extend their writing skills into the digital realm.
Full review HERE
Andrew Harnack and Eugene Kleppinger, Online! A Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources, New York: St Martin's Press, 1997, pp.162, ISBN: 0312150237
How to represent digital sources in academic writing. The focus is on bibliographic citation, but it also includes handy Net tips and how to create your own web pages. [Very good value-for-money.]
Full review HERE
James Hartley, Designing Instructional Text, London: Kogan Page, (3rd edn) 1994, pp.183, ISBN: 074941037X
Guide to the presentation of instructions - from paper size, through clear writing, to the use of diagrams and illustrations. [Recommended]
Full review HERE
Hart's Rules for Compositors and Readers at the University
Press Oxford, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, pp.182, ISBN 019212983X
Classic guide to the finer points of editing and print preparation, spelling and typography. A masterpiece of compression, now in its thirty-ninth edition.
Full review HERE
Wynford Hicks, Subediting for Journalists, London: Routledge, 2002, pp.180, ISBN 0415240859
Professional advice on subediting for the popular press. Main focus on the need for accuracy, clarity, and even legality. Also covers the process of digital print production.
Full review HERE
Wynford Hicks, Writing for Journalists, London: Routledge, 2002, pp.159, ISBN 0415184452
Practical advice on writing for the popular press. Main focus on news reporting, but also includes feature writing, reviews, and even obituaries.
Full review HERE
Catherine Hilton and Margaret Hyder, Getting to Grips with Punctuation and Grammar, Letts, 1998.
P.M.Howe, Answering Examination Questions, Collins, 1983.
Roy Johnson, Writing Essays: guidance notes for students, Manchester: Clifton Press, (6th edn) 1996, pp.104, ISBN: 0951984403
Covers every aspect of essay-writing technique - from understanding questions to presenting finished work. Includes sample essays. [Best-seller]
Details HERE
Roy Johnson, Improve your Writing Skills, Manchester: Clifton Press, 1995, pp.137, ISBN: 0951984454
Written in non-technical language, with quick solutions to common problems. Emphasis on planning, editing, structure, and clarity.
Details HERE
Yateendra Joshi, Communicating in Style, New Delhi: The Energy and Resources Institute, 2003, pp.250, ISBN 8179930165
Style guide on the finer details of presenting text and data - of particular interest to technical writers and those dealing with business documentation.
Full review HERE
Ronald T. Kellogg, The Psychology of Writing, New York: Oxford University Press, 1994, pp.253, ISBN: 0195081390
Detailed academic study of the writing process, from gestation to production, with examples drawn largely from creative writing. [Thorough]
Full review HERE
John Kirkman, Full Marks: Advice on punctuation for scientific and technical writing, Wiltshire: Ramsbury, (3rd edn) 1999, pp.115, ISBN: 0952176246
Practical advice on all common punctuation issues, with lots of practical examples - and not just for scientists and technicians. [Good value]
Full review HERE
Gunther Kress, Literacy in the New Media Age, London: Routledge, 2003, pp.186, ISBN 041525356X
Theoretical study of literacy which argues that multimedia and the screen are starting to challenge the page as the natural medium of writing - and that this in turn is affecting the way we write.
Full review HERE
Leslie Lamport, LaTeX: a document preparation system, Addison-Wesley, 1996
Mary R. Lea and Barry Stierer (eds), Student Writing in Higher Education: New Contexts, Buckingham: Open University Press, 2000, pp.205, ISBN: 0335204074
Academic research papers looking at student's writing skills in UK universities as they come under pressure to modernise.
Full review HERE
Judith Leigh, Organizing and Participating in Meetings, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 019866284X
Betsy Lerner, The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers, New York: Riverhead Books/Penguin Putnam, 2000, pp.285, ISBN 157322152X
Realistic guidance for would-be writers from an experienced editor.
Full review HERE
Janice R. Matthews et al, Successful Scientific Writing: a step-by-step guide for the biological and medical sciences, Cambridge University Press, 1996.
MHRA Style Book: Notes for authors, editors, and writers of theses, Modern Humanities Research Association, 5th edn, 1996, pp.100, ISBN: 0947623612
Detailed guidance notes for the presentation of academic writing prior to publication - includes glossary and proof-correction.
Full review HERE
Paul Mills, Writing in Action, London: Routledge, 1996, pp.224, ISBN: 0415119898
Guidance notes for creative writing - covers prose, poetry, and drama, as well as essays and 'persuasive writing'.
Full review HERE
Chris Mounsey, Essays and Dissertations, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, pp.128, ISBN 0198605056
Introductory guide to essay-writing skills, plus research and examinations - but not quite so much on dissertations as the title suggests.
Full review HERE
Andrew Northedge, The Good Study Guide, Buckingham: The Open University, 1990, pp.248, ISBN: 0749200448
Best-selling study skills guide which includes examples of note-taking and the preparation of coursework essays, reports, and projects. [Good value]
Full review HERE
Paul Oliver, Writing Essays and Reports, Hodder and Stoughton, 1996.
Improve your Writing Skills shows you how to develop the quality and effectiveness of your writing. Packed with good examples and handy hints, it features clear advice written in non-technical language, and quick solutions to common problems. Suitable for anybody writing reports, business proposals, memos, or academic documents. This will help you to clarify and sharpen your written communication skills.
Part One