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This article is from the misc.writing Recommended Reading List FAQ, by Terry L Jeffress jeffress@xmission.com with numerous contributions by
others.
2.7 Writing Nonfiction (misc.writing Recommended Reading List)
Barzun, Jaques. "Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers."
Revised ed. University of Chicago Press, 1985. ISBN 0-226-
03868-8, trade paperback, 292 pp., $14.95.
Does not describe rhetoric in the classical sense, but he does
give some excellent suggestions for becoming aware of and
tightening up one's writing. Eye opening and well worth the
reading. Although it covers mainly rhetoric, this book really
applies to any kind of technical or expository writing, and to
some extent narrative fiction. I'd classify it as a general
purpose writing improvement book. Hardback edition out of
print.
Bly, Robert W. "Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $85,000
a Year." New York: Henry Holt, 1988. ISBN 0-8050-1192-7, trade
paperback, 273 pp., $10.95.
Bly goes into great detail about the various kinds of writing
that businesses often need: advertising (print, radio, and
television), corporate reports, brochures, direct mail. He
tells how to find clients that need these types of services,
how much to charge, how long such jobs usually take. Bly
describes how to promote yourself, find and maintain clients,
and plan your time. He describes the business end of freelance
work better than most, but he still skims over many areas that
could be described in detail.
-- Terry L Jeffress <jeffress@xmission.com>
Corbett, Edward P. J. "Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student."
3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. ISBN 0-19-
506293-0, hardcover, 600pp., $29.95.
Highly recommended text for learning the ins and outs of
expository writing. Includes technical topics such as
discovering (inventing) material, organizing material,
stylistic tricks and stunts, exercises, modes of reasoning and
other methods of persuasion, and examples/analysis of these
techniques in actual everyday (and formal) use in prose of
various people ranging from Homer to Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. The principles described apply to any kind of prose used
to persuade and inform an audience. It concentrates mainly on
the written rather than the spoken word (the typical domain of
Rhetoric).
Van Wicklen, Janet. "The Tech Writing Game: A Comprehensive Career
Guide for Aspiring Technical Writers" Facts on File Books,
1992. ISBN 0-8160-2607-6, hardcover, 238pp., $22.95.
Van Wicklen is a veteran Silicon Valley technical writer, and
her advice is right on the mark. Even at the hardcover price,
the book is worth every penny.
-- <dianeo@genmagic.com>neo@genmagic.com>
Yudkin, Marcia. "Freelance Writing for Magazines and Newspapers:
Breaking in Without Selling Out". HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0-
06-273278-1, trade paperback, $12.00.
You can count on a huge return on your investment in
"Freelance Writing". I don't think I've ever read a dissection
of the magazine industry that was as thorough, fair-minded,
and full of genuinely helpful information. The appendix
includes a great bibliography of resource books.
Zinsser, William. "On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing
Nonfiction." 6th ed. HarperCollins, 1998. ISBN 0-06-273523-3,
trade paperback, $14.00.
Lots of good, basic advice on writing. This book is an
interesting read as well as being useful.
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