Getting the Words Right: 39 Ways to Improve Your Writing [Paperback]

Theodore Cheney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 158297358X | ISBN-13: 978-1582973586 | Publication Date: June 2, 2005 | Edition: 2

The Secret to Good Writing

When asked by the Paris Review what compelled him to rewrite the ending of A Farewell to Arms 39 times, Ernest Hemingway replied, "Getting the words right." His answer echoes what every successful writer knows: The secret to all good writing is revision.

For more than twenty years, Getting the Words Right has helped writers from all professions rewrite, revise, and refine their writing. In this new edition, author Theodore Cheney offers 39 targeted ways you can improve your writing, including how to:

• create smooth transitions between paragraphs
  
  
• correct the invisible faults of inconsistency, incoherence, and imbalance
  
  
• overcome problems of shifting point of view and style
  
  
• express your ideas clearly by trimming away weak or extra words

You'll strengthen existing pieces and every future work by applying the three simple principles–reduce, rearrange, and reword. Once the secrets of revision are yours, you'll be able to follow Hemingway's lead–and get the words right!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A longtime University professor, Theodore A Rees Cheney is also the author of Writing Creative Nonfiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 2 edition (June 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158297358X
• ISBN-13: 978-1582973586
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have recommended this book for 10 years!, November 21, 2005

By 

Susan Graham "About Words Agency" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Getting the Words Right: 39 Ways to Improve Your Writing (Paperback)

I'm the owner of a literary agency (About Words Agency), and when sending 99.95% of the submissions back to their authors for revision, I make sure to recommend Getting The Words Right, by Theodore Cheney in every single reply. I tell authors to read Stein on Writing, by Sol Stein, and then read Getting The Words Right. The two books work very well together. Cheney's method of working on the biggest problems first, like eliminating the first two or three chapters, and last of all, checking for smaller things such as spelling and punctuation, makes so much sense! It is the most efficient method of editing, and with increasingly busy lives, seems the most reasonable method as well. For a trademarked, innovative method of using your word processor to help you with the editing process, I also recommend Write in Style, by Bobbie Christmas. The competition for agents and publishers is fierce. If you want to get to the top of the pile, read and implement Getting The Words Right before you send in a query!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great advice, unreadable type, August 3, 2007

By 

Janice King "Author, "Copywriting That Se... (www.writinghightech.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting the Words Right: 39 Ways to Improve Your Writing (Paperback)

Theodore Rees Cheney is a favorite guide for improving my writing. This book is another great example of his sound advice, relevant examples, and useful exercises. But the type size is so small and faint I had to use a magnifier to read it and the decorative flourishes on each page quickly become an annoying distraction. Shame on the publisher for diminishing such a good work. 5 stars for the content; zero stars for the page design.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good content, poor book design, September 14, 2008

By 

Elijah "storyteller" (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting the Words Right: 39 Ways to Improve Your Writing (Paperback)

Before I bought the book I saw a review that complained about the type size and page layout, and I thought that the reviewer was just nitpicking. BUT it turned out that the book's design DOES make it very hard to read. Other good choices that don't have this setback are Wm. Zinsser's On Writing Well and Sol Stein's Stein on Writing.