This Paperback Book item from Prentice Hall was reviewed on 3-Nov-2008.
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1) Paperback Book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) by Prentice Hall. Reviewed by C J Singh (Berkeley, California, USA)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading John Trimble´s WRITING WITH STYLE. This witty book is aptly titled: its numerous how-to suggestions are all written with great style.
In the chapter "Writers Talking Shop," Trimblequotes Lawrence Sterne, author of the classic novel "Tristram Shandy": "Writing, when properly
managed, is but a different name for conversation." Trimble´s own writing demonstrates this, amply justifying the book´s subtitle, "Conversations on the Art of Writing."
Talking about the use of semicolons, Trimble says: "The average college student isn´t ready for semicolons. She hasn´t discerned any need for them,nor is she eager to. They look forbiddingly exotic--about as tempting as a plate of snails. The literary gourmets can have them; she´ll stick with her comma and period." Trimble´s fourth sentence examples a graceful use of semicolon. A bit later, he quotes Mark Twain: "Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond;
cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education." Six more quotes interspersed with Trimble´s witty comments precede the concluding paragraph: "If you need proof that semicolons can mix agreeably
with a readable style, go to the nonfiction of Mark Twain,one of America´s most readable stylists. You´ll find may behalf a dozen semicolons per page. Or go to the writings of George Bernard Shaw, one
of England´s wittiest stylists. You´ll find the same thing. Better still, since it´s close at hand, open any copy of `Newsweek.´ As my examples show, the pages of that magazine are sprinkled with
semicolons, yet I have never heard `Newsweek´ called heavy or formal."
In the preface, Trimble invites readers to email him at his university address.
I did.
He graciously emailed back the same day, answering in considerable detail each of my questions. Thanks.
-- C. J. Singh
¤ 2) Paperback Book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) by Prentice Hall. "You are giving me an "F?" Are you @$#$^$ kidding me?" I stood aghast at the stupidity of this graduate level English professor. After 22 years of American education, I was in the middle of writing my doctoral dissertation. I took this graduate English Lit class on Ibsen on a lark. It would be sooo simple. Having done my Masters work on Ibsen´s "Ghosts," I knew I could out think any of the English Lit lunkheads in my class when it came to theatre. But the sea of red ink on my paper could not be denied. The professor loved my thinking but hated my writing. "This is simply not graduate level work."
"Hey, Prof! I have spent 22 years in the American educational system, I am about to write my thesis, if I can´t write, it is not my fault. It is this crummy system that allowed me to get this far. I want YOU to help me fix this before I have to write my thesis! I want you to tutor me."
Now Full Professors are not often called to task like that, but then I was an "old" grad student, so maybe he cut me a break. He said, "You don´t want me to teach you writing. I have forgotten how to do that after 30 years. You want my teaching assistant who teaches Beginning Composition to help you."
I met the TA and the first thing he did was hand me J R Trimble´s WRITING WITH STYLE, the 1st edition. I devoured the book. For the very first time in my educational "career," someone was teaching me how to write, rather than how NOT to write. No detailed rules and format stuff like Strunk´s stuffy book. This book actually taught me how to think like a writer. It gave me the confidence to trust my own "voice." I stopped being hamstrung by rules and convention and started to communicate. The elimination of the "back door approach" and finally learning how to get rid of the "passive voice" in my writing fundamentally changed how I thought about myself as a writer.
I got an "A" in my Drama class, successfully wrote my dissertation, and when I got to my first teaching assignment, I was giving the job nobody at the school wanted -- a major writing assignment to create a joint Music Theatre proposal that had to bring together two warring departments who had fought over this document for 3 years. I wrote it in record time, and it passed immediately.
The chairman of our department came to me and said, "I knew you could teach but I never knew you were such a great writer!" Today, people spend a ton of dough to have me write marketing material for them. I wish my high school English teacher was alive to see me now. She was the one who first soured me on writing and "convinced me" that I could NOT write.
I never had a chance to thank you Dr Trimble. So I hope you see this. As educators, and certainly as publishers, we often have no idea of the impact our work has on people. Your book literally changed my life.
Other than that, I don´t think much of it! :-)
Bill Metcalf, Ph. D., Theatre Arts, University of Minnesota 1982
President of TechnoShift, Inc
www.MoreAndBetterClients.com
Ps. Doc Trimble -- I would love to hear from you and if anyone has any doubts about this book shoot me an email at bill@moreandbetterclients.com. Since I capture multimedia testimonials for a living now, I would love to provide one for you Doc if you have a website.¤ 3) Paperback Book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) by Prentice Hall. I love this book. I am a law student and this book has helped me to become a more effective writer. I have recommended it to many colleagues and will continue to do so.¤ 4) Paperback Book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) by Prentice Hall. I´ve read a lot of books on writing over the years, so many that I´ve reserved a spot on the corner of my desk for the very best of them so I can refer to them every so often. Only a few books are in this pile: they are the special ones. And one of them is Trimble´s book. I discovered it many years ago when it was in its first edition, and have held it in high esteem ever since. Not only does Trimble give you a lot of useful information, he does, indeed , do it "with style." I enjoy both the information and the way he presents it. He covers all aspects of writing, including grammar, and usually when I see a section on grammar in such a book I skip over it, but not in this case. Even it is a delight.¤ 5) Paperback Book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) by Prentice Hall. If you only have time and money for one book on writing, get this one. But if you want two books, get this one and "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.¤ 6) Paperback Book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) by Prentice Hall. A storehouse of practical writing tips, written in a lively, conversational style. Readers lean to develop a “writer´s sense” : the book demonstrates that writing is really applied psychology since it is essentially the art of creating desired effects. Provides an explanation of what effects are desirable and how to create them. An exceptional book that works successfully on several levels simultaneously. Provides new insight into: how to generate interesting ideas and get them down on paper; how to write a critical analysis; how to write a crisp opener; how to invigorate a banal style; how to punctuate with confidence; how to handle various conventions, and much more. For anyone who needs a reference guide on writing. ¤Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 1-Dec-2008, 01302571339780130257130, 330-010-2X0-470-830-630-850-420-8 
Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition), Book, Image © Prentice Hall
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