Webster's New World Letter Writing Handbook [Paperback]

Robert W. Bly (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764525247 | ISBN-13: 978-0764525247 | Publication Date: February 15, 2003 | Edition: 1

Expert tips and 300 sample letters make business and personal correspondence a snap.
When trying to close a sale, answer a complaint, or offer thanks, a well-crafted letter can make all the difference. Packed with practical advice and 300 easy-to-adapt sample letters, this all-purpose guide shows readers how to write letters that get results -at work and at home.
Covering the nuts-and-bolts of letter writing as well as the secrets of high-impact prose, the book delivers proven recipes for attention-grabbing introductions, persuasive arguments, memorable phrases, and closing clinchers. Best of all, it offers guidance on business and personal letters for every circumstance, from job hunting, selling, fundraising, and asking favors to giving a reprimand, responding to criticism, expressing sympathy, and declining gracefully. It's the only reference anyone will ever need to write the perfect letter, whatever the occasion.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The right letter can make all the difference. Whether you’re trying to get a better job, communicate business information with clarity, or just say thanks to an old friend, great letters leave a lasting impression. But drafting every letter from scratch takes time; that’s why there’s the Webster’s New World Letter Writing Handbook. It covers all the essentials of effective letter writing, offers more than 300 customizable real-world examples, and includes proven advice on:

• Grabbing your reader’s attention
• Stating your case effectively
• Swaying your reader’s opinion
• Closing with a clincher
• Getting the response you want

The Webster’s New World Letter Writing Handbook covers far more than just cover letters and thank-you notes; you’ll find unbeatable examples and world-class advice for crafting every kind of letter:

• congratulations • apologies • expressions of sympathy • fundraising • requests for favors • requests for information • job search • selling • complaints and responses to complaints • feedback • reprimands • refusals • bill collections • and more!

About the Author

ROBERT W. BLY is the Director of the Center for Technical Communication, a consulting firm that specializes in business communication and marketing. He has been a copywriter and consultant for more than twenty years, and is the author of more than forty-five books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Webster's New World; 1 edition (February 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764525247
• ISBN-13: 978-0764525247
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert W. Bly (River Vale, NJ) is a professional writer, speaker and marketing consultant with over 3 decades of experience in business-to-business, high-tech, and direct response marketing. He became a self-made multi-millionaire while still in his 30s. Bob is the author of seventy-seven published books including Careers for Writers (McGraw-Hill/VGM), Secrets of a Freelance Writer (Henry Holt), The Copywriter's Handbook (Henry Holt), The Elements of Technical Writing (Alyn & Bacon) and The Elements of Business Writing (Alyn & Bacon). McGraw-Hill calls Bob Bly "America's top copywriter," and he was named 2007 Copywriter of the Year by American Writers and Artists, Inc. Bob writes regular columns for Target Marketing, a monthly trade publication covering the direct marketing industry; Early to Rise, a daily e-newsletter on business success; and The Writer, a premier monthly magazine providing information and inspiration for writers. The Direct Response Letter, Bob Bly's free e-newsletter, has over 60,000 subscribers.

Check out Bob's blog at http://bly.com/blog or contact him at www.bly.com/contact

Follow Bob:

E-newsletter: www.bly.com/reports
Twitter, http://twitter.com/Robertbly
LinkedIn, http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbly
Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Bly/535042603

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Aid for Those Who Hate to Write Letters, January 30, 2004

By 

James Sadler (Plano, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Webster's New World Letter Writing Handbook (Paperback)

Bob Bly is well known in freelancing and copywriting circles, but his abilities probably aren't as well known outside those arenas. This book might just make him known to the average person or at least to the average business person (who in my experince usually hates having to write letters).

Bly offers tips on writing letters of all types and includes some 300 samples of business and personal correspondence easily used and adapted by the individual to suit their own purposes.
The book is particularly helpful for business people who may be trying to close a sale, answer a complaint, offer a product or service, or offer thanks.

Bly covers the nuts-and-bolts of letter writing as well as persuasive writing techniques. The book is filled with proven styles for attention-grabbing introductions, persuasive arguments, memorable phrases, and strong closings. It covers a wide gamut of types of letters, ranging from job hunting, sales, and fundraising to responding to criticism, expressing sympathy, and declining an offer.

If you hate having to write letters, whether for personal or business purposes, this book needs to be sitting on your shelf.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Webster's New World Letter Writing Handbook, February 25, 2006

By 

Christian With A Pen (Norwalk, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Webster's New World Letter Writing Handbook (Paperback)

This is an excellent book to have on hand if you are a frequent letter writer. I've learned valuable information just by skimming through the book. I recommend this book to anyone looking for information on how to correctly write a letter.