Getting the Words Right: How to Rewrite, Edit and Revise (Paperback)

~ Theodore A. Rees Cheney (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Theodore Cheney shows readers how to improve everything they write--from a novel to a formal report to a love letter--by putting into practice his three basic revision techniques: reduction, rearranging, and rewording. Find out how to be clear, concise, and careful with your words to revise your way to better writing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (July 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089879420X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898794205
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on editing your own work I have ever read., September 1, 1999

By A Customer

Cheney doesn't mince words. His techniques will cut, clarify and polish your writing like no other book. This book replaces a couple of writing classes, at least. It should be on every aspiring, and experienced, writer's book shelf.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 STARS, August 21, 2005

By	James B. Johnson (HUDSON, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of the best writer's books I've come across. It's certainly as good as Jon Franklin's book, and Franklin's book is excellent. I can't agree more; too much of what gets written is too wordy and has no unity of anything. But Cheney clearly shows you how to whittle and pare things down, plus get things moving in the right direction.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Writing it doesn't make it ready for publication., July 5, 2002

By	R. Tiedemann "Sunnye" (Bellevue, NE USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

How is this different from any other writing book out there, you ask? Well, here's how to evaluate what you've written, how to recognize and fix awkward transitions and wordy or clumsy sentences, how to find hidden flaws all through your writing and what to do about them.

Rewriting is the crux of communication through words on paper. "Books aren't written, they are re-written" is so very true. School children aren't taught to get it down on paper, then go back and revise once...and again...and again...and again. They are taught to look for spelling and punctuation errors and encouraged (by default) to leave their work as close to the first draft as possible. Professional writers learn quickly the importance of revision.

Cheney clarifies the issue and leads the reader down the thorny path of pruning, clarifying and restructuring for the best possible prose.