Customer Reviews

Write to the Point

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This is an excellent book. I would rate this as the best book on nonfiction writing. Bill Stott encourages you to break and bend the rules and tells you why you should start a sentence with "and" or "but." His writing flows perfectly and you can practically read it right through like a regular book. If you need suggestions on how to improve your writing slgihtly or a lot, this book is for you!

I had a Ph.D., needed to publish, thought I was a 'good writer' but in fact my writing was obtuse, rambled, unfocused and ineffective. A supervisor gave me this book. Within two years my writing was getting easily accepted for trade and academic publishing alike. Writing is now something I consider one of my strengths. I recommend this book to staff and students.

I am a PhD student. This book was recommended by an instructor who cared about making me a better scholar. Stott's writing advice is crisp, clear, and actionable. After I implemented his recommendations, my assignments were consistently noted for their quality of expression. My writing is judged on what I say (content), not how I say it (style). I will always struggle with my writing. In spite of that fact, I now have a book that guides and encourages me with practical, effective advice. I wish I'd had this book earlier in my academic career!

It's been more than a few years since I sat in a college English class (and that was for the Ye Olde English of Chaucer). But I write a lot for work and enjoy reading up on ways to improve.

If your writing can also use work but you lack the time to crack open a massive Manual of Style or Writer's Guide or you're intimidated by the tone of such books, Bill Stott's Write to the Point might be the concise, encouraging and conversational alternative you need.

The thrust of Write to the Point is that insecure or inexperienced writers should not feel overwhelmed or burdened by conventional composition rules that claim to define Good and Correct Writing. Such writers should simply write as plainly as possible about ideas they care about. Ultimately, content trumps style and technique in nonfiction prose.

Stott doesn't advocate ignoring rules completely, he just wants them cut down to size a bit where they won't paralyze you with fear and constant censoring of your thoughts.

At least the first two-thirds of Stott's book focuses on where to get ideas and how to present them. Stott is a college instructor and addresses his typical audience both in his numerous student examples and his insights as a teacher. But he doesn't condescend and as someone whose a-long-way-from-college-student I found the book's tone to be intelligent as well as entertaining. Stott's breezy tone is encouraging and his willingness to disagree with some classic writing guides is refreshing.

The later section of Write to the Point does include grammar pointers on semicolons, apostrophes, etc., along my personal arch nemesis: punctuating sentences that contain quotes. But it also deals with composition topics such as sentence structure, parallel construction, footnoting and bibliography.

It's a one-stop shop for people (primarily college students) who wish to write papers, essays or substantive emails that are coherent and effective.

First published in 1984 (with plentiful Orwell quotes to boot) it's important to recall (or to realize if you weren't around back then) that in the mid 80's we were still deep into the age of Serious Books About Writing Seriously. Nowadays pithy and clever writing and usage guides are the norm along with the flood of Idiot/Dummies/Clueless/Moron guides (and we wonder why so many people have self-esteem issues?).

Stott's book has held up well (aside from a few typewriter references) and is an effective minimal-nonsense (but quite a lot of fun) read about writing. A good book to keep on the bookshelf in plain sight while you're typing away.

Stott opens your eyes to what writing should be. He teaches very plainly that there is no reason that you can't simply "write to the point" and say exactly what you want to say (in your own words).

By the way, it's a lot better than the other book of the same title.