Customer Reviews

Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Paula LaRocque does something that so many authors fail to do when writing their guidebooks on the craft -- give clear, concise and useful information that applies to the beginner and professional alike. My shelves are stocked with texts that would, undoubtedly, help me improve my writing skills if I were willing to devote countless hours to deciphering their suggestions. But for one with limited time to write, much less read about writing, "Championship Writing" provides tools and tips that I can cover in 10 minutes or less. Pick up a copy to keep beside your computer for those moments when writer's block has you staring off into space. Once I've finished one of LaRocque's chapters I'm ready to dive back into my own prose.

This is the title of column 31 in Championship Writing. This chapter tells how to use analogies to make difficult subjects easier to write about. This is just one of 50 columns, first published in the Professional Journalists' publication 'Quill', that make up this book. Originally written for the working writer, anyone who wants to write with more clarity and power will benefit from the solid advice given in this book.

Unlike the dry, dull approach of most books about grammar and composition, Paula La Roques' personable writing style makes reading about split infinitives and verbs- fun. This is more than a book on grammar though, it is easy to see how to improve your own writing just by reading the numerous examples (taken from the leading news media of the day) on composition throughout the book.

I got more than one laugh out of the examples taken from the column entitled 'Pet Peeves' although the one that bothers me and I that see online the most wasn't mentioned (people writing loose for lose.)

For every example of poor writing (and there are hundreds) there is a suggested improvement that makes such a difference in the revision. Working writers will find this to be an invaluable resource. Writing teachers will appreciate the in depth discussion on writing the 'lead' or 'hook' because it is so important and not just for the non-fiction writer, fiction writers are always looking for that perfect opening too.

Not a book for the rank beginner, but you can't help but improve your writing if you follow the advice in Championship Writing.

When I bought this book from the author, she seemed to be excellent at her trade, and I thought her book would help me to become a better writer. Almost immeaditely after starting the book, I was surprised to discover the book was devoted to helping journalists write. I felt misled since the back of the book seemed to be advertising to novelists. I kept reading none the less.
The book only gives one way to help your writing- make it shorter. The ironic part is that her entire message is to reduce repetition and redundency, but the entire book is just the same message repeated over and over again! She should have applied her own priniciples!
The final straw came, for me, about a third of the way into the book. Throughout, she had been citing examples of heavy, complicated writing, and then showing what it was like after her editing mechanisms had been applied. It was fairly obvious she had chosen the worst-case scenarios, things that likely are never actually written aside from a few freak cases. What drove me over the edge was one of these examples. When she cited it, it was beautiful: imagery and allusions that really tugged on my heartstrings. I loved it. Honestly, certain phrases in it were amazing. If it had been in a book, I would have recommended it to everyone I met. The writing was amazing. However, she applied her harsh red pen, and took everything out of it, destoying, laying it bare as emotionless journalistic garble. She destroyed it.
This book promises to improve your writing. However, the author, an editor who probably nags journalists to no end, more often than not destroys good writing.

"Memorable writing is usually simplified language. It emulates speech at its best and is immediate in its clarity and beauty. If it's also `informal', so much the better."

That's just one of the pearls from Paula LaRocque's Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing, and an indication of what you can expect to learn in her book.

Championship Writing comprises 50 chapters ~ or 50 ways ~ for improving writing. It covers everything from crafting compelling headlines and strong leads to constructing smooth sentences and incorporating quotes. As you can see, it's primarily aimed at journalists and non-fiction writers, but other scribes will gain a lot from this book as well. There are other topics of interest, including chapters on Web copy, general usage, and coaching writers.

LaRocque, a seasoned journalist and editor, is also a well-known and highly-regarded writing coach who has given hundreds of literary lectures, presented a TV special on the craft and also produced a regular column for the now-defunct Quill magazine.

The book is essentially an anthology of LaRocque's column, and she doesn't try to hide it. Each chapter is referred to as a column.

And that's probably my only real criticism of this book. It reads like a regular column rather than as a well-constructed book ~ there is no natural transition from one chapter to the next.

Championship Writing offers plenty of information and instruction on the art of writing well. Each chapter addresses a specific topic, discussing challenges, revealing solutions and illustrating with practical examples of useage. This is a worthwhile reference for new writers and those wishing to excel at their craft.

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com

Writers will find Paula LaRocque's collection of columns an excellent reference source, and a book that reads easily cover to cover. Novelists to speech writers will gain insight to their crafts through her advice and numerous examples.

As a reference source, Paula answers the age-old "who/whom" type questions with conciseness and usable rules. She also includes a usage list with surprises such as "Verbal Agreement does not mean oral agreement". A phrases-to-avoid list includes modern irritants like "Get a life" and old standbys like "You don't have to be a rocket scientist". Additional columns on topics form commas to pronouns round out Championship Writing as a reference book.

But there's more. A lot more. Part way into this book that old urge to write the Great American Novel begins to percolate. With Championship Writing on the desk, confidence would return and who knows what would flow from the pen. What brings forth these feelings are the examples of good writings and how these writings are constructed. Basically Paula has spliced gems of motivation into the technicalities of writing. The results are good reading.

"Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing" is a short course on learning to find and resolve some of the most common obstacles to good writing. While there is overlap between some of the fifty items (such as the coverage of pronoun problems in Chapter 15 as well as Chapter 38) the book is well organized, easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to use.

Of particular value are the numerous examples of each problem and how to resolve specific instances. When applicable she includes very useful tricks of the trade. For example, whether to use "who" or "whom" is easily resolved by a simple substitution trick. One tough problem that many people wrestle with, one easy trick, and the result is a grammatically correct sentence.

The advice is very good, the writing style fun and not at all academic, and the results are tangible. A highly recommended read for anyone struggling with becoming a better writer and especially so for those with limited time.

I was very impressed by this book. Unlike so many other writing-related books, this one isn't geared toward beginners. I have been a full-time writer for years, and I found many helpful tips. The author obviously knows her stuff, and presents it in an authoritative manner with plenty of relevant examples. The book focuses on trimming unclear and confusing language, and following sensible guidelines to write more effectively. You'll find tips for writing better headlines and leads, dealing with quotes, using slang, etc. A helpful book for journalists, PR writers, and authors in general.

This book was a disappointment after reading all the glowing reviews.
First, this is an anthology of writing columns by author and the book has a cut-and-paste feel to it.
Second, this book is primarily for journalists.
Although this is a good book it definitely reads like a newspaper column and lacks the feel of a great book despite all the five-star ratings.

A child has a talent. Even more lucky for this child, she/he finds an adult who is completely impressed with this talent. So, he/she performs for this adult. The adult claps. The child continues. The adult smiles and shows others. The child continues. "ENOUGH ALREADY!" That's what I want to say when I read this book. The chapters start off so well and the advice seems useful. But her examples go on and on and on to the point of being unncesssary. Chapter 7 could've been excluded altogether. Chapter 8 is a prime example of FAR TOO MANY (yeah, I said it) examples. I was not impressed with this book. Good idea, but too much performing for me.