Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Clarity is crucial to good writing of any kind..." (more)
Key Phrases: media writers, loaded language, Dallas Morning News, The Acme Company, Bill Gates (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Championship Writing is an easy-to-read guide to becoming a fantastic writer. Each chapter is a concise explanation of one writing challenge, from how to incorporate quotes into your writing to the proper use of "who" and "whom." The chapters are sprinkled with prime examples from some of the best newspaper writers in the country. Anybody who writes as part of his or her work -- either as a journalist, public relations person, business writer or author -- will become a better writer after reading Championship Writing.

About the Author

Paula LaRocque is a writing coach and editor at the Dallas Morning News. She is regarded as one of the leading writing coaches and educators in the country, and has given hundreds of writing seminars to newspapers, corporations, associations and other organizations. A television special, "The Writing Coach, With Paula LaRocque," premiered in Dallas in 1993 and aired periodically on PBS stations across the country. Her columns about writing regularly appear in Quill magazine, the APME News and the Dallas Morning News. Championship Writing, which emerged from her columns for Quill magazine, is her first book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Marion Street Press, Inc. (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966517636
• ISBN-13: 978-0966517637
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,601 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick hints with big value, March 30, 2001

By A Customer

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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making The Difficult Easy, February 3, 2001

By	"organized4ever" (BC, Canada) - See all my reviews

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, immediately useful guidance, December 12, 2002

By	Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"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.